Is it true? Size of tank=Size of fish!

[LobsterOfJustice]

I am by no way condoning the practice - my post actually meant the opposite. Yes, they will stunt. But this is terrible for the fish, and should not be seen as justification for keeping them in small tanks. They should be able to reach their full size. If you notice your fish is not growing, but know it is supposed to be much bigger, chances are your tank is too small. People incorrectly think "I will get rehome/upgrade when the fish gets too big for the tank", but in my experience, it wont actually get too big for the tank. This gives the false impression that the fish is fine indefinitely in the tank, but to me the dwarfism is a chronic abnormality that is not acceptable.

In my examples, the fish were not malnourished and water quality was excellent. But apparently fish over 4"-5" just aren't meant to be kept in 4' tanks.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15158461#post15158461 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MattL
Yes, if you provide improper nutrition and poor conditions as noted above, fish will not always grow as fast. You can stunt a human's growth too and keep them alive.

But there are a couple of things to note:
1. You are taking a big gamble: a) either the fish won't grow (your luck, it will grow just the same) and/or b) that it won't die
2. Any resulting lack of growth is indirectly related to tank size. It is the tank size that creates stress and poor water quality, and the stress and poor water quality that lead to poor health, and the poor health that leads to stunting.
3. I have observed stunted pufferfish, and these fish have health problems for the rest of their life.
4. Deliberately stunting a fish's growth is inhumane and antithetical to the mission of RC, and as such, I can be confident that no such practice would be tolerated here.
5. Just geta bigger tank. It's that easy. In the small tank sizes (< 125gal), you can upgrade a tank size for the cost of the fish you are going to probably kill.

Matt

 

[AquaKnight]

It is important to take the "max. size" of a fish with a grain of salt (pun intended). We as fishkeepers like to do everything we can, including what we think is a balanced diet, etc, but there is nothing we can do to recreate the ocean. Either in providing the same diet, you can cram all the dried nori down your tang's throat, but it's just not the same as what they eat in the wild. But perhaps more importantly is the social scenario. We tend to only keep one species of fish per tank, they typically aren't breeding and growing in that aspect.

The other thing is to keep in mind what a 'max size' is. The largest documented size. Just look at humans. What's the largest human? Around 7' 6" or so, yet the 'average' height is around 5' 7" for males. Sure, because aquarium fish are smaller overall, they typically will reach a closer percentage to their max size., the point still is that most Vlamingii tangs will not reach 24", just like most yellow tangs won't reach 8".

 

[Demonic]

Fish are stunted in the home aquarium. If you notice in all the books that are preached about it will give a wild size and then an aquarium size. I am sure they know a little more than we do.

 

[MattL]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15160787#post15160787 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AquaKnight407
...The other thing is to keep in mind what a 'max size' is. The largest documented size. Just look at humans. What's the largest human? Around 7' 6" or so, yet the 'average' height is around 5' 7" for males. Sure, because aquarium fish are smaller overall, they typically will reach a closer percentage to their max size., the point still is that most Vlamingii tangs will not reach 24", just like most yellow tangs won't reach 8".

This is exactly the same point I try to make. In fact, the maximum recorded size for a human is 8'11", but if you get one and put it in a tank, that doesn't mean it will grow that large

The general rule of thumb is that a home aquarium fish can be expected to reach two-thirds the maximum recorded size.

This is not necessarily stunting; sizes recorded are maximums.

Matt

 

[stumpovrtyme]

You guys are awsome thanx for the info.!

 

[RichK]

I find this thread kinda interesting. I have seen yellow tangs in Hawaii the size of dinner platters. However, I have had a yellow tang in my 125 since 1995 and it hasn't grown at all. It is FAT, not skittish at all, and very vibrant. On the other hand, I also have a Doliatus rabbitfish in the same tank and it has grown a bit. I got it ~5 years ago at 4" and it is now 6". So, it has obviously grown. But, can you explain the yellow tang? I can't. There is also a Regal angel in there which is ~5 years old as well. The oldest resident is my Goniopora, which is just about 15 years old now. Granted it has grown a lot, but it isn't a fish

 

[stumpovrtyme]

I'v personally always thought it had to do with diet! Not saying we don't feed enogh, but just not the same diet as in the wild! But what do I know cause I keep trying to talk to them but they just won't tell me the answer. :lol:

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

It's not diet. I've seen HUGE tangs in 8'-10' tanks. They only take a year or two to get from 4" - 12".

 

[melanotaenia]

simple answer is NO.

 

[stumpovrtyme]

So if its not the tank and its not the feed what is it that usually makes them smaller?

 

[ludnix]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15166030#post15166030 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stumpovrtyme
So if its not the tank and its not the feed what is it that usually makes them smaller?

It's probably one of those, you're just getting lots of conflicting opinions with no one backing up their claims.

 

[flyyyguy]

the best response to this question I have ever heard is this:

Have a kid, put them in a closet for the first 20 years of their life and feed them as you normally would as well as have them exercise.

What do you think the logical result will be as far as growth??

 

[dots]

Fish are like Bonsai Trees, a clip here....a tie back on a fin there....and viola.......dolphin in a fishbowl!!

But you have to get them when they are small and usually the ones in the Tuna nets are too big......so you can't use those.

 

[melanotaenia]

I have seen triggers that definitely were not stunted in smaller tanks; they just kept growing until they physically needed to be removed from the tank due to lack of space.

That is my personal experience.

 

[melanotaenia]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15167440#post15167440 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flyyyguy
the best response to this question I have ever heard is this:

Have a kid, put them in a closet for the first 20 years of their life and feed them as you normally would as well as have them exercise.

What do you think the logical result will be as far as growth??

+1

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15166030#post15166030 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stumpovrtyme
So if its not the tank and its not the feed what is it that usually makes them smaller?

I say it IS the tank - or something related to it, like crowding/fish density, etc. In some situations it could be diet, but fish will get big in big tanks (public aquarium size) despite diet issues of being in captivity.

 

[RicksReefs]

I vaguely remember studies done that indicated it was ammonia, phenols, and other inhibiting chemicals that caused the stunting.

I had a customer trade in a goldfish that was 8".
it was living in a 2 gallon bowl for 12 years and received water changes twice a day.

 

[stumpovrtyme]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15168008#post15168008 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RicksReefs
I vaguely remember studies done that indicated it was ammonia, phenols, and other inhibiting chemicals that caused the stunting.

I had a customer trade in a goldfish that was 8".
it was living in a 2 gallon bowl for 12 years and received water changes twice a day.

That deffinatly sounds like it could have truth to it!

 

[stumpovrtyme]

//?

 

[Big E]

It's probably one of those, you're just getting lots of conflicting opinions with no one backing up their claims.

That's what I'm getting from this thread so far.......................lot's of opnions and very few personal experiences & the personal accounts show the fish stopped growing.

I've never had a fish grow to full size & have never crowded or overpopulated my tanks.
I believe the larger fish 7"+ need much larger tanks(400g+) than most people care to own to get some fish to full size.

Some of my fish---
Purple Tang-16 years 180g lightly populated. He's 7" & has grown maybe 2" in all that time.

Semilarvartus BF's- 5-6 years. Largest was 6". None grew more than a inch or two.

Lyretail anthias-------120g 5+ years. Never got bigger from orignal 3-4" size.

Maroon clown pair--8 years -female is 4". 120g tank.

These are just a few examples of fish I've kept over the years.

Imo, we grossly underestimate how large or lightly stocked a system is needed for fish to get full size.

I would like to read about some actual first hand experiences where someone bought a juvenile fish & it literally outgrew their tank.