Size of tank affects size of Clownfish??

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iClown

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Is it true that the size of the clownfish will depend on the size of the tank?

More info: I have a Biocube 14 gallon with approximately 9-10lbs of LR. The tank has been established for more than a year with a Maroon Clownfish, however, today I turned the Maroon in to the LFS and purchased 2 small Oscellaris (One smaller than the other to prevent sex issues). So in regards to the question, does it mean that in my 14 gallon tank my 2 Oscellaris will least likely to grow to their potential mature size???
 
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You shouldn't have a problem, but once they pair up and mature they will likely not take to kindly to any other fish in the tank so I'd suggest just keeping the two clowns in there. FWIW, a full grown occy will be about 3-3 1/2". My female true perc owns my 30g cube but since she's been a loner since I got her, she tolerates her two tank mates, a six line and a fridmani dottyback.
 
I've had two SA Fancy Ocellaris in my BioCube 14 for almost two years now. They're both sexually mature because I'm beginning to see them pre-spawning, however the female is only 1.5" and the male is probably less than 1". I personally think that the size of the tank kept them small, however others may (and will) argue with that. I kinda like my clowns smaller because they're cuter. :)
 
Its a fallacy that apparently has been passed from reefer to reefer for many years. The truth is it's about feeding. People tend to feed based on tank size rather than what their fish actually will consume. If you feed more you'll see growth. That said, don't concentrate on quantity as much as frequency.
 
WDLV said:
Its a fallacy that apparently has been passed from reefer to reefer for many years. The truth is it's about feeding. People tend to feed based on tank size rather than what their fish actually will consume. If you feed more you'll see growth. That said, don't concentrate on quantity as much as frequency.
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I've been feeding my SA Fancy Ocellaris (2 years old, female 1.5" male 1") in my BioCube 14 the same amount if not more than my spawning pair of Black Ocellaris in my RSM130. While feeding may be associated with growth, I don't believe it relies a lot on feeding.
 
WaffleWalffle22 said:
I've been feeding my SA Fancy Ocellaris (2 years old, female 1.5" male 1") in my BioCube 14 the same amount if not more than my spawning pair of Black Ocellaris in my RSM130. While feeding may be associated with growth, I don't believe it relies a lot on feeding.
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Well than what would you associate it with?
 
yeah I've always wondered about this also, I got 2 onyx' clowns and right now they are small approx 2inches and wonder if they will ever reach 3+ inches in a 14g tank?
 
WaffleWalffle22 said:
Tank size. :reading:
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Well then there are two people who have had different experience. I've kept dozens of clowns over the years in anything from 10 gallons to 210 gallons and have never seen anything that would indicate a growth pattern directly attributable to tank size. :D
EDIT:
My thielleis have only ever lived in 10 gallons and a 40 breeder and are well above the size cap description Dr. Burgess recorded.
Let me correct myself. The female did spend a month or so in a 100 gallon sump....
 
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They are related, higher nitrates will inhibit growth, both tank size and heavy feeding can affect nitrates, small tanks on a recirculating system or heavier filtration with a lot more water can give as much growth as larger systems.

Stephen Spotte and Martin Moe both wrote on this extensively in their books, google them or go to amazon.com

Growth inhibition is a well-known factor in commercial aquaculture of food fish.
 
Apart from food, i wonder how much water pressure, swimming room and fish zoning affect growth, the latter 2 possibly mediated by stress.
 
Well, I will goive to opposition some creedance.... The largest anemonefish I have ever seen were at Atlantis Marine World in their 2000 gallon anemone/clown tank. Some were the size of my hand.
 
I didn't say that nor would it be fair to completely rule it out... I also didn't mention that the mortality rate is much higher in hobbyists' aquariums. Both are valid factors.
I was a little rigid in my first post. I'm trying to remember to keep an open mind....
:D
 
FWIW, I have a reefing buddy who feeds much more than I do and his clowns grew much much faster than mine. Both pairs were similar in size and I even had the larger tank.
 
JMO -- Not sure if the actual size of the tank will effect the size of the clowns/fish, but some of the associated issues with smaller tanks will. Water quality can/will be a big issue in smaller tanks, which could effect growth. In addition some smaller tanks can/will be overstocked, which along with water quality can cause stress, which could also effect growth.
 
Ask any professional breeder and they will say by far the #1 most important thing for growth is water quality. Feeding frequency comes second.
 
Aquacrazed said:
Ask any professional breeder and they will say by far the #1 most important thing for growth is water quality. Feeding frequency comes second.
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Who cares how fast they grow if 90% are deformed as hell? Maybe "œprofessional breeders" should pay attention to conformation, and not to growth speed.
 
ok stupid question...lol...what do you look for in a clown fish to tell if they are deformed?? I can see the obvious. swimming wrong, visual deformations, but I have seen some that people say are deformed and I cant tell why
 
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