It's possible that somebody with a tiger in a 20,000gal tank might think your 1kgal might be too tight. What would you say to that? Also it might be helpful to explain exactly what happens to a 20inch dat in a 30wide tank. Does he physically get messed up? Does he stop eating? Does he get stunted all of a sudden? Does he stop swimming? Does he get mental distress & wither away & die.. But not everybody can put a 3foot+ wide tank in their house and I think what your saying needs some reasoning before people think dats can't be for them, that's all
300 gallon datnoid tank
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I think your argument is a non self contradicting argument.
It is what you said, it's all true, but that's where fish keeping responsibility now relies in the keeper of the fish. If you wish to own a monster fish, prepare for a monster tank, I'm not saying go and build a 20,000g tank, but prepare a long term plans for the said fish. Now if you think that you do have a small apartment for example, and you do want a fish that requires 1/4 of the size of your apartment, would you consider to give that space away?
I think it's non practical to do so, I get what T1 is saying, simply as this, if you can't properly house a fish, don't even plan to keep it. Well besides, no matter how big a tank is really, it can't be compared how many gallons a 0.00001% a river/lake holds.
Also he has a experience regarding adult dats in his own measured of tanks, I could tell, even for a 12inch bulky fish a 1000g is somehow looks like cramped.
Ok, l have 7 large Datts in my 900 gallon tank. Its 12'X 30"X48" tall. Too narrow when they reach. 20" ?
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Honestly this debate is old and it should be apparent to most that it'll never come to any definitive conclusion as people have different opinions in regards to what the minimum tank size is for a fish. Also it should be stated that those who throw definitive answers out there should realize that no matter how experienced you are without the benefit of a degree in fish psychology your statements are little more than opinion rather than fact. That's not to say in your consideration of your animal you should go as small as possible with their enclosure it's just that some of these quotes of 1000 gallons or more for 24 inch fish shouldn't be taken as rules nor should people look down on others who don't provide their fish with such enclosures nor should their be a debate about it. In a thread like this one should simply state their opinion and perhaps the reasons why and leave it at that.
The closest answer that borders on fact are the ones that only take into consideration the minimum size necessary to keep an animal healthy. Seeing as fish happiness/comfort is not a subject anyone is really versed in or has proof either for or against except in rare instances it's not a feasible argument for all fish. So stating things like the fish only has 5 inches to turn as a negative here is based on an assumption about the animals level of comfort whose reason for the assumption on comfort level isn't even explained. Seeing as animals are less evolved and probably have less complex needs in regards to wants regarding comfort it's usually not the case except in the rare instances that a fish actually shows you. Examples include Leiarius marmoratus who will let you know he doesn't like the size of his tank quite obviously. Marmoratus won't eat, will dash about suddenly, hide a lot, become lethargic, get sick easily etc,etc.... all because his whiskers are touching both sides of the tank at the same time giving him the impression he is trapped. There are other examples of visible signs of discomfort in certain fish so we can assume almost on the level of fact that they need a larger tank. What signs are those who recommend larger tanks seeing that give them the impression that the Dats are less comfortable in the discussed setting? Mind you 5 inches seems small to us but to a 24 inch fish that's a space of approx. 20% of his overall size, so while it may not be ideal it may not be as bad as it's being made out to be.
Your best bet is to always let your fish tell you if they're okay with their environment. If the fish is cramped he'll act stressed, won't be as interested in eating, become lethargic, stunted growth, sudden unexplained dashes, get sick often etc. So always base your tank requirements on what size you need to keep your fish healthy and let the fish tell you if more is required. That's my humble opinion.
The closest answer that borders on fact are the ones that only take into consideration the minimum size necessary to keep an animal healthy. Seeing as fish happiness/comfort is not a subject anyone is really versed in or has proof either for or against except in rare instances it's not a feasible argument for all fish. So stating things like the fish only has 5 inches to turn as a negative here is based on an assumption about the animals level of comfort whose reason for the assumption on comfort level isn't even explained. Seeing as animals are less evolved and probably have less complex needs in regards to wants regarding comfort it's usually not the case except in the rare instances that a fish actually shows you. Examples include Leiarius marmoratus who will let you know he doesn't like the size of his tank quite obviously. Marmoratus won't eat, will dash about suddenly, hide a lot, become lethargic, get sick easily etc,etc.... all because his whiskers are touching both sides of the tank at the same time giving him the impression he is trapped. There are other examples of visible signs of discomfort in certain fish so we can assume almost on the level of fact that they need a larger tank. What signs are those who recommend larger tanks seeing that give them the impression that the Dats are less comfortable in the discussed setting? Mind you 5 inches seems small to us but to a 24 inch fish that's a space of approx. 20% of his overall size, so while it may not be ideal it may not be as bad as it's being made out to be.
Your best bet is to always let your fish tell you if they're okay with their environment. If the fish is cramped he'll act stressed, won't be as interested in eating, become lethargic, stunted growth, sudden unexplained dashes, get sick often etc. So always base your tank requirements on what size you need to keep your fish healthy and let the fish tell you if more is required. That's my humble opinion.
Nice well thoughtout post as usual koltsixx. I agree with just about everything u said other than the fact this debate is old. The thread might be getting tired and old, but the discussion of dats of this size in various tank sizes is pretty fresh (i believe). Not many of these big guys around and many of the ones that are around have been grown out fairly recently in the hobby since dats have been a fairly recent phenomenon in the last 15years or so which cooincidently have has been the interval of pulcher's demise. Indos, etc hopefully aren't on their way too
If somebody posts that a tank is too small for a certain species because it will outgrow it someday, i think at least a testimonial should back it up. (whether it's true or not, at least make something up if bs'ing is your thing) For instance, if i said a tig needed at least an 8 by 4. I would at least give a testimonial why for a instance a 6 by 4 wouldn't work..also factoring the many additional monster bottomdwelling friends he might be sharing it with..Maybe a testimonial saying..in the 6 by 4 (he lived in), he stopped eating and spassed, breaking his spine or something..and stating a testimonial why it won't work (even if he's all alone on the bottom of that 6 by 4)...i'm gonna try not to saying anything involving tank size about any fish from now on, cause when i get worked up i get too confrontational sometimes..can't help it
If somebody posts that a tank is too small for a certain species because it will outgrow it someday, i think at least a testimonial should back it up. (whether it's true or not, at least make something up if bs'ing is your thing) For instance, if i said a tig needed at least an 8 by 4. I would at least give a testimonial why for a instance a 6 by 4 wouldn't work..also factoring the many additional monster bottomdwelling friends he might be sharing it with..Maybe a testimonial saying..in the 6 by 4 (he lived in), he stopped eating and spassed, breaking his spine or something..and stating a testimonial why it won't work (even if he's all alone on the bottom of that 6 by 4)...i'm gonna try not to saying anything involving tank size about any fish from now on, cause when i get worked up i get too confrontational sometimes..can't help it
