CK in 120 gallon

[littlewolfpaw]

How big can a CK be till its uncomfortable in a 120 gallon tank. If he can live in it at his peak of growth will his growth slow due to the size of the tank? Iv heard of CKs only hitting 18-20 inches. It seems only the bigger ones are held in down right huge tanks that allow that growth space, is that why those ones get so big? I dont want to stunt his growth, dont get me wrong, but god knows I dont think i could afford a bigger tank let alone get my significant other to agree to having a three hundred gallon tank in the living room haha. But I dont want to get rid of him

 

[asder112]

Fish don't grow to the size of their tank - what happens is that the environmental poisoning that inevitably comes about as the fish becomes too large for the tank stunts the fish, leading to a shorter and unhealthier life. A CK in a 120 would be ok for a bit, but not for too long, depending on its growth rate. I would guess around 1 year, maaaybe 1.5 years before it gets too big. It helps that they can turn on a dime though.

 

[littlewolfpaw]

Sad, I hope I can figure something out when the time comes or im just gonna have to sell him

 

[BODYDUB]

Fish don't grow to the size of their tank - what happens is that the environmental poisoning that inevitably comes about as the fish becomes too large for the tank stunts the fish, leading to a shorter and unhealthier life. A CK in a 120 would be ok for a bit, but not for too long, depending on its growth rate. I would guess around 1 year, maaaybe 1.5 years before it gets too big. It helps that they can turn on a dime though.

So can you please explain how a fish gets stunted????

 

[asder112]

So can you please explain how a fish gets stunted????

Have you ever seen 27 inch silver aro's in 55 gallon tanks? I have. They clearly don't grow to their tank size. That same silver aro will also have accrued some damage to itself since it as been stuck, essentially immobile, in a tank that is most likely filthy. It is also likely that this aro will not come close to its max potential size (as it may have in the wild), even if moved to a better tank / system due to the damage sustained.

Granted, just by keeping fish in an aquarium we are probably stunting their growth a little (i.e. they are not able to reach their full size / potential). The best way to think of it would be to think of a dog. If I took a Great Dane puppy and stuck it in a closet for 5 years, I guarantee you that it would not be as large as another Great Dane not stuck in a closet for 5 years.