Corona Lockdowns and tank size.

[Ogertron3000]

I've basically been stuck in the house for 2 weeks now, working from home and the ocassional trip out for groceries.
I live in a standard size house with wife and 1 kid, the weathers been crap so haven't even been able to get out for a walk or trip to the park with the kid.
This weekend has been quite tense for me and got me thinking how it must be for a fish in a tank.
I have all the basics for survival, good healthy food, entertainment ,shelter and family.If I was someone's pet they would most likely think they had a nice set up for me and would be correct. Still, I feel stifled and trapped with a lack of physical or mental stimulation.
This has made me think about our fish, is what we provide enough. At my current mental state Iim thinking a min tank size would be 10ftx4ftx4ft fully scaped and planted just for a school of 30 neon tetras.
Has your current situation made any of you think the same?
I'm obviously aware fish and humans are different and have different needs and this isn't an entirely serious thread so please don't start arguing about min tank size , just something to ponder and amuse myself in my boredom.

 

[esoxlucius]

I think you've already touched on an important point. Humans and fish have entirely different needs. You can't look at your tank and think, "oh my fish look so bored, they must be so depressed in the same tank day in day out, they get the same food day in day out, oh I feel so sorry for them, oh i'm such a bad hobbyist blah blah blah...."

If you had to constantly wrestle those thoughts in your head day in day out you'd end up coming out of the hobby. Keeping fish in a box, whatever size, will never ever be a substitute for the wild, even your example of a huge neon tetra tank.

All we can do is our best and, by and large I think most of us do a pretty good job.

 

[koltsixx]

I agree with esoxlucius. This subject has come up on the forum many times in the past in regards to tank size. As esoxlucius said many people tend to anthropomorphize their pets. At current we can't really know what they think or how complex their needs are when it comes to comfort.

I personally believe that more then likely any stress caused by captivity offsets stress they would deal with in nature from predators, wounds caused by being hunted or territorial disputes and times where food is hard to obtain or any of the other stresses they may face in their natural haitat.

While we take as hobbyists we also give by(if we're a good hobbyist that is) providing a safer and more regulated environment. One in which food is readily available and hopefully where stress is kept at a minimum because of the stabilty we provide. I do believe tank size does play a role but I also believe it's different for different species. Some species move long distances to obtain food while some try to hold down a territory others are ambush predators, etc, etc. And therefore captivity and tank size would have different levels of stress for different species.

At least that's my opinion.

 

[twentyleagues]

Like the others have said we can't replicate their environment exactly. We can however do our best to provide the best for the fish in our care. Largest area possible, good food and plenty of it, clean water with good parameters, compatible tank mates if any, stability, about the only thing that's stable for wild fish is water quality.

 

[duanes]

I've basically been stuck in the house for 2 weeks now, working from home and the ocassional trip out for groceries.
I live in a standard size house with wife and 1 kid, the weathers been crap so haven't even been able to get out for a walk or trip to the park with the kid.
This weekend has been quite tense for me and got me thinking how it must be for a fish in a tank.
I have all the basics for survival, good healthy food, entertainment ,shelter and family.If I was someone's pet they would most likely think they had a nice set up for me and would be correct. Still, I feel stifled and trapped with a lack of physical or mental stimulation.
This has made me think about our fish, is what we provide enough. At my current mental state Iim thinking a min tank size would be 10ftx4ftx4ft fully scaped and planted just for a school of 30 neon tetras.
Has your current situation made any of you think the same?
I'm obviously aware fish and humans are different and have different needs and this isn't an entirely serious thread so please don't start arguing about min tank size , just something to ponder and amuse myself in my boredom.

I agree with this, although its probably not about boredom, but its about territoriality, with non schooling fish.
Most cichlids do not cultivate friendships, they only tolerate other cichlids if there is available space.
In nature, most medium size territorial cichlids will defend an area of @ 250 gallons, so trying to cram a bunch of them in a 100 or 150 gallon tank, is contrary to their nature, and why there are so many "why is my fish such a psycho?", or "why is one cichlid trying to kill all others.?".. " threads.
If an aquarist hasn't got the means or only has limited space for certain size tanks, the fish considered should be size appropriate.
I have spent a lot of time observing cichlids in nature, and consider my 180 gal tank way too cramped for any cichlid "community" of maximum 10" fish. One or a pair in that size tank, not quite so terrible, but in reality its small for even a pair.
Because we can't understand fish lingo, they communicate to we aquarists by actions, usually exemplified by aggressive behaviour.
If your tank is large enough, it will be mostly peaceful, if its not peaceful, the fish are telling you, its too small for your idea of appropriate.

 

[celebrist]

I agree with the OP and this is another reason I dislike bare tanks, no offense to those that do. I like to see my fish exploring their environment

 

[Ogertron3000]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I probably shouldn't be comparing some time spent in lockdown with being a fish in an aquarium but it's just made me think more about what is needed to survive and what is needed to enjoy life more. All the things you guys mentioned are true and make sense but could we possibly enhance the fishes enjoyment somehow? Would, for example changing the scape around every month be more stimulating for them or maybe alternating tankmates if suitable? Survival ,even in comfort and space is one thing but lack of stimuli and constant routine make things dull maybe even for a fish.
Who knows, it's sunny here today so I should get out and go for a walk and clear my head.

 

[esoxlucius]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I probably shouldn't be comparing some time spent in lockdown with being a fish in an aquarium but it's just made me think more about what is needed to survive and what is needed to enjoy life more. All the things you guys mentioned are true and make sense but could we possibly enhance the fishes enjoyment somehow? Would, for example changing the scape around every month be more stimulating for them or maybe alternating tankmates if suitable? Survival ,even in comfort and space is one thing but lack of stimuli and constant routine make things dull maybe even for a fish.
Who knows, it's sunny here today so I should get out and go for a walk and clear my head.

My two tanks are examples of two different scenarios.

My 180g community tank is planted and has bogwood, rocks and pvc pipes. I watch my fish in this tank and they are literally having a ball. My rainbows are constantly flashing their courtship colours and going about their business in the undergrowth. My clown loach are swimming regimentally all over the place, up and down, back and forth shadowing each other, as clowns do. My group of dennisons love the 6 foot length of the tank to dart about. And my other barbs, my odessa, rosy and filaments are so colorful and busy. I find it hard to believe that all my 180g fish aren't happy and content.

Then on the other hand my 360g community tank which houses the big boys has only a few rocks and a big piece of bogwood. I'd love to plant it but my fish would destroy them. I'm not sure how happy those fish are, they don't exhibit the busy, happy nature that the fish in my 180g do but they don't exhibit any aggressive behaviour neither to suggest they're not happy.

One thing I do know though. Although both tanks are different, they both get good food and very big weekly water changes. I think I do ok by my fish.

 

[celebrist]

My two tanks are examples of two different scenarios.

My 180g community tank is planted and has bogwood, rocks and pvc pipes. I watch my fish in this tank and they are literally having a ball. My rainbows are constantly flashing their courtship colours and going about their business in the undergrowth. My clown loach are swimming regimentally all over the place, up and down, back and forth shadowing each other, as clowns do. My group of dennisons love the 6 foot length of the tank to dart about. And my other barbs, my odessa, rosy and filaments are so colorful and busy. I find it hard to believe that all my 180g fish aren't happy and content.

Then on the other hand my 360g community tank which houses the big boys has only a few rocks and a big piece of bogwood. I'd love to plant it but my fish would destroy them. I'm not sure how happy those fish are, they don't exhibit the busy, happy nature that the fish in my 180g do but they don't exhibit any aggressive behaviour neither to suggest they're not happy.

One thing I do know though. Although both tanks are different, they both get good food and very big weekly water changes. I think I do ok by my fish.

You should probably share pics of both just so we can be sure ?

 

[esoxlucius]

You should probably share pics of both just so we can be sure ?

Here's a recent pic of my 360g. I'll post a recent one of my 180g when I get home from work later.