Do african cichlids stop growing

[erpethoichthys]

Hi, everybody! During my time in the fishkeeping hobby I have read a lot about fish not growing in smaller tanks.But I have also read that fish do not stop growing and that they outgrow their tanks .The question is do cichlids stop growing in small tanks if they are given quality food and pristine water?

 

[Milingu]

No. They won't stop.

 

[RD.]

Agreed, if given proper conditions fish never completely stop growing, they only slow down as they age.

 

[Hendre]

Agreed with the above. Fish with a good foundation when young and a healthy environment will grow well. It's just people often don't keep things up to scratch in smaller tanks leading to stunting and early death. Probably a contributing part of "it only gets as big as the tank"

 

[J. H.]

I may add that the term 'african cichlids' is very broad. They range in size from 3/4" to 4'. You can get neolamprologus multifasciatus and keep them in a 5 gallon tank, but mbuna, the most commonly kept group of african cichlids, require a minimum tank of 55-120 gallons depending on the species, and some of the biggest need 1000g+.

 

[duanes]

I also agree they do not stop growing.
I have seen, fish said to reach only 6-8 inches in nature, end up 10-12" in some tanks.
The reason I believe they do stop growing in many (especially small) tanks, is that as they grow, they put out more and more urine, hormones and waste, so unless the aquarist also increases water changes along with that growth, the result of those invisible, yet chronically toxic substances impede growth.