fish only get as large as their aquariums??

[snaggle]

I have heard that gold fish can live for long time, but not as long as koi.

As for the fish growing to the size of the tank, it is more like they grow to the condiion of the water. I saw a thing once where they had a crp type fish, either a goldfish or a koi, in a 20L and hd it set up with a flow through water change system so the water in that for only a min or two, the fish ended up growing up to full size.

 

[12 Volt Man]

if fish only grow to the size of their environment, my old lemon finned barbs didn't listen!

I agree -its all about excellent food and good water quality. you give your fish this, and they are going to get huge no matter what size tank they are in.

the catch is that it is difficult to maintain good water quality with huge fish in small environments..

as far as stunting and life span, I had clown loaches that were stunted and I had them for 12 years before selling them. they only got to around 3-4 inches in that time...??

 

[DemonShark]

Every single animal on the planet will "grow" to the size of its container.

Even humans. If you put a human in a 3x3' square cage as a baby, living in its poo, malnurished and diseased he won't grow too big either. The condition of the environment will severely limit normal growth. Its just stunted growth, any way you put it. Its bad for the fish, it cuts their life span in more than half. This process may not happen exactly as much if the water is very clean, but generally the smaller the tank the dirtier the water anyways.

 

[big E]

It is absolutely true as far as I know, because they will soon die!!!!! One of the all- time if not THE dumbest fish keeping Rumor ever, wish it could be forgotten. The only way is through educating fellow keepers, good to see people ask and learn!

 

[invisyblegypsey]

My point is anyone can claim without giving proof that the fish actually lived for 25 years despite the stunted growth. It's hard to believe a stunted fish live that long, let alone accidents that could have killed it or the rising nitrates and then sudden changes in its environment which could have killed it in the process just like other fish. Link please, Harlan? What strain of goldfish was this?

well said ^^^

 

[HPIZZLE]

not true

 

[KYeasting]

I don't buy into the fish growing to the size of the environment. I believe in stunting growth but not halting it in every case. I've been to one of the LFS around here to find a goldfish around the size of a grapefruit....The store owner said it grew to that size in a 5 gal. tank and then was given to him. Think of fish like kids with growth....You've seen 6' tall kids walking around that aren't even in high school yet while others never get above 5'6". I believe its in the diet, water quality and luck of the draw as far as fish size is concerned!

 

[navygirl76]

fish do not only grow to the size of their environment. My micro professor once said that fish secrete a horomone (i forget what its called) that triggers the skeleton of a fish to keep growing.. as the fish ages it slows down, but the fish never really stops growing. It grows until the organs can no longer support the size of the fish.

i wish i could find the name of that horomone..

also, some fish actually build muscle throughout life-like the giant danio. its called hyperplastic muscle growth- whereas most fish cannot do that.

 

[arherp]

From my experience, nothing stunts fishes' growth.

 

[sour_girl]

I know someone who has a gar in a 90 gallon tank and its at 17" and has been that same size for the last 3 years that I've known him.. Arent gars supposed to get to 3ft+? I am not sure what type of gar it is but I dont know of any that stay under 2ft..