Growth Rate Overreactions/Exaggeration?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I don't know if this is just the vegetarian/animal lover coming out of me, but I don't think it's right to say an RTC is okay in a 55 gallon because it fits. It's a living animal for peat sake.

I'm in no way against grow out tanks. If you want to keep a monster fish in a small tank until it reaches a certain size, I say go for it as long as you are fully aware of that fish's future needs.

I have a 9" clown knife in a 120 right now. I know that I will have to eventually upgrade the tank. Unfortunately, most people such as myself can't guarantee that upgrading is a possibility. I may end up renting a place that won't allow it or I could find myself financially unable. If I can't upgrade the tank, I will have to sell him to someone who can properly care for him. I'm prepared for that.

I think where problems occur is when a person has intent to upgrade or sell the fish but all the while the fish is getting larger, the owner keeps putting it off. Then you end up with a "stunted" fish. I always here people say things such as "I don't think Tiger Shovel nose cats grow that fast. I had one in a 55 gallon for two years before it died. It didn't grow an larger than 2 feet!"
Then you have to ask yourself "Why did a catfish with a 20 year life span die within 2 years?"

The bottom line is; sell your fish or upgrade before it gets to that point. I completely understand wanting to experience the fish. Just make sure that you fully understand the needs of the fish as well as your capabilities.
 
It's hard to argue one way or another, I used to believe the bigger the better was the way it should be. Ideally fish do better with more room, but after I put my green terror trio in a 125 after growing them out in a 56, they didn't seem to enjoy the room. They preferred using on side of the tank mostly, and hid a lot more even though I put a lot of cover in there for them. I sold one female, the other passed away, and I gave in and moved my male back to the 56 with some blue gourami and cory cats and he was happy again. Sometimes things work differently. I have seen some crammed JDM tanks too, it's hard to argue with something that seems to work for some people - although I honestly don't understand it still.
 
Some fish such as cichlids seem to do better in overstocked tanks and of course, sometimes it just comes down to the individual personality of the fish. I have a pleco that never goes over to the left side of his tank but I'm not going to decrease his tank size in half. I just think of it this way; a fish may not ever swim to the other side of the river. However, the space is always there.

IMHO I feel that if you have the ability, it's typically a good idea to give your fish an ample amount of space. But everybody views fish differently. I see them as an animal, not a decoration. And just because I could make it work, doesn't make it humane. I fit in a phone booth but I sure as hell don't want to live in one.

I'm not against putting fish in a tank that's slightly below what most would say is a minimum tank size as long as the fish is properly cared for (water quality, tank mates, diet, and just overall health and comfort). I just hate to see fish owners that neglect to see when their fish is becoming stunted. There comes a point where you have three options; let the fish become stunted or sell/upgrade. I prefer the latter.
 
I just want to point out that if my posts seem rude, I really don't mean them to be. I love threads like this because everybody in the aqua hobby approaches things differently and it's just really interesting to read other peoples perspectives. :)
 
All depends on the fish, I'd put a big slow cat in a grow out longer than I'd keep bass for example. And while your c
Growth was fast in the same amount of time I had a 1.5" RTCxTSN go to almost 23". I'd always advise people to keep their fish in more room than they need, than too little.
 
Bottom line is do your research. Buy the big tank first then the fish that will get really big. If you can't afford or house the big tank then go with a fish you can handle.
 
i just want to share this experience.... i had attended a workshop on growing fish commercially i a cage or in a pond. we were told that any big fish requires at least 5 gal of water for every 1 cubic inches of fish body mass.... that should be the ideal water ratio for one to have successful and profitable investment in growing fish..... now that i am living in the city,i tried to applied the principle in an aquarium tank... and found out it is almost as near as the 55 gal requirement for a full grown oscar (12" long).

presently, i have a 6ft L x 36"W x 24"H tank housing the ff: 2 x 28"pangasius, 1 x 24"CKF, 1 x24"silver aro, 1 x 10"pacu, 1 x 12"oscar and late addition of 1 x 6"FH. outgrow the tank... NO, the tank is shrinking! but yes, with dedication and proper maintenance... it is doable... they exist and healthy for almost 3 years now... (take not... the sizes is current size; of course, they are smaller before)
 
Draco Hugo said:
i just want to share this experience.... i had attended a workshop on growing fish commercially i a cage or in a pond. we were told that any big fish requires at least 5 gal of water for every 1 cubic inches of fish body mass.... that should be the ideal water ratio for one to have successful and profitable investment in growing fish..... now that i am living in the city,i tried to applied the principle in an aquarium tank... and found out it is almost as near as the 55 gal requirement for a full grown oscar (12" long).

presently, i have a 6ft L x 36"W x 24"H tank housing the ff: 2 x 28"pangasius, 1 x 24"CKF, 1 x24"silver aro, 1 x 10"pacu, 1 x 12"oscar and late addition of 1 x 6"FH. outgrow the tank... NO, the tank is shrinking! but yes, with dedication and proper maintenance... it is doable... they exist and healthy for almost 3 years now... (take not... the sizes is current size; of course, they are smaller before)
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You are comparing apples & oranges, what is acceptable in commercial farming should not in any way shape or form be applied in the home aquarium. A 10" pacu in three years? Doesn't this seem off a bit? Stunted perhaps? Would you say this is a healthy fish because it exists & doesn't seem to have an obvious disease? I agree with you that with dedication & proper maintenance, you can keep these fish alive, but in the long run healthy they are not.
 
framcosco said:
You are comparing apples & oranges, what is acceptable in commercial farming should not in any way shape or form be applied in the home aquarium. A 10" pacu in three years? Doesn't this seem off a bit? Stunted perhaps? Would you say this is a healthy fish because it exists & doesn't seem to have an obvious disease? I agree with you that with dedication & proper maintenance, you can keep these fish alive, but in the long run healthy they are not.
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sorry, perhaps i did not make myself clear... what i mean is that space and tank size play an important role in fish growth.. contrary to the OP. the 10' pacu is just 3 months old from the 1.5 inches long while the fh is from my 20 gal tank, same age with the pacu...
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