I guess the title says it all... I am building a 700g tank, and have decided to stay away from RTC and TSNs because they just get too big even for that size tank, plus once they hit 18" they'd probably eat some of my stock... however I regularly see them as trade ins at LFS in the ~12-15" - someone kept them in a 55g for a few years, etc. Are such specimens likely to be permanently stunted? Or would they get just as big when given a bigger home? I am just curious because I am sure my tank would be better for them than your typical hobbyist's tank, but I also wouldn't intentionally get a baby because they just get too big.
How permanent is catfish stunting?
- Thread starter Quo Vadis
- Start date
i once recieved a 7-8" channel catfish reported to be 7 yrs old that lived in a 46 gal.... put him in a 300 gal and he quickly shot up to 18"... put him in a 1700gal pool and he blew up to 32" within 6 months. Hes currently in a outdoor pond now. Last time someone caught him he was over 10lbs. Stunting may not be reversed 2 drastically in a 700 gal... but when given the optimal space they deserve they grow. Also picked up some 20-24" i.d. sharks outta a 500 gal store display... put them in my friends 4,000 gal and there well over 3' now a cple yrs later.
The main issue with stunting is the extent of nitrite poisoning (Brown-blood disease/Methemoglobinemia) the fish has endured from the improper maintenance that caused it to become stunted in the first place. Fish blood cells are nucleated (mammals use bone marrow). Recovery (and subsequent growth renewal) is limited to the time it takes for the fish to recover a healthy level of normal red blood cells. Another restricting factor towards its recovery is any organ damage resulting from lack of O2. If the fish is resilient enough (and properly maintained) to make a full recovery, there's no reason for it to not attain its full adult size.
Well I think they will attain more size once given more space. Unless you see body deformity then I think with increased size comes better health. When fish like them get to crammed in space their movement drastically decreases which slows down there growth.
Many thanks to Oddball sharing his authoritative knowledge. I thought I'd also link Oddball's ealier related post on page 2, second from the top describing the brown blood disease and the resulting organ damage and premature death. http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/red-tail-cats-outgrowing-225-g.583525/page-2
That, sadly, may be true. But one cannot save fish by buying them because cash flow generates an interest opposite of what we'd desire.
I'd think we desire both vendors and buyers to become aware of what they are doing, to learn a lesson. When either or both suffer losses, a little bit of pain, they (generally) learn, sadly but true. When either or both pass along their problems to someone else and get some or all of their invested money back, or even a profit (!), it only encourages the inhumane practices they had already become a part of. A vivid propagation of a proverbial vicious cycle.
For the third time, sadly, we tend to learn the best from our own actions and their consequences, not from reading about actions and consequences of other people, nor from general education or awareness or advices of others.
We tend to think highly of ourselves and reckon, even if subconsciously "This will never happen to me, I got it under control, I'll find a way, I... I... I..." Or not think at all, just engage in as much daily pleasing of ourselves as we possibly can - that is the other prominent reason, namely, that we tend to be selfish and strive to please ourselves first and foremost "I want this fish. I am getting it." Instant gratification.
We forget or learn later that any commitment, be it to a human being or an animal, is both a pleasure and a sacrifice. We all know and like the first part. We don't think about the second part but it will never go away. And in the end, it is the other party in our commitment that pays the ultimate sacrifice. Our "beloved" pet.
I'd think we desire both vendors and buyers to become aware of what they are doing, to learn a lesson. When either or both suffer losses, a little bit of pain, they (generally) learn, sadly but true. When either or both pass along their problems to someone else and get some or all of their invested money back, or even a profit (!), it only encourages the inhumane practices they had already become a part of. A vivid propagation of a proverbial vicious cycle.
For the third time, sadly, we tend to learn the best from our own actions and their consequences, not from reading about actions and consequences of other people, nor from general education or awareness or advices of others.
We tend to think highly of ourselves and reckon, even if subconsciously "This will never happen to me, I got it under control, I'll find a way, I... I... I..." Or not think at all, just engage in as much daily pleasing of ourselves as we possibly can - that is the other prominent reason, namely, that we tend to be selfish and strive to please ourselves first and foremost "I want this fish. I am getting it." Instant gratification.
We forget or learn later that any commitment, be it to a human being or an animal, is both a pleasure and a sacrifice. We all know and like the first part. We don't think about the second part but it will never go away. And in the end, it is the other party in our commitment that pays the ultimate sacrifice. Our "beloved" pet.
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I probably must clarify that most of my prior post is based on personal experience and the analysis of my behavior.