I know they are stunted. I didn't know how big they were supposed to be until recently.
They are very healthy .
Iridescent Sharks give away
- Thread starter Lileyfud
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They are very healthy .
There is no such thing as stunted and healthy, less so very healthy, because the internal organs cannot be stunted and everything inside gets messed up. Even their eyes are too big for their body and bulge out too far because I suppose the structures inside their head don't fit in their skull and are squeezing the eyes out.
However, I don't think an IDS can be stunted like that - from a potential max size of 3'-4' to 9" in a 29 gal tank, even in the worst, hormone-loaded and nitrate-loaded of tank waters.
I believe your IDS are more likely some of the "runtest" of the runts, dinks, and culls and you are very, very far from being alone. As I've tried to state above, I tend to think you got the widely distributed refuse IDS with poor genes that the whole world seems to get - a waste that still turns profit for the food fish farmers.
It's still a good opportunity to learn about our subject matter.
However, I don't think an IDS can be stunted like that - from a potential max size of 3'-4' to 9" in a 29 gal tank, even in the worst, hormone-loaded and nitrate-loaded of tank waters.
I believe your IDS are more likely some of the "runtest" of the runts, dinks, and culls and you are very, very far from being alone. As I've tried to state above, I tend to think you got the widely distributed refuse IDS with poor genes that the whole world seems to get - a waste that still turns profit for the food fish farmers.
It's still a good opportunity to learn about our subject matter.
What do you recommend I do with them? They don't seem to be getting any bigger.
I'd keep looking for someone to give them to (or use them as an excuse to upgrade your tank haha). Like thebiggerthebetter said, perhaps they are just runts with bad genetics. If it does seem like they are suffering too much from whatever issues they have then perhaps it would be best to euthanize, which will suck after being attached to a fish for so long. Other than the eyes they seem ok though and look active judging by the picture. The choice is up to you. Someone still might want them for a pond too and who knows, they could recover... Maybe go on craigslist and post an ad, I've had decent luck rehoming and selling fish though there.
I think you're doing the right thing, if you yourself cannot keep them anymore.
Given that we can't be sure how much more they will grow, it could be acceptable if their new home is around 100-200 gal. It could be ideal to get them into 300+ gal. They should exhibit a growth spurt of however small or significant magnitude in a larger tank.
If they have a good appetite, which sounds that they do, I don't think they are suffering that much or are in pain / stress. I personally don't see a reason to kill any fish unless it is obviously on its death bed and in pain / stress.
Your tank looks nice. If you chose to continue keeping them, an upgrade would be highly desirable to at least say 55 gal or more... or at least as clean, that is filtered and changed, water as you can do.
In the age of the Internet,information at your finger tips.
Why don't people research before they buy?
No excuses,these are living creatures not a pair of sneekers.
Why don't people research before they buy?
No excuses,these are living creatures not a pair of sneekers.
To be fair like 8 years ago (yes this is sadly true, no idea how I even got schoolwork done at home) my old farts were still on dsl that was one step above dial up internet. Web pages and games froze up all the time.
And, a lot of chain stores that sell monster fish like these don't bother to train their employees right and press the ones that are knowledgeable very hard to meet quotas or get fired. So they give out wrong information or don't stand up to customers just to make a sale. Just go to almost any petsmart or petco and you will see. I stopped in at the local walmart to get soap too, looked at the poorly maintained fish section, as an example it said right on the labels that black pacus and common plecos only get 6" long and green spot puffers only need 10 gallons in freshwater. I don't want to remember the bettas...... Never went back and flatout stopped shopping at walmart haha. People see the reputable brand name and assume the employees and management are right. I think that is probably one of the biggest issues, "but petco said it's fine!!!!". They need to really update their care info. Maybe the media needs to step up and pressure them into changing their ways with negative stories?
Plus the big myths about fish that seem so popular in our culture like "fish can't feel pain and are dumb", "they only grow to fit the tank", "bettas live in mud puddles and only need half a gallon of water" carnival goldfish prizes, and fishbowls still being sold and perpetuated in as seen on tv stuff, movies, ads and other junk really doesn't help.
Perhaps case with the op was just not really having access to new info or settling back into old outdated ways since nothing else went wrong or he thought the myths were right? I wouldn't be surprised. Lotta bad stuff out there for the first time fish owner.
And, a lot of chain stores that sell monster fish like these don't bother to train their employees right and press the ones that are knowledgeable very hard to meet quotas or get fired. So they give out wrong information or don't stand up to customers just to make a sale. Just go to almost any petsmart or petco and you will see. I stopped in at the local walmart to get soap too, looked at the poorly maintained fish section, as an example it said right on the labels that black pacus and common plecos only get 6" long and green spot puffers only need 10 gallons in freshwater. I don't want to remember the bettas...... Never went back and flatout stopped shopping at walmart haha. People see the reputable brand name and assume the employees and management are right. I think that is probably one of the biggest issues, "but petco said it's fine!!!!". They need to really update their care info. Maybe the media needs to step up and pressure them into changing their ways with negative stories?
Plus the big myths about fish that seem so popular in our culture like "fish can't feel pain and are dumb", "they only grow to fit the tank", "bettas live in mud puddles and only need half a gallon of water" carnival goldfish prizes, and fishbowls still being sold and perpetuated in as seen on tv stuff, movies, ads and other junk really doesn't help.
Perhaps case with the op was just not really having access to new info or settling back into old outdated ways since nothing else went wrong or he thought the myths were right? I wouldn't be surprised. Lotta bad stuff out there for the first time fish owner.
These are not genetic runts,the eyes give it away,when a fish is in a confined space,or when there are a lot of the same fish in a lake or pond,a hormone they release slows their growth,except this doesn't work well on the eyes,however if u give these guys the proper gallonage they will start growing rather rapidly.
These are another one of those fish that should not really be kept in home aquariums unless you can afford something of golioth proportions.
They live in huge shoals and swim energetically in flowing highly oxygenated waters.They are constantly moving and get huge.
Leave them in the shops and buy a pictus.
They live in huge shoals and swim energetically in flowing highly oxygenated waters.They are constantly moving and get huge.
Leave them in the shops and buy a pictus.
All fish in that genus and similar-sized relatives shouldn't be available to the public at all. They belong in the wild, otherwise, Zoos, Museums or Public Aquariums and other forms of Public Exhibition for education purposes should be the only ones w/ these fish
