Lets talk about a hot topic "Appropriate tank size for ____"

[shamrock]

We always bring up the fish feeling like their tank is to small. This may be true with a WC fish but how does an aquarium bred fish even know what wild spaces are. Lets stop giving our fish human emotions for awhile and be realistic. Yes fish do get hungry feel a need to propgate and feel pain. But I don't think our fish love us ,know that the tank they were raied in is to small or many of the other feelings we believe they have. Another exreme I have read a few times is that a tank is to big for fry to find food. Think where fish live in the wild our tanks are no where near those sizes and the fry find food and grow. Their biggest issue there is not getting eaten themselves and if they are eaten the rest of the fry don't mourn their passing. Why can we not just enjoy our hobby do the best we can for our fish and tell the bunny huggers to take a hike. What they are pushing is merely their personal opinion not words we have to live by.

Well said! Very good point, appreciate the statement!

 

[shamrock]

An 8 foot from a 4 foot changes quite a lot I think.
A fish may be able to reach full speed in an 8 and may not in a 4,
It has twice the length to swim in.I know which I would choose if I were a fish.

I have said all I feel is worth saying.I have my views, others have theirs.
Nothing will change,we just go round in circles.

If you were a fish? Dude, really?

 

[Hendre]

If the tank is big enough they can reach the size

 

[shamrock]

You asume a lot about my experience without knowing anything about me.
And I can't be arsed to carry on arguments about fish size.
Please press ignore, I'd be delighted.

That is the thing that really annoys me with you. I keep asking for your exp. on certain fish, yet you give me none. Instead you copy and paste some internet site or video on youtube.

I don't mind a healthy debate, you can always learn something from other exp. fish keepers. You on the other hand just argue for the sake of arguing.

 

[shamrock]

The problem is it has been proven that small tanks are bad for fish as their growth is stunted.

Say you buy a baby fish that should reach 20 inches. You keep him in 55. He only reaches 11 inches...otherwise he looks healthy. Is this acceptable? It shouldn't be.

That is not what most of us are saying. Of course it is cruel to put a 20 inch fish in a 55 gallon tank-I am with you on that. But some of the arguments like an Oscar can't fit in a 110 comfortably are a bit far.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

That is the thing that really annoys me with you. I keep asking for your exp. on certain fish, yet you give me none. Instead you copy and paste some internet site or video on youtube.

I don't mind a healthy debate, you can always learn something from other exp. fish keepers. You on the other hand just argue for the sake of arguing.

I've never copy and pasted anything from the Internet. I feel no need to justify my experience and I suggest you take a chill pill before you burst a blood vessel or something.

 

[J. H.]

I have a 32" Oscar in my 55. Will it be okay or should I move my other fish to a different tank to give it room?
Who cares how big an oscar gets or how much oscar experience anyone else has. The point was that fish like to be able to breathe and that there should be somewhere for people to post thoughts on this.

 

[Montelboom]

The thing about Oscars is that taking a guess at what an individuals max size would be is a bit of a crap shot. It'll depend mostly on whether or not the fish has the genetics to grow to the fabled 17 inches. Then of course next you'll have environment such as tank size, water parameters, etc coming in as factors. I believe that an Oscar can attain such a massive size, BUT it wholly depends on if it has the potential. I think that a wild caught O from a reputable dealer has a much greater chance of hitting 15-17" inches rather than the typical chain pet store Oscar. Those at most maybe will hit 15 inches, but most likely would top out at 13-14 inches.

 

[shamrock]

I think this is true of many species.
I remember recently some posted a link to a paper on fish behaviour. The article was basically saying that fish that have been raised in tanks with a detailed and natural aquascape were healthier than ones in sparsely decorated bare tanks.
Without stimulation some fish suffer for it.
I think this is especially true for intelligent fish like cichlids.
A small tank will only have a minimal amount of room for such decor,providing the fish very little to explore.
A larger area can have lots of decor,defining different area and zones that the fish can explore and swim round.
These types of stimulation have proven to be more beneficial to fish health and it's not surprising.
I have seen lots of oscars moping about in a bare 75 looking pitiful and bored out its brain.
Put one in a big tank with rocks and roots to explore and you have a different animal altogether.

How do you know that said Oscar was moping? How do

what does being fish have to do with making sure they are comfortable as all good hobbyists should do?

When did I ever say that they should not be comfortable. Perhaps you should go back and read what else I posted?

 

[shamrock]

My mistake your quite right.
Must learn the size of my own tank.

Wait? For someone who cares so much you don't know the dimensions of your tank?