So I'm considering purchasing a Midas from someone. It's been in a 55 gallon and is 3 years old. Around 8 inches. Do you think that it could be stunted? What would I look for to see if it is? And do you think it would grow in a larger tank (120 gallons)?
Midas question
- Thread starter Ilikebigfish88
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Generally, my understanding is that it's not tank size that stunts a fish, but the water quality. That is to say, a smaller tanks water quality goes bad so much faster, that's why fish in smaller tanks are often stunted. That being said, being moved to good water quality should promote growth. That's my basic understanding, I could be off though.
Basically, what burphy said is true. Fish release hormones which can stunt their growth, and in a smaller tank with less water to dilute them, their growth will be hindered. If you put the fish in a larger tank with good water quality, there is a good chance it will grow more. 3 years is quite a while to remain at 8" however, and the fish may not grow any larger. This could also just be due to gender and genetics (could just be a smaller female) as well.
If it's 8 inches at 3 years old, I don't think it's stunted. It could just be a female--8 inches would be a pretty healthy size for a female Midas, I think.
What you'd look for is--I'd say "proportions". Is the fish thick, and stocky, or lanky and kinda skinny? At 3 years old, a Midas should look like a tank, a full back.
Is the fish's eyes in the right proportion to the rest of its body? If its eyes just look a little too big, or buggy, and that's because its body just hasn't really filled in completely yet, it's "stunted".
I'd say after 3 years, you pretty much have what you have with this fish. If it looks good and thick now, it may get a little thicker. If it looks kinda skinny and under developed now, then it's been dealing with very adverse conditions for years. that takes its toll.
The fish will certainly do better in a 120 after living in a 55, and it'll show after 6-12 months. But don't expect that it'll go in your 120 Gallon, and put on another 6 inches and become a MONSTER because you put it in a bigger tank.
Perhaps it'll put on more girth, and grow another inch or two over the next year, in a bigger tank? I'm guessing, but that seems possible.
What you'd look for is--I'd say "proportions". Is the fish thick, and stocky, or lanky and kinda skinny? At 3 years old, a Midas should look like a tank, a full back.
Is the fish's eyes in the right proportion to the rest of its body? If its eyes just look a little too big, or buggy, and that's because its body just hasn't really filled in completely yet, it's "stunted".
I'd say after 3 years, you pretty much have what you have with this fish. If it looks good and thick now, it may get a little thicker. If it looks kinda skinny and under developed now, then it's been dealing with very adverse conditions for years. that takes its toll.
The fish will certainly do better in a 120 after living in a 55, and it'll show after 6-12 months. But don't expect that it'll go in your 120 Gallon, and put on another 6 inches and become a MONSTER because you put it in a bigger tank.
Perhaps it'll put on more girth, and grow another inch or two over the next year, in a bigger tank? I'm guessing, but that seems possible.
If REEEEAAAAAALLLLY squint, I can kinda see ,that fish looks OK to me.
I don't know, or believe, anything I'm told or think, about fish gender anymore.
I have a female (I watched her lay eggs) barred midas, about 2-3 years old, it's 8 inches. About the same amount of hump as the fish in your picture.
Who knows. Put that fish in a bigger tank, see what happens. It looks good to me, though.
I don't know, or believe, anything I'm told or think, about fish gender anymore.
I have a female (I watched her lay eggs) barred midas, about 2-3 years old, it's 8 inches. About the same amount of hump as the fish in your picture.
Who knows. Put that fish in a bigger tank, see what happens. It looks good to me, though.
Here's my GF's big guy for comparison. He's about 10" and less than a year old
