Smaller tank+Live feeders= healthy/secure monster? Youtube observation thread.

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arowanaryan

Piranha
MFK Member
Aug 30, 2011
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North Attleboro
I have been watching videos on youtube about huge beast fish in peoples tanks for a long time and have seen an odd theme in lots of my favorite videos with some magnificent specimens and I wanted to get peoples opinions from MFK on it.

It is widely said and known on here that fish in small tanks that are fed goldfish only diets will most likely die. This is especially true with with more delicate species such as Payara,ATF, and rarer stingrays such as Tiger Rays or Pearls.

However, I have been noticing that while marveling at peoples monsters on youtube that my favorite videos with the best looking specimens are mostly videos titled in Chinese. Now I have had it explained to me that people in asia have "JDM" style tanks because they simply don't have as much room for a large tank because of the dense population and simple lack of room.I believe Fugupuff explained this to me in a thread I had about a huge Goliath Tiger in a small looking tank. Most of these videos also show live feeder goldfish in the tank that the monster fish can eat at will. They do have filtration on all of them that is most likely 10-20 times higher rated then the tank has gallons wise.

This seems to contradict what I have been previously told on MFK.

To make things clear I don't necessarily agree with this "style" of fish keeping, but to each his own.

My questions are, why is this so? Does it make them feel more secure? Is live food actually good for them? Maybe more natural? Why don't these fish bang themselves around on the glass like I am often told they will if kept in tanks this size?

Any feedback is very welcome. I'll post video examples A.S.A.P.
 
With all the pioneers against small tanks and feeder goldfish here on MFK I thought I'd get a little more feedback on why this has worked for others but is so spirited against on here.....
 
since no pros have commented, you get 100% speculation from me, LOL.
The tank size has to be working 'biologically' due lots of filtration & water changes.
Maybe 'behaviorally', bcuz the fish never know anything except cramped space, they don't fight it or feel stressed by the 4 walls.?
maybe being less active demands less of certain nutrients that would be used up by exercise. ?
also, just bcuz you see feeder fish in tank, doesn't mean that's ALL they get, or even a high percentage of their diet. I'd bet they get good nutrition. perhaps in small tank, feeders give them some mental stimulation and help compensate for environmental/habitat/social deprivations ?
although it really seems like a sucky life!

I think people tend to impose the same limits on our pets that we are willing to tolerate ourselves. I need lots of personal space and feel best when my tanks are under-stocked. not only bcuz of waste management, but due to 'what' I enjoy watching. when all my fish are bumping fins with each other it's not relaxing for ME.
[JUST some guesses]
 
also, you'd really have to ask questions rather than assuming that the fish are LIVING the same way they are displayed. maybe they're in there for the 'photo shoots'.?
there might be an herbal calming remedy in use- who knows?
 
Some people also like to buy their fish full grown just because it is living in the tank now doesn't mean it will be a good long term home.

Same thing can be said with a lot of people that keep reef tanks they always take pictures shortly after it is set up you never get to see it in 3-6 months when most of it has died off and they have cyano bacteria all over
 
I've also noticed a good amount of the tanks in chinese are not completely filled, I was wondering what that was about? Maybe added surface agitation and better security of the fish jumping but I don't know.
Back to your point, I have noticed this myself, especially with snakeheads in like 30g's although they always seem to be alone, heavily filtered, and well cared for. I think a single fish CAN live in pretty tight quarters but until someone is experienced this seems destined for failure. (ex: newbie gets an oscar in a 10 gallon -filter is for a ten gallon- not cycled-water params are off, etc) I think saying large tanks is better is a way to keep the inexperienced ones away from fish they're not ready for. But I bet 95% of the people on this site have the means to handle some big fish in smaller tanks with good nutrition, excellent filtration (#1 in my opinion), and all around good care (water changes etc). Thats my personal opinion, and I've seen it done in the states as well (ex flowerhorns in 30's and 55's) but it seems the two factors most influential is filtration and single fish, no communities.
 
I live in Hong Kong, so let me give this a shot...

Property prices in this town for the most part is crazy... To give you an idea, buying an apartment in a nicer area you would expect to pay no less than about USD $1500 for 1sqFt of space.,. And if its really up market you can expect to pay up to 5 times more than that...

So considering that, most average homes for people with rather low / average income is about 500 - 1000 sqFt which is really tiny when you consider these homes often have at least 1 family with kids, and in some cases even grand parents...

This leaves very little room for fish tank space if any... Which is why even 24" - 36" tanks are considered massive over here...

Now why do they all feed gold fish etc.. Reason is simple they dont know any better...

As an example... Most shops specializing in aro's for example give there fish 1 of 3 things; f/w prawns around the size of ghost shrimp / centipedes or gutter fish...

Gutter fish are exactly what they sound like, fish caught in gutters and sold as feeders...

Infact they are so bad i've heard many peoples fish wont even eat them even though they are picivores...

So over all i would say its about being un educated and lack of space why you see fish in tight quaters all the time...

As for why they look healthy... A lot of the time these fish are new so still reasonably healthy in videos... Try looking ar them after 5 years... There is one shop here with 3 4ft plus golden aro's in tiny awuariums sitting there for at least 3 years now with bent backs and drop eye... So no they arent all well taken care of...

Except for those that people pay 10-20K usd for those may have a healthier and better life, since the poeple that can afford them normally have bigger homes too


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
No more input, I'm sure there's more experience on this site.
 
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