Stunting Fish Growth.

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R

Robben

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 12, 2007
14
0
0
UK
How does this work.
It's the only thing I worry about now-a-days.

What causes a stunt?
is it space fish can grow into (65g for example)? or space "that's left over"
(example: 10, 10" fish in a 110gal)

I really don't understand Stunting
I have 8 Acaras, 6 firemouths, 2 gt, 1 oscar, 2 severums in a 110gal tank.

2 Juvi Dempsey and 2 GT in a 65g for GROWOUT only.. Obviously as it's a growout i want max size.

I do 30%/RO/DI (re-mineraled) every week without fail.
Am I just paranoid?

(Note: some of my Acaras are ugly and iv'e found a home for a few in the new year. Still waiting for FM's to pair off)

Fish stunting seems to be the new topic of the century for fish


An ol'e lady over here told me it's the SIZE of the TANK/vol of water that determines growth, and not "stocking" or "space"

Thanks again for another one of my stupid questions regarding my fish.
 
alot determines growth food/waterchanges/space,but stunting is primarily a space issue.If the fish doesnt have room to swim bones and muscle dont develop properly and you get curved spines curled fins and internal organ deformities.
 
I've seen stupid amounts of stocking in small tanks on YouTube, yet sometimes they are really nice speicemens(sp?)

there is one of an oscar, jd, gt and a few others in a 30gal who are massive but clearly unhappy.
 
well i've known that eventhough you have a small tank the fish will continue its normal grow rate.. that stunting and deformities are cause by bad water conditions and by bad feeding.

BUT in my experiences (no bad stunting) with 5 julidochromis, all grew normaly exept for one, these little juli use to live in the smallest cave..well i wasn't even a cave it was a crack between to rocks and to properly fit in it or don't really know it stops growing while the other 4 were half more his size and the little one ate normally and continue with his happy life..
 
Water changes are key for maximum growth!
 
I agree it is definitely water changes that keep them from getting stunted. The tank also needs to be big enough to keep water from getting bad between water changes though!

I don't think 30% per week is being paranoid at all! I do at least twice that. The species that you're keeping don't really need ro/di water, but if your tap water is bad (nitrates, chlorine/chloramine), then it's a good idea.

hth,
windsurfer
 
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