What is stunting?

[fishbum]

I use to think it was when the body of a fish stopped growing,but the internal organs continued to grow. I have now heard this is a myth.

So what exactly happens when a fish's growth is stunted? Does it kill them? Can a fish survive being stunted?

 

[scriving]

i always though it was what you just explained

 

[bud]

I think it is just a fish that never reaches it's full size.I have a friend that has 2 Oscar in a 29gl .they are 4 yrs old and about 5'' but still spawn and act normal but are shaped a little funny.

 

[Zander_The_RBP]

I personaly don't believe that the organs continue to grow while the fish is stunted an animals body simply dosen't work like that.


Although it's cause is somewhat of a myth it's not the size of the tank but rather the poor water quality associated with a small volume of water and thereby the induced stress which cuases the fish's metabolism to slow to the point where growth stops.

 

[scriving]

i dont know about that your saying if i was running to fx5s on a 30 gallon tank with a silver aro in their the fish would continue to grow even though i had pristine water conditions?

 

[bud]

i dont know about that your saying if i was running to fx5s on a 30 gallon tank with a silver aro in their the fish would continue to grow even though i had pristine water conditions?

A silver will not grow huge in a 29 but a midas can reach the 12'' mark if you do huge water changes twice a week

 

[scriving]

exactly

 

[12 Volt Man]

I personaly don't believe that the organs continue to grow while the fish is stunted an animals body simply dosen't work like that.

agreed. the body doesn't grow to full size and the organs grow accordingly. they don't keep growing.

the idea that a 3 inch fish has organs that continue growing as if it was an 8" fish for example is nonsense.

but its one of those myths that gets spread around..

 

[scriving]

so exactly what happens?

 

[Zander_The_RBP]

i dont know about that your saying if i was running to fx5s on a 30 gallon tank with a silver aro in their the fish would continue to grow even though i had pristine water conditions?

you still wont have pristine water in that set up it's more to do with the water change routine and nitrate level.


you would need to be doing ALOT of water changes to keep growth inhibiting hormones under control and nitrates at non-toxic levels.
at a certain point you would not be able to keep up with the nitrate and hormone levels and stunting becomes inevitable. If you could keep up with them then yes the silver aro will continue to grow to the point where it wouldn't even be able to turn around in that tank and be stuck in like one position.