What is stunting?

[12 Volt Man]

agreed, you still should follow basic guidelines but there is a slight gray area of the appropriate tank size. my personal opinion is that a fish too big looks dumb in a small aquarium.

I agree. my lemonfins, for example were way too big for their tank. I didn't know they were going to get so big. the books say 7"

so much for that info LOL

 

[Bderick67]

Are eyes considered organs? Many stunted fish have eyes the are unproportionally large for the body size.

There are many factors that can contribute to stunting, water conditions, tank size, nutrition, overcrowding, stress, disease and I'm sure the are other factors as well.

 

[zspidel]

I agree. my lemonfins, for example were way too big for their tank. I didn't know they were going to get so big. the books say 7"

so much for that info LOL

haha, i didnt mean your fish were too big. but some ppl take it to the extreme

 

[12 Volt Man]

haha, i didnt mean your fish were too big. but some ppl take it to the extreme

its okay. they WERE too big.

now I have some growing in a 150g that should be much better off.

 

[zspidel]

i think the more importantly the fish were still great looking and living although a little cramped. theres a lot of ppl on here that think you should have a 360g with 117 fx5's for a flowerhorn.

 

[12 Volt Man]

theres a lot of ppl on here that think you should have a 360g with 117 fx5's for a flowerhorn.

hahaha

 

[dparks87]

i think the more importantly the fish were still great looking and living although a little cramped. theres a lot of ppl on here that think you should have a 360g with 117 fx5's for a flowerhorn.

So true, many forums I have been on have contributers who really push the min tank boundries. Lets be honest, even the biggest tanks are still puddles in the grand scheme of things. My personal beleif is that if you can keep the water free enough of growth inhibiting elements, than your fish will continue to grow, even if at slower rate due to tank size. Jack Wattley discussed this topic a bit in a previouse aquarium fish magazine i read. http://discusguide.com/massive-discus-growth/

That is the closest to the article I could find for now. its not the best representation of the writing but it works.

 

[SteveR]

I think a distinction needs to be made here.

there is a difference between putting some clown loaches in a 65g tank, feeding them daily, changing water weekly and otherwise giving them a good environment

vs.

putting a pacu in a 20g tank, power feeding it until it is 8" long in there, and expecting it to lead a long and happy life..

both fish are stunted.

but,

one set will live forever and be happy, active and colourful

the other fish will be smashed up, in bad condition, and probably deformed..

I get what your saying, but may I take it further. Why are the loaches in the 65G stunted? E.g. could have them in there a good few years before the need would come to upgrade the tank really...as long as the water was tip top I don't see why they would get stunted?

I would even take that further; say you kept them in that tank for 12 years but you did huge changes and powerfed, and they had little competition from other fish for food. Surely they'd grow nice and big I would think...

 

[12 Volt Man]

would even take that further; say you kept them in that tank for 12 years but you did huge changes and powerfed, and they had little competition from other fish for food. Surely they'd grow nice and big I would think...

actually, they had lots of competition, as they were always in with large fish like barbs, redhooks and syndontis cats.

I believe thats why they remained small after so many years.

 

[SteveR]

actually, they had lots of competition, as they were always in with large fish like barbs, redhooks and syndontis cats.

I believe thats why they remained small after so many years.

Yeh I get that; was just playing devil's advocate, ie if they where in there themselves...