What would happen?

[sp33dstix]

My old manager from the LFS I worked at was telling me about an experiment some scientists used with trout, they kept a baby trout in a pvc tube that would almost just fit in it when it became an adult. Well what they did that and had fresh clean water always flowing over the PVC tube while providing it with the correct food. Turns out the fish grew to its adult size at the correct rate. I will try and find it.

 

[D-Train]

What about exercise? Without room to swim the fish would be unhealthy from staying in one place all day and night. I read somewhere that it would stunt a fish which was explained like this: The fish stops growing on the outside but it's organs continue to grow on the inside making a deformed fish that dies an unnatural miserable early death. I could be wrong but that's what I read somewhere in my early fishkeeping days. Has anyone else heard of that or am I misinformed?

I am under the impression this happens as well. If there is not adequate room for a fish to grow, it will not grow that big, on the outside, but the organs of that fish are not subject to the lack of space and therefore grow to a normal size, which gives you a small, deformed fish.

 

[peathenster]

My old manager from the LFS I worked at was telling me about an experiment some scientists used with trout, they kept a baby trout in a pvc tube that would almost just fit in it when it became an adult. Well what they did that and had fresh clean water always flowing over the PVC tube while providing it with the correct food. Turns out the fish grew to its adult size at the correct rate. I will try and find it.

That's exactly what they are doing at Epcot - larger "tube" and lots more fish. So I guess you need good water that flows constantly, like the "swimming in a bathtub" commercial...

 

[DemonShark]

. It's not something you should do. Get the proper tank or buy proper fishes for the tank you have.

Oh don't worry I wouldn't actually do this!

I'm just speaking hypothetically, since I ALWAYS keep fish in tanks that are even a bit too much for them, I was wondering what exactly will happen if they are in a tank that is too small for them.

Interesting discussion so far.

 

[Otherone]

Singularly I've had large fish in small tanks for a variety of reasons -Time-out being the main reason but I've never grew a large fish in a tank smaller than 55 gal. and in that 55 only one fish at a time has survived - they kill each other off. I'm definatly johnny on the spot with testing and water changes..........but i will say this the aggression goes thru the roof when the fish live in confined spaces.

 

[Dr Joe]

And the WINNER is.......

What about exercise? Without room to swim the fish would be unhealthy from staying in one place all day and night. I read somewhere that it would stunt a fish which was explained like this: The fish stops growing on the outside but it's organs continue to grow on the inside making a deformed fish that dies an unnatural miserable early death. I could be wrong but that's what I read somewhere in my early fishkeeping days. Has anyone else heard of that or am I misinformed?

This is exactly what happens.

Dr Joe

.

 

[justin guest]

And the WINNER is.......



This is exactly what happens.

Dr Joe

.

Easy then...
Start an exercise pragram for your fish. Just turn the fish around in the morning before work and once again when you get back home. Don´t forget to pour water on it´s back occasionally as well though... replaces the water loss due to sweating

j<><

 

[le patron]

well the topic is highly debated, but this is the way i think of it: Would I like to live in a box that i couldnt turn around in or move around freely?
also besides that, I research the fish i want to get for hours and even though I may really want it but my tank isnt big enough, I wont get the fish. Thats what I think about keeping fish in tanks far too small for them, other than the obvious physical repercussions to the fish, like stunted growth and premature death