Wild Size vs. Aquarium Size

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
benzjamin13

benzjamin13

Administrator
Staff member
Administrator
MFK Member
Sep 12, 2005
31,652
647
201
Los Angeles, CA
I've been looking at a lot of books lately and I'm curious to see how everyone feels about some books labeling fish size.

Example: Can reach 39" in wild
Will reach 16" in aquarium

What do you guys feel about that information?
 
I think that it's actually true a lot of the time. Clown knifes get 3 feet in the wild, and usually not much over 2 feet in the home aquarium. That also applies for some fish. It has to do with replicating their wild habitat, above all. But I've never heard of such a difference: 16"-39"
 
yes such as jags getting 20"+ in the wild while most in captivity don't stretch past 15"

its just hard to replicate nature exactly and make fish reach their full potential.
 
Nabbig2;997044; said:
I think that it's actually true a lot of the time. Clown knifes get 3 feet in the wild, and usually not much over 2 feet in the home aquarium. That also applies for some fish. It has to do with replicating their wild habitat, above all. But I've never heard of such a difference: 16"-39"
Click to expand...


THough there are some that live up to the wild size in the home aquaria!! I seen a Clown knife measured and put into a tank at one of our lfs. He was 36" on the tape!!!! I believe the measurement on the hump was 12-15" !

Personally I have no clue as to aquarium size and wild... I have to go with the people i see and the books until the book is proven wrong..

But i sure do go with the book on tetras and other stuff like that :D
 
Here's another question that just came to mind...

A RTC can get 5' in the wild, but rarely exceeds 2' in aquarium. Do you guys believe that it's the aquarium life or bad fish keeping?
 
benzjamin13;997063; said:
Here's another question that just came to mind...

A RTC can get 5' in the wild, but rarely exceeds 2' in aquarium. Do you guys believe that it's the aquarium life or bad fish keeping?
Click to expand...

both

mostly because they are really active fish at night, and swim ery much in their natural habitat, nut in the home aquarium ther is no way you can have a 3' plus cat swim alot in a 240 or even 400 gallon tank

plus not everyone feeds there fish everytime there hungry most feed every or every other day only once.

also that would take quite some time for an RTC to get that big and most people give em away or they die.
 
Personally I would have to say I believe it is stunting. Thats only my opinion though :)
 
I don't know what to believe. On the one hand, harsh conditions toughen up the subject, which could mean growth to deal with the conditions. On the other hand, ideal conditions would also seem to mean growth.
Although, my compromise would probably be believing that fish that are in a well maintained aquarium are happier because they do not need to change to deal with anything really. I would be happier if I was fed regularly instead of having to go find my food.
 
in the end it all comes down to what tank size. imo because if you have a tank that reproduces the wild almost perfectly then chances are fish will get the same size as the wild
 
benzjamin13;997063; said:
Here's another question that just came to mind...

A RTC can get 5' in the wild, but rarely exceeds 2' in aquarium. Do you guys believe that it's the aquarium life or bad fish keeping?
Click to expand...

Okay, just 2' is bad care. But 3 or 4 feet, that's just not replicating nature.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom