2007-02-15 03:55:38 · 19 answers · asked by kerrmat1 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
gold fish grow to the size they are going to be. A small tank will not inhibit their growth. It has been a long standing myth that a fish will only grow to the tank size.
Some gold fish only grow to 3" while others can grow larger than a foot.
They will grow quickly and will need to be rehoused. Since gold fish are "pond" fish they require 1 sq foot of water surface for every inch of fish.
They also require pleanty of dissolved Oxygen. Dissolved oxygen can only enter the water source by MOVING water. Air pumps do nothing to add dissolved O2 to the water. A fountain, powerhead a filter that dumps into the tank even a wave maker will help.
2007-02-15 03:58:05 · answer #1 · answered by danielle Z 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Oh my god, the rubbish answers that are put on here!! Unbelievable!
ALL fish will grow as big as they are supposed to grow, they do not think 'because i am in a small tank, i will not grow that much'
Unless they are physically restricted e.g jammed into a small
tank and cant even move, then they wont grow anymore BUT thats cruel, and people that do that should be shot!!
Some goldfish will only grow to 3-4" e.g Ranchus but most will grow to at least 1-1.5 feet
2007-02-16 12:33:30 · answer #2 · answered by Lolli the girl next door 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you see a goldfish that has 'only grown to the size of its tank,' that fish is stunted. Basically this happens when the fish stops growing bigger, but its internal organs continue to grow and develop. As you might imagine this has a very bad effect on the health of the fish, eventually causing premature death. Please do not get a fish that will grow too big for your tank, once it "looks" like it is outgrowing the tank, it is too late.
2007-02-15 04:04:23 · answer #3 · answered by Liz 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
They grow to adult size whether or not the tank can hold them. They also need 10 gallons per three inches of fish because they produce so much ammonia that the water becomes toxic quickly.
2007-02-15 05:09:06 · answer #4 · answered by bzzflygirl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really depends on the fish. There are mixed opinions on this whole thing, but the general consensus seems to be that no, this is a myth, the fish keep growing. People often use the plecostomus as an example. This fish is supposed to get up to 18", but it rarely grows this large in aquaria. The problem is not that the fish is only growing to the size of the environment, but that it simply doens't live long enough to get that large because of its poor treatment. Do not buy a fish that is too big for your aquarium expecting it not to grow... it will grow. I have seen plenty of people with fish who can hardly turn around in their tank. The fish will outgrow the tank, it will become deformed, and it will die if kept in too small of a tank.
As a side, it's just cruel to keep fish in a tank that is too small for them. These are animals. Just because they are fish doesn't make it ok to torture them.
"A big problem that many aquarists face is that their fish out-grow their tanks, and they are unable to get a larger aquarium because it is too expensive. In the years to come I hope to get a tank upward of 150 gallons to accommodate my growing fish. The stress resulting from fish overcrowding makes them prone to disease and attack by other fish who are determined to make room for themselves by killing their tank mates. " From the link listed below
2007-02-15 04:01:11 · answer #5 · answered by TD311 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
goldfish need bigger homes faster than you would imagine. while they will stay smaller in smaller tanks the waste they make is next to impossible to keep up with by following standard aquarium cleaning rules. goldfish in a small tank are essentially playing survivor on a daily basis -- the one that can survive the most waste wins.
2007-02-15 04:43:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Been reading up loads on goldfish as i am thinking of getting one , the answer seems to be NO . You may stunt their growth and they will die young if the tank is too small
2007-02-15 04:08:35 · answer #7 · answered by Through_a_glass_darkly 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gold fish if kept in a cold water tank don't normally grow much atall, however if you put them in a heated tank they do tend to get larger.
2007-02-15 13:23:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Only to the size of their tank I think because I had a quite small goldfish but then i think it ate my other fish :S and it kept on growing but then it just stopped when it got to bout the right size for the tank.
2007-02-15 04:00:00 · answer #9 · answered by x_Hayley_x 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋
not often will they outgrow the tank. i have kept gold fish for 30yrs. most common varieties will live in the same tank their entire lives!
just be careful what you feed, higher protein foods, shrimp, will cause a rapid growth rate. an occasional treat of brine shrimp does help improve color, though!
2007-02-15 06:30:17 · answer #10 · answered by bearfox_traders 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋