Seems to be some mixed views on this one.
2007-07-27 04:44:14 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
True to a certain extent. Genetics still plays a part in this. Whether it be fish, or plants, or people, doesn't matter. There are still limits genetically to how large something can grow. Now over time, and we are talking time on evolutionary scales, sure, something could evolve to bigger ability. I am sure if we were able to go back in time, and observe the first whales that developed, they probably were not the sizes we see today. In fact, since we don't know the overall parameters of the world in the past, some species may have reduced in size ability. But in terms of keeping fish in your tanks, if you put a pleco, that you have in your 29 gallon tank, into say a 250 gallon tank, that pleco is not going to grow to be 8 feet in length either. I think the thing to focus on is giving enough space to thrive and grow well in when it comes to fish in how big they can get. Consider a fish like a Betta. In nature their enviroment is shallow water, but much wider space at thier disposal to move around in. Put them in a bigger set up of water, like a 10 or 15 gallon tank, and they could last several years on end, but I don't think you're going to grow this monster 12 inch Betta either. Thriving and growing to tank capacity isn't always equivilant if that helps.
JV
2007-07-27 04:52:11 · answer #1 · answered by I am Legend 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
It depends on a few factors. I read in a current issue of Practical Fishkeeping that touched on this issue. I believe the conclusion that the author reached was that it's a combination of water condition and size of the tank. Fish will develop better in a larger tank with great water conditions compared to the same size tank with dirty water. It also depends on the species. Animals have a max size that they can get to. I don't think you'll find a 12 in zebra danio no matter the size of the tank.
2007-07-27 13:42:08 · answer #2 · answered by bakura1980 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It depends on how much they eat and what kind of fish it is. But most fish in smaller tanks will grow too large for the tank anyway. If someone put you in room that was only 5 feet tall...would you only grow to be 5 feet tall? No.
2007-07-27 13:17:53 · answer #3 · answered by Mr.Robot 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is false, a fish will grow to the maximum size that is common for their species as long as they are kept in clean, pure water constantly and fed the proper food that is required by that particular species.
All fish excrete hormones into the water as they eliminate waste from their bodies. These hormones build up in the water and control their rate of growth. If water changes are done religiously and the fish has excellent water quality, it will grow to its' full potential as long as it is fed right.
A group of fish in a tank where the water is not partially changed on a regular basis will excrete hormones that eventually tell all the fish in that group that the tank is over crowded and they will not reach their full growth potential. This allows them all to exist on the available food and territory until the environment changes or they die of old age, all of them stunted in growth.
That statement that fish only grow as large as the tank space allows is old, very old. It comes from back in the early days of keeping fish when people did not know how important weekly partial water changes are to the health and well being of the fish in their care. Back then, people just kept filling the tank up to counter the water lost to evaporation and did not remove water at all. Consequently the ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and hormones all built up to toxic levels and eventually killed the fish leading to the belief that fish only grew to the size of the tank they were in and then died.
We know today that weekly partial water changes are the most important thing you can do to keep your fish healthy and happy....other than feeding them the right foods for their species.
2007-07-27 12:10:45 · answer #4 · answered by 8 In the corner 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
True
But this is only because the fish get stunted and end up living just a fraction of their potential life span, and thus, stop growing. It is NOT a good thing, unless you deem them 'just fish, and their lives don't matter much anyway.
2007-07-27 12:07:25 · answer #5 · answered by Ghapy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
False. Fish will grow if water conditions are right. Its very hard to keep correct water conditions in small aquariums and that is the reason the fish are stunted. If you could continiously circulate fresh water the fish will grow to their correct adult size weather they had room to move or not.
2007-07-27 12:04:05 · answer #6 · answered by Sunday P 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
stunting?
lets put it this way, a Irridencent shark is common at a pet store at 3 inches, they will max out in the wild at 41-45 inches,
U put it in a small tanks, lets say 10 gallon, i dont think it will get to 41 inches in a tank that is lets say 17 inches long.
So yes, but the problem is with stunting, the inside of the fish grows while the body doesnt, so that is what causes the fish to die faster than it wouldif it was in a bigger tank.
In your case, 29 with a pleco if i remember, a common pleco will never grow to what it should in a 29gallon.
2007-07-27 11:49:03 · answer #7 · answered by Coral Reef Forum 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
FALSE- fish grow as large or as small as their "breed" allows. Goldfish will only grow as big as gold fish grow unless u feed them to much which is a no-no.
2007-07-27 11:47:51 · answer #8 · answered by O.o 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Well for most fish that statement is false. But when it comes to plecosomus (type of algea eater) They can get as big as there tank allows them to.
2007-07-27 11:47:33 · answer #9 · answered by tatertot3535 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
false
2007-07-27 14:28:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋