At What Point Do People Realise

[JustKia]

Do people just keep hoping that the cute little fishie that is now as long as the aquarium is still going to be OK? At what point to they think "hmm, maybe this tank is a wee bit small"?
OK I'm a complete noob as far as fish go but common sense says that any fish needs enough room to turn around without squishing itself against the glass - surely?
One of the LFS just "rescued" a 2ft Red Tail Catfish from a - wait for it 4ft tank!
Right now he's in a tank about 6-7ft with a notice stating that this is a temporary home until they sort out a tank big enough for him (her?)
They're actually in the middle of some expansion work right now, and I'm always impressed by their tanks.

I can just picture the convo
"oh hi, yeah, um would you mind taking my fish off my hands, it's got a bit too big for our aquarium..."
"well, what fish is it and what size tank do you have?"
"err well it's a red tail catfish in a 4ft tank"
"####???"

 

[jonny_dw]

Some people never get the voice in their head that says "maybe this tank is a wee bit small" lol there are alot of idiots with fish such as the 2ft red tail catfish in a 4 footer.

I think the minimum room needed for a fish to turn is 2" more than its overall length. That is the bare minimum that would avoid the fish getting spinal deformaties and various other problems.

 

[JenCliBee]

basically i dont buy fish knowing they get 2 big for the tank i have reasearch is the key and i couldnt stress this more ppl have a tendency of buying fish becasue they look pretty but then find out that the fish will outgrow there tank very quickly thing if they done reaserch first then they wouldnt have that problem lol and there is probably just if not a more beautiful fish out there that stay perfectly ok sized for there tank and if they had reaserched before hand would have actually found this out ...... but u do have 2 blame LFS they know these fish get huge like the RTC but still order them in just y?? do they honestly think some 1 who goes 2 a LFS has a spare 20.000 gallon tank just sitting around lol so tbh LFS owners/keepers have 2 be partly 2 blame if they didnt stock fish they KNOW ppl wont be able 2 home for life then they shouldntstock them at all


anyways lol

 

[saz326]

I think the minimum room needed for a fish to turn is 2" more than its overall length. That is the bare minimum that would avoid the fish getting spinal deformaties and various other problems.

Yup - For sure. I like to ensure that the shortest length in any tank is at least 2 to 3 times the lentgh of any fish within.

 

[Jallen]

I'd be worried about a 2ft fish breaking the glass just by wiggling its tail