Is this true - Fish will only grow to size of tank

[leongreenway]

My Boss at work has the following

2 New Guinea Rainbows
1 Angel
6 Neon Tetras
3 guppies
4 Corrie
3 Golden chinese algae eaters
1 Red Dwarf Gourami

in a 110 Litre tank.

in a different discussion one of the users pointed out to me that the Chinese Algae eaters can get to about 30cm.
this will be a problem. I know this is right. They also said that Angel may eat the tetras when it gets big enough. I can see this happening as well now.

I spoke to the boss and he turned round and said (wait for it) Fish only ever grow to a percentage of the size of the tank. I do not believe this for a second. Can anybody clear this up as he was totally convinced and said i was talking rubbish.

Leon

 

[Tolak]

It's bs. The outer body will remain small, but the internal organs will try to grow to normal size, comprimizing the fishes health. There is a rather seedy lfs near me that takes in anything, they have a collection of large, deformed common plecs. Bent. kinked fins & other body deformities. I saw some angels once that were not allowed enough grow out space. Nasty looking fins, even the heads were messed up.

Tolak

 

[pica_nuttalli]

beyond that, CAEs are notorious slime-suckers. and your boss has a lot of beautiful, flat-bodied species -- perfect targets for attack. it really doesn't matter how much algae is in a tank, eventually CAEs just develope a taste for fish.

if you can't shrink the herd by mentioning size, maybe the aggressive factor will work.

 

[Nuttygal! :0)]

...poor guys...

 

[BigFishSmallPond]

Thats a myth handed down by the ages. My mother owned a petstore growing up and we had every creature imagineable and even i didnt know that was just a myth till i started reading bout it on the net! the fish however do keep growing and just like keeping a human in a small room all its life it just is not healthy. =]

 

[OohFeeshy]

Its true in a sense. Goldfish in bowls CAN'T exactly grow any bigger. can they? But I'm sure we all agree, its not healthy. Ask him again, when he says they only grow to the size of the tank, tell him you're going to put a kitten in a jar so it takes up less room. Mean, but its the only way you get ignorant people to understand.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

actually, since its your BOSS, don't say the kitten thing. just gently nudge him the way of the forum and we can chew him out for you... i'm kidding on that too.

i'm positive you can find three or four good articles on the topic online. if you find some from fish magazines and maybe a vet, he'll probably listen to and respect those.

 

[Fish Buddy]

I don't know...
I bought a 2" fantailed goldfish a few years ago for the 10 gallon I had. Something happened (I'm not sure what-like I said it was a few years ago) and I ended up putting him in a gallon bowl. He was still 2" at that time. Now I have him in a 15 gallon and he has been in there for 2 years and he is only 3". He has hardly gorwn at all. I know he should be bigger bacause I bout another goldfish for the tank (an oranda) that was smaller that 3" and he is now bigger than the original fish.

I kinda am leaning towards that the fish only grows to the size of the tank but I do believe that the life is compromized.

 

[bunjiweb]

Show him evidence, print some stuff off from the net..... Boss' hate to be told they are wrong, but make sure you do it with class, and put him to enough shame to want to change his fish tank.

Ben