Odd Question About Fancy Goldfish Growth

[HippoHen]

Hello fish people.

Anyway I was thinking about that old saying that everyone that knows nothing about fish say "a goldfish grows to the size of its tank". Anyway I know this is kind of true but completely stunts the growth of the fish and causes its internals and organs to get completely mangled which obviously shortens its life.

Anyway recently (about 6 months ago) I rescued 2 fancy goldfish from a friend who had been keeping them in a 30 litre Biorb for about 2 years or so. Anyway I put these fish in a 90 litre tank temporarily thinking that they would out grow it quickly. However the fish seem to be growing extremely slowly (if atall for one of them). Is this because of the small space and probably bad water conditions they had before I got them? Thus meaning that their growth is completley stunted, or do I need to check that what I am feeding them is suitable? Currently I'm feeding them Aquarian goldfish pellets which I cut in half for them as their mouths are pretty small. Also as a treat I give them flake once a week and frozen bloodworm every now again. I do 40% water changes every week.

Any suggestions for how I can get these fish to grow are very much appreciated

Thanks

 

[Blondielovesfish]

I would say that because they have been living in those conditions for awhile that they would be stunted

They may still grow some but apart from waiting, I don't think there is anything else you can do

 

[Liv15]

I would say that all you can do is keep doing your regular water changes and make sure you test the water. So just keep the water conditions perfect and just wait for them to grow. Maybe their growth will speed up over time? They are probably growing slowly because they have been stunted. But just make sure you keep the water perfect for them. They might not grow much now the weather has turned cold but next summer maybe their growth will speed up. Also what you're feeding them seems fine to me.

 

[HippoHen]

Cheers for the replies.

The thing however is that I don't think they have grown that much since they were originally bought! Although they were kept in a crappy Biorb my friend still did regular water changes and I believe they were fed daily. I have seen fantails kept in far worse conditions grow bigger than they are now. One of them still only has a body size of a little more the size of a 10 pence coin!!

I am planning on putting a heater in the tank over the winter just to keep the temperature constant. It will be set pretty low but will hopefully stop the tank from getting too cold when the heating isn't on when I'm not there. Hopefully this will help and keep them eating lots and get their metabolism going.

Any more advice? Thanks

 

[fluttermoth]

All I can really think of is to do even more water changes; maybe 60%, twice a week and see if that does anything.
 
Do you know what your nitrate levels are? There's some evidence I'm sure I've read that either high nitrate, or something else that builds up in the water along side nitrate (hormones, perhaps) are the main cause of stunting, but the subject isn't well understood, AFAIK.