Size of fish......

[Jo and Gra]

Right......

In pond land......fish stop growing when they get to a certain size due to the size of the pond......

dont tropical fish grow to the size of the tank and stop?

bit confused......

 

[KentBlokey]

It's called "Stunting". The Fishe's internal organs continue to grow whilst the outside and enviroment stay they same. From what I have read. It's cruel. Only get Fish suitable for what living space you can provide.

 

[-*-MicHAeL-*-]

its not only cruel but as the ogans still grow and the body stays small it will kill the fish prematurely

 

[One_Trick_Pony]

the orgasn will not keep growing once the otusdie has sopped thats just dumb, however it will stunt the growth of teh fish as a whole, adn shrotern its life, and make it uncomfortable

 

[OohFeeshy]

Yup, stunted fish live far less time, are more prone to diseases etc. As for the organ thingy, it could partly be true as I remember something in a discussion to do with the organs cutting off blood supply, leading to poor circulation and death etc. etc, but not sure if thats true.

 

[nc_nutcase]

Regardless of the how’s and why’s…

Most everyone agrees that while a fish may only grow to it’s environment it is a very unhealthy thing to restrict it as such and will lead to a much lower quality of life until it’s premature death…

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

It's a horrid practise that should never be allowed to happen. If you don't have the space for the fish you shouldn't have them. I consider my 60l full with 15 in it and may well move three out in due course when I have a tank for them and some partners (nudge nudge ). Would you try to stunt the growth of your childrens feet by forcing them to bind them tight (a practise that did happen for a good deal of time to women/girls in china) and leave them barely able to walk with crippled deformed feet the size you would see on a small baby?
Hugs,
P.

 

[Bignose]

Stunting does dramatically shorten the lifespan of the fish. However, in responce to the posters above, there is no scientific evidence that bulging organs occur due to stuntung. The entire fish remains small, not just its skeleton. Nature does not work like that.

Just like every time this issue comes up, I will make an offer: If you have any evidence to the contrary I would very much like to see it, though every time I have asked no evidence has ever surfaced. See http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=93933 for example

There is no need to exaggerate the effects of stunting, the fact that the fish's immune system and lifespan are shortened is enough. We do not need to continue this horrifying myth just to try to convince people not to stunt their fish.

 

[Angry_Platy]

It is biologically impossible for the organs to keep growing while the outside of the fish stays the same size, Their bodies grow as a whole not like "oh, lung gets bigger, OOPS, theres no room for the chest cavity to expand".....

Fallacies people.

 

[Prizm]

I wonder how the fish's cells know how big the environment is?

 

[Fishy411]

its natural adaption. I forget what it was but some animals eat some of their babies or start having less babies when there is less food availabe. The fish stops growing when there is less room available