Sizes Fish Actually Reach

[Bullrock74]

I have a two year old male three spot gourami who supposedly could reach 6", but currently is only 3.5" at most. I realize that not all three-spot gouramis are born with the same genes and some can reach sizes significantly different than others. I also realize that aquarium size and diet can play a role in it, too.

I now have about fourteen three spots, some blue and some gold in a 350 gallon aquarium. Assuming they all stay healthy and feed properly can I expect that some will actually achieve the 6" limit or is that size only achieved by the Shaquille O'neal's of three spots?

 

[Scott MacAdam]

I think the Blue 3 spots usually stay smaller (around 4 inches) while the Gold are more likely to reach the full 6".
But honestly I have not come across that yet.... I have a golden and it is maybe 4-5 max but its a few years old so I think it has reached potential....

 

[ox5477]

I think you nailed it on the head when you talked about genes. Just like humans, we have the potential to reach 6 and half feet and taller, but most won't. In general, i wouldnt expect most of them to reach over the 4" mark but you may have one or two that do come close to 6".


On a side: Glad to hear you still got the big tank going and I hope the other occupants (O, cons, etc) are doing good as well

 

[Kevstir]

i was at a discus breeders last month and was surprised to see he had 3 10 year old clown loaches that were about 6" max each , everything iv read is that they get a bit bigger than that

 

[CFC]

But 10 years is less than half a clown loaches life span, given the right care and no disasters clown loaches live to 20-25 years old so in another 10 years those loaches should be somewhat bigger than 6".

But i agree the actual sizes fish reach and the sizes often quoted in books and on websites can be quite different.
With the larger fish species this is often because the recorded size is from anglers which report captures of large specimens, if you think of native fishes such as carp or pike the average sized fish are considerably smaller than the record sized specimens.
On the other hand many small species actually grow larger in aquariums than they might in the wild, without predators and seasonal environmental changes they actually live longer and are able to grow larger than their wild counterparts

 

[severum boy]

As CFC said, environmental factors change how big a fish gets. If its not fed the correct amount when its young and in its growing phase, it will be a small fish. Also, genetics pay a equal part. Some fish will have the potential to get big, some wont just like humans. Mutation of the genes can cause a Bala shark to grow to 3" when its siblings are at 12", or leading to a 14" goldfish. Fish sizes can only be generalised, and, although most will get smaller than expected, the occational individual or sp. will get bigger.

You have just got to expect that it gets to the average size although some will be bigger and some will be smaller.

 

[Bullrock74]

On a side: Glad to hear you still got the big tank going and I hope the other occupants (O, cons, etc) are doing good as well

I'm working on getting the hang-on filters in the big tank replaced by a sump. I'm getting tired of seeing the the black tubes of the emporer filters and the heater and thermometer, too. Also, I've begun to think about going with many more plants, so I decided to rehome the oscar, the convicts, and the green terror. I've left the dempsey in the big tank because it has really nice colors and is not aggressive at all, at least not yet. I was leary of plants because I had read that they require more work and might not be suitable for the beginner aquarist. I've only been keeping fish for two years, so I'm by no means an expert, but I think I'm ready for the challenge plants might present. But, none of this can happen until I move because I just don't want to install a sump and plants and then have to break the aquarium down and reinstall it in the new home.