anyone else have the opinion that just cause it will fit in the tank..

SnakeIce

SnakeIce

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May 4, 2002
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... doesn't mean the mentioned tank is big enough for even simi natural interactions?

for example, I had some tetras called blue flames, or columbian blues which get to about 2 1/2 inches. my twenty was not wide enough for their full courtship dance though you could say that a school of them (5 to 6) would not over crowd the tank so would be a good fit.

how many think you should look beyond mere life support and into the social space needed for the fish you want to keep

most people I talk to would say that my single angel in my twenty(the tetras rip) is no big deal but i am getting to the point that I want to keep fish in space that is more relevant to their social needs..

I hear a lot of argument about this. one will say you can support the life of a fish in x size tank and another will say no way not enough room for that fish. I wonder if there is any way to separate the two so we know what is being talked about....

now I know that some aggressive fish ie the tankbuster cichlids would be hard to differentiat on this but for most fish you should be able to say.... this is life support requirements and this is social requirements

as in a breeding pair of angels can be kept in a twenty high if the eggs/fry are removed but they will take -x to x+ amout of space out of a large tank as their teritory
 
For me it still all comes back to the betta. I remeber that first got mine and thought that I would be extra nice and give it a whole mason jar to thrive in. Now after keeping my current betta in a 5 gallon all by himself, I realize just how much space bettas "can" occupy. He fills that tank with his wanderings.

I think part of the problem is that people go into fish stores and see those 10-20 gallon tanks filled with tetras and think, well if the fish store can do it then I can as well. And no one at the fish store ever says anything different (at least when I am around). I mean I remember my first reattempt at keeping fish last year. 5 tetras, 3 guppies and a flying fox in a 5 gallon tank and then the fish store worker didn't even flinch when I went back to get another fox even though I told him my setup. Luckily all (excpet the guppies) have survived and now have a lovely 20 gallon.
 
The difference between survive and thrive. For most, that means that the fish is able to behave in a normal fashion, including being able to breed. For some fish, this is not a choice, since some fish are migratory, or require more space for breeding than any tank can provide.

Some people just want pretty tanks with healthy fish. Some people want to recreate nature. It depends on your goal, but certainly the size needs of the fish are based on more than just their physical size.
 
I think most of us have come to the point where we realized that...I mean, I have a Betta in a 2-1/2 and I think that it's small!!!
 
I was thinking along these lines the other night. I have four fish. I have two in 7 and two in a 20.

Both are very cramped if you think about it. I have a female betta in the 7 plus a bulldog pleco. Now these two can share this space and be fine, but they won't be happy. The plec and the betta can live but not enjoy. My plec is afraid to wonder far from his rock cuase there's really no place to wonder too.

Same with my 20. I have a rhino plec and a male betta. I see my male betta wondering ALL OVER the twenty in rough current and having a blast. I think to myself, "MAN he could really use more room!" In the end though he always returns to the same corner where he can observe what's going on in the room.

hehe I could keep going with these thoughts until I decide to dig me a lake for my four fish...
 
thats a very good point. As others have said the betta CAN survive in a jar but.. for wondering and room needs 2gallons and above are great for them. and another example an oscar can live in 29g alone but has almost no room to swim but in like a 65g and above they do very well
 
When we were talking about the space for fish and I mentioned about the Betta being kept in the traditional Betta Vase, they said to me, A person can live in a closet, but will they enjoy it?

And for some reason I never thought about that poor lil Betta before cause the store said they lived in those conditions!

After I first put my Betta in a 5 gallon, he swam all over the place! Was so active! I said to myself, he's got to be happier! Very much a joy to watch. I mean what could he do in that little vase?
I was ashamed at myself.
Now I keep my Bettas in 5 gallon or 10 gallon. And instead of trying to cram as many fish into a tank that I can, I buy more tanks! lol to the joy of my husband of course..haha poor guy.

But anyway, what I'm trying to say is think of the fish and give it room to roam and be happy.

And the one inch per gallon rule, remember that a 6 inch fish does not equal 6-one inch fish. The bigger the fish, you have to give extra space!
 
I have a 65 gal. planted tank and have decided that I like the look of less fish. I have 3 4" clowns and right now I'm thinking they don't have enough room, I know I 'll have to let them go soon, Small schools in the large tank just seems more "natural"
 
Originally posted by Casper
When we were talking about the space for fish and I mentioned about the Betta being kept in the traditional Betta Vase, they said to me, A person can live in a closet, but will they enjoy it?
Click to expand...

I shocked the hell out of a few people a few weeks ago my LFS. The subject of 'only growing to the size of the tank' came up, I said to them "if you put a dog inside a cat carrier, will it only grow to the size of the cage?"

Considering a 'puppy farm' was in the news in recent weeks, I think I scored for points.
 
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