Growth Stunt Question

[GreenTerr0]

Hello everyone, right now my fish are living comfortably in the current tank, i am shopping for a bigger one however just to insure there growth isnt stunted. My question is this; how long would a fish have to live under poor tank sizing before therre growth is stunted, and if it is stunted is it permant, what would happen if someone had a fish whos growth was stunted than they transfered this fish to a tank that was much more suited for the species of fish?

THanks don.

 

[Dangerdoll]

it depends on the fish and the growth rate and age rate for that fish along with some other factors.. feeding, temp, etc.

If a fish is stunted and then put into optimal conditions after being stunted, the life of the fish is still reduced and the fish will still be deformed. I would think stunting is permanent since it's outer shell will always be out of proportion from the inside.

 

[joephys]

If you are worried about it, why do you think they are comfortable now?

What kind of fish and what size tank are they in?

 

[GreenTerr0]

im not worried about it because my fish are juviniel but they do get bigger, just was curious.

 

[rrkss]

Fish release various hormones into the water as they live in it. These hormones when they build up to a certain level inhibit the fish's growth. It is a survival tactic to ensure the fish is able to survive incase they get stuck in an unfavorable pond for example. These hormones are usually removed via waterchanges and won't build up too badly in larger tanks. In a fishbowl with a goldfish for example, the hormones do build up rather quickly due to the small volume of water and even daily waterchanges will not be successful enough to completely prevent stunting. These hormones should inhibit both internal and external growth so I am not worried about disproportional organs. If that was true, a goldfish kept 3 years in a fishbowl (comet) which would normally grow to 18" but now is stunted to 2 inches would have a heart almost the size of the fish's body. If you've ever looked at a stunted fish, their organs will still be proportional to their body. The reason stunted fish are usually shorter lived has to do with the environment again. If hormone levels could build up to high enough levels to hurt the fish don't you think ammonia, nitrites, and even nitritates would sometimes show up and stress the fish in addition to phenols and other organic compounds working as immunodepressants (In these high concentrations)?

 

[GreenTerr0]

wow thanks, i didnt know about this hormone..... cleared things up for me thanks a lot rrkss

 

[joephys]

I was under the impression that did inhibit both, but inhibited external growth more than internal, and when the internal organs got too big, that is why the fish died. Not arguing, I'm not a biologist so I don't really know, but that is what I have read before, and it seems to make sence.

 

[Roan Art]

I tend to agree with Joephys on this one.

It inhibits both internal and external, but not to the same degree on the internal one. Even with constant water changes and all parameters under control, a goldfish in a bowl is not going to live a normal lifespan.

Roan

 

[rrkss]

The reason stunted fish are usually shorter lived has to do with the environment again. If hormone levels could build up to high enough levels to hurt the fish don't you think ammonia, nitrites, and even nitritates would sometimes show up and stress the fish in addition to phenols and other organic compounds working as immunodepressants (In these high concentrations)?

They don't die usually from disproportional organ to body size. Its more due to chronic stress as I somewhat explained above. Stress can do a lot to reduce lifespan.