I hate to be this guy...

ya.. tell me about it, When i just got into fish stuff, the pet store guy told me the tinfoil barbs would only grow to 2",they were about 1" win i got mine and now they are probly 3,1/4, and only gettin bigger.... Ps, I got 2 of them in a 20 gal... Ya i no its bad..That just makes me mad, and also my rents wont let me get more tanks.. what to do? I love the fish, but they are gettin big... :( maybe in a year or so i can get a BIG BIG tank, but i dont think so :(
 
Just my 2 cents! They are just fish!! It is one thing to be responsible with pets but come on now. They are just fish!!!!! Most fish hobbyist cant afford 55 gals or bigger, so overstocking isnt an issue to me if they seem healthy and the water checks out ok.
If you went by the book almost all hobbyist are overstocked! Hell most 10 gal tanks shouldn't be used for most tropical fish. And what would be the fun in that. Just my opinion.
 
LOL How about 1 cent? The point I was making is some people are way too serious about the overstocking issue.
 
Still overpriced for a post with trollish tendencies.

It's really simple. The mere fact that someone cannot afford to properly house a certain species is not justification for them to go ahead do whatever they please.

Basic Fact of Life (BFoL) : What you want to do, and what you can afford to do are often two different things. You have two choices. Either do something about the financial situation, or accept the fact that you cannot do this thing at this time, like an adult, and move on.

I know that many would-be hobbyists cannot afford larger tanks. Refer to BFoL.

Are you aware of the effects of housing a fish in a tank that is too small for it? If so, are you actually OK with this?

Hell most 10 gal tanks shouldn't be used for most tropical fish. And what would be the fun in that
Killing fish is great fun, eh?

If someone cannot afford more than a 10 gallon tank, and they aren't satisfied with the fish that can live in that size tank, well, BFoL again.
 
alright, would you keep a Yellow Labrador in a walk in closet its whole life just because it doesn't die?? How about keeping a Siamese cat in a cardboard box? Seriously there is a quality of life issue here.

There are plenty of fish that you can keep in smaller tanks then a 55. The idea that you have to have an oscar, Jack Dempsey, Clown Loach, Discus, etc even though you cannot afford to care for it is assinine. Personally I don't subscribe to grow out tanks. I recently purchased a larger tank because I wanted to keep some Raphael Catfish. I waited until after I had purchased the tank and had it setup before I bought any fish. I have never been into the whole grow out tank idea.

If you want bottom dwellers that you can keep in a 55, go with any of the numerous species of synos or raphaels that will fit in that tank. I will tell you right now, featherfins have a slew of personality, and if you have several of them, Raphs are much more social then many think.

If you can't get a 55, go with a syno decorus, or cory cats. They have a slew of personality. The point is, if you can't provide for them you don't have to have any fish.

To the individual who started this thread--this isn't directed at you, it is directed at certain individuals who blantantly believe it is their right to abuse and poorly care for fish by vastly overstocking their tanks.
 
SInce we are on the subject of stockinga nd clown loaches, I ahve aquestion. After carefully researching I have not gotten them for this one reason size v health in the typical home aquarium.

I have a LFS who told me he'd take 6 inch clowns off my hands for $15 to 20 each as he stocks them in huge restaurant and hotel tanks he maintains.
Me I get too attached, I couldnot do it.

But thats just me, some animals act strangely when in a small area, and we all know our fish have presonalities, right. I used to breed bull mastiffs. I ahve a tiny house and a typical yard and I walked the dogs miles each day, all was great until I couldnt walk them regularly, as a result tehy became extremely aggressive as they were frustrated without playing room and when they got out they'd terrorize neighborhood terriers, I believe with no intent on hurt just getting out frustration. My huge teddy bear of a babies would break through windows to get out. I personally beleive fish are the same way as large aggressive fish maynot eat tank mates or stress in a large tank, but in a small tank, a pacu for example will kill everything. Throw him in a 5000 gallon pond and even small fish are hardly touched.

In my opinion someone with potentially large fish should just be prepared to relocate or adopt out.

On the same issue though I ahve a question, if someone lives in a warm region that doesnt freeze could clown loaches be in a pond? Would they be happy?
 
dont get me started on what happens when you stunt fish. lets just say the lucky ones ONLY have internal damage, like brain and nerve damage, and that can lead to problems such a seizures and delayed reactions from negative external and internal stimulus, and a load of other nasty things.

and in other points, dont stunt you fish, because they might not get to live with an owner that can properly care for them once you get rid of them and dump them on your LFS because you are tired of looking at them because they stayed smaller then you hoped, and they are living much longer than you thought
 
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