Do fish grow in relation to their tank size?

Question

We have a 4 foot tank and just found out that two of our favourite inmates grow to 4 feet!! Not good.

Answer 1

Goldfish grow quicker and bigger the more you change the water.If your 2 captives grow to the size of your tank.You could

sell them back if you don't want to get a larger tank.

Answer 2

Please don't listen to the people who have answered before me, who told you not to worry because "a fish will only grow in proportion to its tank."  Your four foot fish needs more space than a four foot aquarium.  If you don't give it enough space, it'll die.  Even if it ever does stop growing on the outside, then its organs on the inside will keep growing, and it'll die soon.  

Take it back to the pet store you bought it from and exchange it for a smaller fish.  They'll resell it to someone who will hopefully have a larger tank.  

When you buy your new fish, keep in mind the rule of "One Inch of Fish per Gallon."  That means that you look up the size of the fully grown fish, and you have one inch of the fish's volume per gallon of tank.  If you have seven three inch fish, then you should have a tank that is twenty one gallons or larger.  See how it works?

So please take your fish back wherever you got it or buy a larger tank for it.  That four foot fish should really go into a pond or something.  It's going to be huge.

Answer 3

They do grow to their tank size, to a certain point.  Fish grow continually throughout their life, and if their environment will not allow for further growth, then they'll start dying.  So stunted growth due to limited tank space usually means shorter life span.

Answer 4

you really have to think about it as the fish can get stressed as they gorw.

reason is tht the fish need space to swim and same as human if u let a baby in a bog the baby would not stop to grow and the organs inside will grow aswell .

you must speak to the store or u have to get a bigger tank

Answer 5

DO NOT LISTEN OR BELIEVE THE MYTH. FISH DO NOT GROW TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT. dont care who says otherwise. putting a fish in a tank too small for them will stunt their growth. THIS is EXTREMELY UNHEALTHY. the oragns will continue to grow and will rupture or fail. killing the fish.

i have had a costumer give our store a pleco that was in her 29 gal tank. a 29g tank's measurements are 12inches WIDE, 30inches LONG, and about 18inches TALL. she brought in a 17inch pleco with a head about 7inches wide!!! we had t bring out the measuring tape. lol

now imagine this thing trying to turn around. lol and that she HAD 2! of them in the tank for 4yrs. the other one died unfortunatly.

what kind of fish do u have btw?

with fish that size, u would need to stick them out in a pond or something. lol. good luck with the fish.

Answer 6

Yes. You'll be ok fish are like plants the more room you give them the bigger they grow. In a small space they will stay relatively small but you shouldn't get too many fish they need space to swim around.

Answer 7

if u keep a baby in a box from when its born when it fills the box it wont grow any bigger thats the same as wot ur saying about a fish they will still grow to the size nature intended not the size u want them to get to.

Answer 8

Don`t worry fish will only grow in relation to tank size

Answer 9

Yes, fishes grow to the environment they live in.

When I fist got my gold fish they were fully grown.

Then days later the fish got big to the point where it was crowded for them in the tank and I only have three of them.

Answer 10

The only things that keeps large fish from growing large in a small tank, are poor water quality, and a poor diet. Your fish will not be healthy, or live as long. What did you get, Irridescent Sharks, a Tiger Shovel Nose, or a Red Tailed Catfish?

Answer 11

so of all the people who answerd this only one gave you what you needed. DON'T keep fish  a tank that is smaller than their adult size or in a tank that Is too crowded. It will almost always lead to premature death and suffering for the fish. Don't listen to anyone who says otherwise.

Answer 12

nope but still make sure they got some good space!

Answer 13

While captive specimens rarely grow as large as specimens in the wild, it is a myth that they only grow as large as the tank allows.

For those who say otherwise, have them keep a fish that grows several feet long and place it in a one gallon tank from the time it's an egg, and provide it with adequate food and water conditions. Watch what happens.

Captive specimens do tend to be smaller than wild specimens. But to think that a fish can stunt its growth because of glass and plastic paneling is absurd. Biologically speaking, this would not be possible. There are more factors to growth than clear walls.

Answer 14

Get one of those tanks that expand as the fish get bigger.

Answer 15

fish will only grow to the size the tank lets them,a wild version of a pet fish usually grows much more than in a tank.

Answer 16

Yes, they grow in relation to their tank size.  The amount of fish you have in your tank may also be a factor.

Answer 17

FISH DO NOT GROW TO THE SIZE OF THE TANK! do humans grow to the size of their house? dur!

they will be fine for now however you will need to think about getting a larger tank in the future. i think they are meant to have body lengh twice and half. so your looking a very dead set min of 6ft tank but the bigger the better. its rare to see one over 6ft,