Member

Posts: 11
From:
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-30-2004 11:40 AM         

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? Anyone know how to stop a fish from growing, the fish is a goldfish and is now approx 6inch long 3inch high 1/2 inch thick, just doesnt seem to be natural, He has outgrown his tank 3 times and well £95 tank for a 75pence goldfish just seems abit daft!

We have tried placing more fish into the new tank but the old fish tries to Gobble them whole!!! ( Even though the new fish is a similar size)

** The damn thing just wont stop AH! Attack of the KILLER Goldfish! **

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Member

Posts: 944
From:Columbus, Tx ,USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-30-2004 12:38 PM         

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Don't worry. I have the same problem I have a 45gal tank with 3 now 2 gold fish and 2 alge eaters. I got a feeder goldfish and a fan tail...the feeder got to be like 9" long, and about 2.d lbs...he kept jumping out of the tank, and eventually lost so many scales he died....
My fan tail is about the size of a softball now, and I have since bought another fantail and he's now about the size of a tennis ball. My two alge eaters were the same size when I bought them. I had one in my beta tank and one in the gold fish tank. The one in the gold fish tank is almost a foot long...and i have since put the second alge eater in with him..he's only about 3 inches and growing fast.

Its my understanding that fish grow to their environment. He will eventually stop growing.

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Member

Posts: 104
From:Austin, TX
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-31-2004 04:22 PM         

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Fish growth is mandated by the fishes genetic instructions for maximum size, not the size of your tank. While it is true that a small, toxic tank can and will "stunt" your fish, it will be deformed, miserable and probably live a short, unhappy life. Before purchasing any fish, you should research it's growth potential and purchase it an appropriate sized home. If you can't afford a big enough tank, don't get the fish. You wouldn't want to live your entire life in a room the size of a walk-in closet, would you?

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Posts: 266
From:Canada
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 02-02-2004 07:40 AM         

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Your fish is not abnormal and may still have some growing to do. Common goldfish can get upwards of 12" and 'fancy' goldfish can reach 8". Adding more fish to your tank is not a good way to solve an already overcrowded situation.

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Posts: 11
From:
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 02-02-2004 02:37 PM         

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do you think I should maybe consider putting him in the pond.

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Member

Posts: 104
From:Austin, TX
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 02-02-2004 03:35 PM         

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If you have a private pond, he should do ok. Goldfish have been seen swimming under a sheet of ice on outdoor ponds in the winter. Sounds like you might have a koi. If so, a private pond is cool. Just don't release him into any body of water that connects to a public waterway. Local ecosystems can be damaged by non-native species.

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Posts: 199
From:El Paso, Texas
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 02-02-2004 10:32 PM         

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You know, I get so upset that people think that goldfish belong in bowls. Obviously they can be kept in aquariums for a while, but they must be moved to a pond due to their long lives and large size. Unfortunately they are very inexpensive and this leads to them being a beginers first choice. Nothing can stop this fish from growing, except maybe for death. Sorry.

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Posts: 11
From:
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 02-03-2004 11:18 AM         

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Thank you all very much for your replies, I think once we get some better weather I will introduce him to my pond in the garden - I already have six fish in there and they are roughly the same size as him if not smaller!!!!!. Thank you

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