axis_roll said:
FishinMatt said:
Keep in mind that the baby bass will eventually outgrow your dimensions and you will have to upgrade or part with the fish.
This is a fallacy. As someone earlier pointed out, the tank will not limit the fishes size, it is limited by the amount of oxygen and food, not swimming room.
If you look closely, that is partially what I said, but I will back up my statement further. Oxygen really has nothing to do with the equation of growth. If the tank is not properly filtered, waste builds up and the byproduct from the waste eventually poisens and kills the fish. Of course, if a fish does not eat properly, growth rates and body condition will be bad. Same thing goes for anything that breathes.
I'm actually speaking on behalf of Mr. Bucketmouth here because he has a hard time forming words.
Q:Will a small tank stunt a basses growth and lead to health problems?
A: Yes, it will. It will grow to max size allowed by the tank and stop growing. This is not healthy for the fish or ethical on the keepers part. For an example on a fishing scale, think of a small pond loaded with stunted bluegill and magnify that a few thousand times. Or on the human element, think of living in a room so narrow that you cannot turn around.
To continue on that note, the fishes own waste will build up faster in a smaller tank because it does not dillute as quickly with the smaller water volume. Larger cannister style filters will help, but it is only a band-aid to the problem unless you want to change you water every 3 days. Ammonia, nitrates and nitrites will build up from the waste and eventually sicken and kill the fish. This can be a long process. As someone who has kept multiple large tanks for over 20 years (I sound like Manboy

) and has kept individual large predators in those tanks alive and healthy for 10+ years I do have a little first hand info on the topic. Besides fishing, it is my other passion. Just like any other pet, you should not consider it if you cannot properly care for it. I could get more scientific on it, but that really is the bottom line and what is important. I don't mean to sound like a blowhard, so sorry if it came across that way. I am just an average guy with an above average interest in fish keeping.