no question is silly
all fish can be stunted in too small of a tank..BUT, their inside organs continue to grow even if their outside cant ..which in turn can cause severe pain and death....
although bala's do grow slow, he woulndt do well in a 30 gal after a year ....some of us, me included, have bought fish with the expectation of getting bigger tanks...eventually..but, MOST of the time that doesnt happen then you are attached to some of your amazing babies but they are suffering because of space.....
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