Early stunting and its long term effects on large fish??

I'll start with my question and then move on to WHY I am asking this question.

I have proven through my own poor decisions as an early fish keeper, that a stunted fish is NOT permanently stunted. They are absolutely able to continue growing if moved to a larger environment.

But Does anyone know what the long term effects of stunting are, when the stunting has been REVERSED and the fish was allowed to grow to full size??? Will they go on to live a normal life span? Or did the early stunting possibly shorten its potential life span?

I am asking because of my Black ghost knife. He is at least 7 years old as I got him in December 2012 according to my camera roll. He is probably closer to 8 years old. Google tells me that the average life span of a BGK is roughly 10-15 years. So at 7-8...he shouldn't be nearing the end of his life...

BUT at the same time.....the lower end of the lifespan is 10. And he could be almost 8......so maybe getting close??

The problem is, he is suddenly behaving strangely and seems to have lost his appetite. (remembering he has been a healthy active fish in my care for 7 years) He is roughly 15-16 inches now. A nice big busty boy. His body is roughly 3-4 inches tall at its widest point!! But during the first couple years of his life...he lived in a 29 gallon. I hate admitting that, and I am aware it was not ok, so don't remind me. thanks!! But ya. As a result, he didn't really get much bigger than maybe 8 inches during his first 2 years. He then upgraded to a 55 gallon for a couple years and he put on a few more inches. Then he was upgraded to a 75 gallon where he has spent the last 3-4 years and has maxed out at around 15-16 inches.

So again....if a fish is stunted during the first few years of life, but then is allowed to grow into its average adult size later...will its life span have been shortened? Or does an overall slower growth rate in general equal shorter life span?

I guess what I am trying to figure out is if there is something really wrong with my BGK....or if he is simply reaching the end of his "natural" life? Cosmetically he looks perfect. He does not look sick in the least. I have not seen any poop to say whether or not he has healthy poop. He isn't coming out for his food and he is swimming strangely and just not acting like "himself". The angelfish and rummynoses and harlequin rasboras in the tank with him are perfectly fine.

In hindsight, he did spend his entire life at 80f...which is at the high end of his preferred temperature range.....which can also shorten life spans. But by how much????

I don't even know why I am posting this really. It will most likely just result in criticism. But I am basically just trying to decide if my BGK is reaching the end of his life span....or if I should try and see if there is something wrong that can be treated for. But I refuse to throw meds at a fish when there are no signs of illness other than behavior. And I don't really have an appropriate "hospital" tank for a 16 inch fish. :-(

One thing that is making it so extra sad is that I am going to be getting a 125 gallon in the very near future. Like possibly as soon as next week. But definitely within the next few months. So he was going to get a 6-footer :-(


Anyway, any input is appreciated. Just no criticism please. I don't need that right now. For what it's worth, I tried many times to find a person who would provide him a bigger tank than 75g. But I couldn't find a single person locally who has an extra large tank that is NOT already housing large aggressive fish!! Like literally! And my BGK is a puppy dog. I mean he won't even hurt a rummynose tetra for crying out loud. There were many inquiries over the years of people with 150 gallons and more...but their tank mates would not have worked with my BGK. So I came to the conclusion that I would give him the best life I could in the 75 and hope that one day I would be able to give him something even bigger. And now that I am close to being able to offer that to him with a 125g...it might be too late!! :-(

Thanks for reading.

 

Yeah your fish probs won’t grow that much bigger, and I would say it does shorten life spans. Who knows though. Sometimes fish will come out and surprise you. I hope he lives a long happy life.

 

Yeah your fish probs won’t grow that much bigger, and I would say it does shorten life spans. Who knows though. Sometimes fish will come out and surprise you. I hope he lives a long happy life.

I know he won't grow any bigger. That wasn't my question. And he has lived a long 8 years so far...with immaculate care...but now something is clearly wrong with him.

 

Oh, I apologize for dat. Do you have a discription of his behavior?

 

I think it would be too easy to put the blame on stunting, I haven't been in the hobby long enough and don't have the knowledge of biology to back anything up but there are so many complexities in life and there's no guarantee anything will live for their expected duration.
I hope he pulls through, I don't think many fish would live that long without great care.

 

Oh, I apologize for dat. Do you have a discription of his behavior?

No worries.

He is coming out in the light which it out of character. Breathing a little heavy. Sometimes floating vertically. And just moving around the tank in a way he never used to. And not showing interest in food.

I think it would be too easy to put the blame on stunting, I haven't been in the hobby long enough and don't have the knowledge of biology to back anything up but there are so many complexities in life and there's no guarantee anything will live for their expected duration.
I hope he pulls through, I don't think many fish would live that long without great care.

I appreciate you recognizing that he has clearly received excellent care throughout his life. Thank you. He certainly won the lottery compared to most baby BGKs at petsmart!! That's for sure. Lol

 

Oh, idk. My guess would be swim bladder or stress/shock? A picture might help. Have you added anything to the tank recently? Any recent water changes or changes in water chemistry? It sounds like he is in the last stages of dying but I can’t say for sure without a pic.

 

Here is a video of his CURRENT unusual behavior. The angelfish of course are little hams getting in the way.

Here is an older video of him coming out for food...so you can compare behaviors.

 

Now that I see it, it almost looks like dropsy, but I’m still not sure. I’ve never really delt with this species before. You could turn off the lights to lower stress, and then see if that helps. I’m not quite sure though...

 

What I am asking myself is what did proof to you stunting isn't an permanent issue.

I highly doubt that (internal) organs in stunted fish will start growing when put in a bigger tank after some time.

 

Now that I see it, it almost looks like dropsy, but I’m still not sure. I’ve never really delt with this species before. You could turn off the lights to lower stress, and then see if that helps. I’m not quite sure though...

Ya. I've been keeping the lights off for him the majority of the time the last few days since this behavior started. :-(

 

What I am asking myself is what did proof to you stunting isn't an permanent issue.

I highly doubt that (internal) organs in stunted fish will start growing when put in a bigger tank after some time.

Well....he stopped growing at 8 inches. Then when he was 2 years old he was moved to a tank twice as large and he began to grow again....so I say stunting is not permanent.

 

Well....he stopped growing at 8 inches. Then when he was 2 years old he was moved to a tank twice as large and he began to grow again....so I say stunting is not permanent.

I'd say there is a difference between stunting and growth slowing down or even halt for some time. In the first case internal (and external) deformaties occure giving all kind of issues and shorten their lifespan depending what these deformaties are (deformed kidneys, liver, heart, intestials, etc....)

In the second case I doubt it will affect the lifespan of the fish.

But these are just my idea.

 

I'd say there is a difference between stunting and growth slowing down or even halt for some time. In the first case internal (and external) deformaties occure giving all kind of issues and shorten their lifespan depending what these deformaties are (deformed kidneys, liver, heart, intestials, etc....)

In the second case I doubt it will affect the lifespan of the fish.

But these are just my idea.

Ya...it was more like temporary stunting....he never really was truly stunted. But his growth rate was surely slowed and halted at times by the smaller tanks.