Only as big as there cage

[Paleosuchus]

I am hearing and asked more often then ever, the idea that reptiles only grow as long as there cage. Mostly refering to lizards and turtles more then any. Just curious how often you all are ask and hear people misinforming others on this subject? thanks jason

[Invictus]

Absolute myth that should not be spread. Genetics and feeding determine size.

[Edwin]

Ever see Bonsai Kitten? Lol

[Big Mike]

I also get asked this from time to time...terrible myth that should be put down. There are still too many people that believe this.

[chong_python]

reptiles arent fish, lol thats what i saw, plain and simple

[Invictus]

Fish won't only grow to the size of their enclosure either. That is also a myth.

[chong_python]

Well I have had fish in a 125 gal tank and they same fish in 33 gal. tank. I fully belive this is not a myth. Under the right circumstances a Irredecent Shark will grow to 3 -31/2 feet and about 6 pounds but in but you can have them in a 20 gal aqurium and they will only grown to about 6 inches. Thats one of hundreds of examples. It may not apply to some species but for the majority it does

[munchy]

we had 2 irridescent sharks (not actually sharks at all but rather some sort of asian catfish.) in a 20 gallon aquarium for a few years and when we got rid of them the small one was 11 inches and the large one 12.5 inches. had we kept them im sure they would have kept growing.

[Matt_K]

If your fish are properly cared for and healthy, they'll grow to their maximum size no matter what size Aquarium they're in..

[chong_python]

yes, It applies in a small amount. The irridescent will not grow to be 3 feet in a 20 gal. They continue to grow, but the growth rate is slowed down immensly. Technically fish never stop growing. But the growth rate slows down enoguh that they wont get full size within thier life.

[concept3]

your wrong chong, I had an irredescent in a 33 gallon and it got 12.5 inches its now in a 55 gallon and about 16 inches, I have to get rid of it because its getting way to big

[munchy]

Originally posted by chong_python
The irridescent will not grow to be 3 feet in a 20 gal.

lol possibly due to the fact that a 20 gal. is no more than 2 ft in length. the fish would most likely die prematurely when it got too large for its tank.

[chong_python]

thats proving a point, it was 12.5 inches in a 55 gal and gre to 16 inches in a 55 gal. A irridecent will live easily live in a 55 gal. Ive had mine in a 55 gal for 7 years they are 19 inches. And have grown hardily an inch in the last year and a half. I didnt say they dont grow, i said the growth rate slows down. Put those 2 babies in a 125 gal and the same sized babies in a 20 gal, see which ones get bigger. Dealing and breeding irridecents for the last 8 years you tend to pick this stuff up

[munchy]

you breed them? do you have breeding ponds for them? i am not sure at what size they reach sexual maturity, but they will reach the 30lb mark and can attain lengths of 4-5'.

[BoidKeeper]

I think I've only been asked twice and I teach and deal with parents questions a lot.
Cheers,
Trevor

[BoAddict]

as for the fish as far as im concerned it is a myth too

its like saying a goldfish kept in a bowl will not out grow its bowl

thats like saying that a baby boa kept in a 10 g tank wont out grow it

just my $0.02
mike

[chong_python]

"you breed them? do you have breeding ponds for them? i am not sure at what size they reach sexual maturity, but they will reach the 30lb mark and can attain lengths of 4-5'."

Iridescent Sharks do not breed in aquariums, but they will breed in large ponds . There are no known distinguishing sexual features of the Iridescent Shark; hence, the two sexes are inseparable. I was involved with a marine program. For 2 years i was paid for breeding certain types of exotic fish. All "ponds" are made up of plexiglass 30'X30' and 5 feet deep. It was quite an expirence

[munchy]

Originally posted by chong_python
It was quite an expirence

i bet it would be. just curious how large were the specimens you were breeding?

[capsicum]

I am always asked if reptiles can bite. :rolleyes:

TK

[chong_python]

We raised them until they were appx 4 feet. Specimans rearley exceed 6 feet. As for in the wild im not sure. Around 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 feet breeding was done. However the irridecent was the hardest of any fish to breed. Near impossible. We had one successful lay. But after that they were sold.

[chong_python]

.

[Paleosuchus]

Usually i see this asked with red ear sliders. Being one of the most popular turtles, people come in the petshop i work at looking for them constantly. Usually parents looking for a "pet" for there kids. Almost 60% of the time the people will assume they stay a few inches and buy it and walk off, few months later calling and complaining. So now i make sure i repeat there actuall size more then once. Mostly with turtles though. Thanks for the replies, jason

[SaIiLdVaEnR]

Originally posted by capsicum
I am always asked if reptiles can bite. :rolleyes:

TK

As am I... My response is "Can you bite?", then they usually say yes or nod, then I say "Well, if you can bite, than they can as well. It is a matter of 'will they bite', as it is with some people."

Aidan

[JimmyDavid]

There are many myths. Sometimes people aproach me and say stupid things like " Do you have anti-venom, in case that python bites you?" Or " Snakes don't have teeth, do they?". Hehe, people will be people...
As for the thing about a reptile growing only up to size of the enclosure, well the main idea is a myth, but there's some truth to it. When a reptile (afrocks are a good example) feels traped inside a less-than-big-enough enclosure they develop stress. With time that stress will have a negative impact on growth (hormones released during stress are catabolic and stunt growth). So, it's possible that a reptile in a small cage may never develop it's full genetic potential and, in fact, gain extra health problems. Stress is an underated form of illness that nobody thinks about but can do great damage, it's just that animals don't talk...
Poor appetite, vomiting or excessive wandering can all be stress related problems also.
But the main idea of a reptile growing only to the size of it's cage is, in fact, wrong, because it can live all is life without stress or any other problem and nothing will stop it's genetics then (unless you starve the creature).

[Kara]

I was once asked by someone that if they broke there iguanas tail, would it stop growing? I was horrified!! And very quickly told them that no, breaking the tail will not stop it from growing. Hopfully the little guy is doing ok

[bistrobob85]

If an animal outgrows it's enclosure and nobody does anything about it, there are some pretty good chances that it'll get aggressive, ill, stop eating and die... It happens with iguanas all the time, thats why i don't even want some around my petstore department, they are way too often neglected and die before they even reach maturity...

[StickyToes]

This myth irritates the hell out of me!
I've heard this over and over again for so many years that I have no patience for it anymore! Usually it is perpetuated by someone who is trying to make themselves feel better for causing undo cruelty to their own animals for the sake of being able to own them. I've been in the pet industry for 9 years and there are a few stores here that consistently tell customers that iguanas won't outgrow a 33 gallon tank. Iguanas aren't nearly as popular as they used to be so I don't hear that as much now, but I have seen a shift to other species of animals such as beardies and chams.
No matter how you try to justify it with fish, it is wrong for them as well. What JimmyDavid has said can be applied equally to fish, and affects fish to a greater degree because they are more dependant on their environment! I was recently reading a study that a prof of mine had recomended about the waste output or bioload that fish put into their environment. Everyone has heard the "1 inch of fish per gallon of water" rule, but what they don't take into consideration is that doesn't mean that a 2 inch fish only needs 2 gallons to accomadate it. Each time a fish grows an inch it's bioload it puts on the environment is increased by almost 10 times...this is because fish don't just grow in length, but also in mass. In a closed system like a small fish tank you can't possibly provide proper filtration for a larger fish without causing so much stress that you lose the fish anyways.
Long and short of it is...If you have a pangasius cat in a 20 gallon for longer then a couple of months you've stunted it's growth by allowing it to toxify it's own water.
As far as I'm concerned, this is cruel and unusual punishment and the owner is to blame for their own ignorance no matter what kind of animal it is!