Re: NANFA-- Slow-growing bowfin

R. W. Wolff (choupiqu_at_wctc.net)
Fri, 7 Mar 2003 23:56:33 -0600

I believe a small aquarium does " stunt" bowfin. I have never had a bowfin
reach past 14 inches in an aquarium, althouh the largest I kept them in is
75 gallons. They would reach this length in 29 gallon tanks as well. Could
be that hormones of some sort build up in an aquarium? I did plenty of water
changes, and the fish seemed to develop normally, but would not exceed this
length. Males about a foot, and females 14 inches. When I moved one of these
females to my pond outside it resumed growth and was 16 inches before a
mishap.

I also believe small/young bowfin are much less tolerant to any extremes
than adult fish. This can really be seen in tiny bowfin that need to eat
constantly or seem to waste away to death.

Ray
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