Size

Refused · #1 (**permalink**) 06-30-2006, 08:21 PM

Well I got in an argument today about snake sizes.. I know everyone here has heard this one. But the snake will not get bigger than the tank they are kept in. This went on for 20 min. I asked him if thats true what happens to the food they eat.. their body just gets rid of everything except just enough to keep them at their size. OMG I CAN GET ANYBIGGER THE TANK IS TO SMALL!!!

MTB Mamba · #2 (**permalink**) 06-30-2006, 08:38 PM

That's what the pet store told my mom the first time I ever had a snake too. I caught a Kingsnake in my garage and my mom called the pet store for some info and they told her to put it in a small cage if we didn't want it to get too big.

Pathetic

Freakkboy · #3 (**permalink**) 07-01-2006, 09:05 PM

The only thing I have ever seen from putting a snake into a small enclosure is encourage little exercise, therefore overweight snakes, health problems, and also cranky snakes.... I think those people should be raised in a small enclosure, wonder if they would stay small???? lol

seduisant_sang · #4 (**permalink**) 08-07-2006, 10:26 PM

I always have to argue this with people, I have no idea how it even became a common legend! What does common sense say? Wait, a revelation; the snake sweats the extra waste out.
I get pretty fired up about this topic, an old friend of mine attempted the method. Don't know what happened to the snake, we're not on speaking terms; but I even offered to pay for a larger cage, and still he stood solid.

SoundUnsleep · #5 (**permalink**) 08-07-2006, 10:45 PM

Does that mean, that if I move my daugther into the 75 gal tank she quits growing?

badkittyamy · #6 (**permalink**) 08-08-2006, 01:26 AM

i think it because with some other animals this is true (i think) -scratches head- I just had to correct my girlfriend of this same belief this weekend

amercnwmn · #7 (**permalink**) 08-08-2006, 01:32 AM

This theory pretty much goes hand in hand with the "I got a Burm, but I dont want it to get too big or too big too fast, so I wont feed it as much as I should be.."
Yeah those misinfos usually irritate me like nails on a chalkboard..LOL But I can see WHY people think its true with the amount of people spreading that rumor and the "reputable" pet stores that sell the animals, most would assume they would know their stuff..
Especially when the salesman seemed to know SOO MUCH about them..

deadliestformula · #8 (**permalink**) 08-08-2006, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoundUnsleep

Does that mean, that if I move my daugther into the 75 gal tank she quits growing?

What a great idea!!!!!! I LOVE babies!!!!!! Maybe I could have another one and keep it in a bassinet forever!!!! VIOLA!!!!!! Permanant infant!! Thanks for thinking of this for me!

MAG_Pythons · #9 (**permalink**) 08-08-2006, 01:33 AM

it's true with fish ... i think ... lol

badkittyamy · #10 (**permalink**) 08-08-2006, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAG_Pythons

it's true with fish ... i think ... lol

Yeah that's what I was saying generally a goldfish and such will only get to a certain size n a 10 gallon but put them in a pond and they get huge.

ChristopherD · #11 (**permalink**) 08-08-2006, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAG_Pythons

it's true with fish ... i think ... lol

Yeah, I always heard that about goldfish, but now that I think about it, it could be just like this. I mean, it doesn't make sense if you think about it logically.

monkeykoder · #12 (**permalink**) 08-08-2006, 11:56 PM

Well I remember having some goldfish in probably a 30 gallon tank for several years and they stayed pretty small but the ones we kept in our pond got a lot bigger. Don't know if that means anything.

Isis_Nebthet · #13 (**permalink**) 08-09-2006, 02:57 PM

Yes goldfish will stay small in a tank with less than ideal parameters. If you do weekly partial changes of water and keep the filtration up enough they won't appear to stay the size of the environment.

I've raised goldfish up to 6" in a forty gallon tank and a pair of koi to 12" in a 75.....they went to the pond afterwards because they started eating too many smaller fish.

SnakeCollector · #14 (**permalink**) 08-09-2006, 03:19 PM

what about turtles,i believe this isnt true for snakes because they can coil up

amercnwmn · #15 (**permalink**) 08-09-2006, 09:40 PM

Nope...they grow regardless..

amercnwmn · #16 (**permalink**) 08-09-2006, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballpythoncaptivebred

i believe this isnt true for snakes because they can coil up

Thats the type of crap people hear and repeat and it perpetuates the rumors.
If you put a Burm in a 10-20gal tank, you SERIOUSLY think it wont out grow it if fed properly because its "coiled up"?

THEPETER · #17 (**permalink**) 10-06-2006, 03:14 PM

the reason that fish only grow to the size of the tank is because they get stressed out and stop growing. I the fish is not moved to a larger tank it will die of stress. it can take a while depending on the size of the fish and the tank

lloyd · #18 (**permalink**) 07-13-2007, 03:21 AM

i think the whole size thing especially with snakes is so pet shops can get rid of their snakes faster

mpgt · #19 (**permalink**) 07-13-2007, 03:29 AM

Fish release phemones into the water. If they reach high levels, they serve to inhibit their growth. In an aquarium, you normally have to do regular water changes to remove nitrates and other organics. That keeps phemone levels low and allows fish to get too big for the tank.

maroci · #20 (**permalink**) 07-28-2007, 06:08 AM

Phemone is not a word.

In any case, it has to do with water quality. Basically the poor goldfish isn't going to grow as fast when it's swimming in too much of its waste products. But other than that the tank size is irrelevant, and growth is slowed in any case, not stopped, until the poor thing dies.

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