At what point do the long fins effect quality of life, for a fish???

[anewbie]

I think to answer the ops question one would have to first define what is 'quality of life for a fish'; esp in the aquarium.

Then there could be all sort of side debate - is an angelfish better off having long fins but a 500 gallon aquarium or short fins but a 29... live food or dry food... anyway i always cringe at threads along the line of 'quality of life' or best this or best that.

having said all of that i tend to find wc or wild form of fishes healthier in most cases and in some cases truly fantastic looking as is this wc fish:

Of course the care required to keep and breed that fish is very different than your jumbo wondo guppy where your 5 year old sun can toss it into a cup and if it dies he can buy 5 more because the store can breed 10,000 an hour...

So there is that trade off.

 

[Back in the fold]

I consider Glow fish to be an abomination.

Thank you !