Dwarf Mandarins?

[bollands]

do they exist? I have a mandarin that is about 3 years old at least and hasnt grown at all he is now 1.5inch in a 128L tank with quite a bit of LR. Never added any food for him, doesnt look thin, looks healthy had him myself for 4 months and been in tank about 2 years. I was wondering if he was dwarfed? Or do they really grow to the size of the tank/ food available? He seems a happy fish.

 

[-Nemo-]

I learned something very curious recently whilst speaking to my boss about breeding.
There is a chemical all fish give off which inhibits (not their own) but other fish's growth.
So, changing the water more often when breeding fish almost always (obviously with good nutrition) will speed up the growth of the fry.

She also said that that's the reason for many people who claim their fish are growing very slowly; they aren't doing water changes too often.

Just a thought.


EDIT: Nutrition will have a big role in it, but fish growing to the size of their tank is quite a myth. As far as i know, goldfish are the only fish which have the potential to "grow to the size of their tank", and it is argued whether this stunting of growth has any long term effects.