[birdsnreps]

nah, they dont stop growing really, they just slow down. i was just in that shop today, asking about this HUGE oscar and this HUGE pacu, each was at least 12in long, the pacu was prob about 14in long, no joke. i was asking about them and the guy that owns the shop says they were just dropped off by their owner who KEPT THEM IN A 20GAL TANK TOGETHER!!! and they were that huge lol. if anything, those two poor fish were living proof that they really dont stop growing. they were so huge in such a tiny tank that the oscar has very noticeable damage to his face, his bottom lip is bent in alot, it looks like hes biting his bottom lip :( the pacu's face looks like its smushed in as well, the owner says its from hitting the tank walls so much while trying to move around :( they wanted to give me that pacu, and i REALLY wanted him, but i just dont feel that the 55gal is nearly large enough, considering that the pacu is still gonna double in size :(

i love big fish, but im a firm believer in buying fish that will fit in my tank comfortably as adults, not as they are now, small and young. a full grown oscar, or pacu, or whatever else gets huge, id just rather wait until i can get a big enough tank to where i feel they can turn around and swim around comfortably. even at work i turn down sales cause these people wanna buy our baby fish and house them in tiny tanks, not even caring that the fish WILL grow much too large for the tanks they have now. UGH...one time i had a lady who wanted to keep a bala shark in a betta bowl!! the shark was as long as the betta bowl, and he was still only about 4-5in long!! these people probably turn around and buy the same fish at another store from someone who doesnt care or doesnt ask what size tank they have, but hey, at least its not "MY" fish that they are gonna keep that way.