Stunted moor?

[Rocky]

I'm curious about my tiny black moor.
I've had him nearly a year now and he's only about an inch or two bigger than when I got him. He's my second moor and the other is absolutely huge. They're the only two fish in a 55 gallon tank, ammonia and nitrites 0, nitrate typically between 0-20 ppm. I do 10-20% water changes every two weeks.
And he eats, and I mean he EATS! He eats more than my other moor, (probably because he's the only one that can see the pellets sinking) But after a few minutes he'll stop, even though there's still food left. He won't even forage until several hours later.
My main concern is that this could shorten his life, he's a funny fish and I love watching him. I'd also like to know how this happened. Does anybody have any thoughts?

[ScottishFish]

I wouldn't be leaving uneaten food in the tank for several hours, your ammonia could be spiking then by the time you check it your filter(s) may have brought it back down again.

[Lady Hobbs]

Hard to know why a fish now and then is noticeably smaller than others. Especially when they appear fine in all other areas. I think it's just a generic thing. I have 5 blood parrots and one is my runt. He's 3 years old and looks like he's 6 months. Half again the size of all the rest.

By any chance was this fish kept in a tank too small for him for some time? Sometimes they get stunted and are just done growing before their time.

[Xavier]

By any chance was this fish kept in a tank too small for him for some time? Sometimes they get stunted and are just done growing before their time.

That's usually how it goes. I'be bought fish at 6 months that never grew even after a year in a 90gal with plenty of room and food.

Genes plays a big part in size as well. Black moors are hybridized really well, but you do get the occasional cross from smaller fish.

As for food, goldfish need a lot of it, but spread out during the day. If I fed my fish their daily portions all at once, they would stop eating after 4 minutes, leaving most of the food to waste at the bottom. I feed 4-5 times a day. I use an autofeeder on a 3 hour spread and a timer on the lights. I use sinking pellets.

9 am - Lights on
10 am - First feeding
1 pm - Second feeding (occasional peas)
4 pm - Third feeding
7 pm - Last feeding (extra if still hungry)
9 pm -Light out.

At night I let them sleep. No feed, no lights.

[Rocky]

I wouldn't be leaving uneaten food in the tank for several hours, your ammonia could be spiking then by the time you check it your filter(s) may have brought it back down again.

I do not, I was merely pointing out that he definitely eats his fill. My other moor cleans it all up quickly.


As for being in a small container, he has been in the 55 gal since I bought him. And at that time he was young/small enough that I was mildly worried the other would eat him.

Perhaps it is genetics...