Some Fish Are Small?!

[Timmy_Bee]

I have had my tank running for a few months, but some of my fish seem much smaller...

I have got a mix of barbs (cherry, rosy, tiger etc) & some Buenos Ares tetra.
All barbs were bought about the same time, but my cherries are tiny! i know these fish are smaller, but these guys (3) are no bigger than 1.5 - 2cm in length! (all other barbs are about 6 or 7)

Edit the barbs were all about the same size when i bought them, but the others have grown and the cherries have not...

Also, one of my tetra's is small, and more box shaped, instead of the other 3 which had got more of a hatchet fish shape.

Should my cherries be bigger? and is one of my tetra's a different sex? or are they not eating properly? any help would be great. if needs be, i could upload some pics
edit2 the smaller tetra is a bit darker in colour. almost 'black chrome' whereas the bigger ones are silver

 

[weejen]

buenos tetra the females are bigger and chunkier, males are finer more long. as far as i am aware

 

[mattlee]

if by cherry tetra you mean ember tetra then they are a smaller tetra and wont get much bigger im affraid. there is also the chance that they are not getting much food as the barbs are very active at feeding times.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/329919-ember-tetra/
are these the tetra in question? or do you mean cherry barbs?

 

[Timmy_Bee]

are these the tetra in question? or do you mean cherry barbs?

Sorry - meant cherry barbs...

 

[Timmy_Bee]

To confirm - i have got two issues. One is that all 3 of my cherry barbs are very small and don't seem to be eating.
The other is that one of by Buenos Aires tetra looks smaller and less round

Are they ok?

 

[Malt_Vinegar]

Pics would make it easier to judge.

 

[Hokum]

Shouldn't Cherry barbs be in larger numbers than 3? Maybe it's stress?

 

[Timmy_Bee]

Il try to get pics when i can. At work at the mo.

As for a bigger group, i was tempted to get more any way, but i don't want to over-stock. In my 180 litre tank, i have got:

3 Cherry
3 Rosy
3 Tiger (2 green)
4 Odessa
3 Golden
[all above are barbs]
5 Buenos Aires Tetra
3 Clown Loach
2 Commen Plec (looking to re-home in the relitively near future...)

Could i get away with another 3-5 cherries?

 

[mattlee]

3 Cherry
3 Rosy
3 Tiger (2 green)
4 Odessa
3 Golden
[all above are barbs]
5 Buenos Aires Tetra
3 Clown Loach
2 Commen Plec (looking to re-home in the relitively near future...)

from this list i would rehome the tiger barbs as they are best in much bigger groups or will get very nippy with the other fish. also the clown loaches will get far too big for the tank as they can grow up to and maybe over a foot in length.....
if you did remove these fish and the common plec you would have quite a bit of space available. i would then up the numbers of all your fish to be honest to make then feel more secure and happier fishies

 

[Timmy_Bee]

really? i never knew the loaches would get that big... ah.

Well unfortunately i didn't read this post. I have gone and got 5 more cherries and they seem to be happier and seem to be eating, albeit not a great deal.

Also, my tigers are fine at the mo - they don't seem to be picking or nipping anyone. But i take your advice - will think about what to do...

 

[mattlee]

really? i never knew the loaches would get that big... ah.

Well unfortunately i didn't read this post. I have gone and got 5 more cherries and they seem to be happier and seem to be eating, albeit not a great deal.

Also, my tigers are fine at the mo - they don't seem to be picking or nipping anyone. But i take your advice - will think about what to do...

just be sure to research the fish before you buy them. many people buy clown loaches due to their colour and high activity in the lfs but most wont have enough room in their tanks to accomodate them. fish like these are always available so im sure they wont sell out before you can return to buy some if the tanks right.