Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => General Fishkeeping advice => Topic started by: fcmf on January 10, 2015, 06:59:52 PM

Title: Size of tetras - any cause for concern?
Post by: fcmf on January 10, 2015, 06:59:52 PM

From the first week (2.5 months ago), two of them always appeared to be rounder than the others, one in particular, and I thought they were female with the largest one being pregnant. The two smallest I assumed were males, and the two 'in between' I was never entirely sure if male or female (but am now thinking one is female as it's developing a rounder belly).

I've never seen any eggs in the tank, however, so I'm not actually sure that any of them are pregnant.  Instead, I'm wondering if the two largest-belly ones are actually just so because they are first for food, while the 'in between sized' one (which I'd assumed may be female now) has developed its food-retrieval skills.

In the pics, you'll notice that 2 of them are much rounder-bellied than the others (and possibly that one of the remaining 4 is slightly rounder). Firstly, do you think that they look healthy enough or is their size anything to be concerned about? Behaviour, activity levels, appetite, position of resting in tank, etc, are normal, and water readings consistent and 'good'. [ie: do you think that it's simply a matter of 2 (or 3) females and 4 (or 3) males, or that the 2 rounder-bellied ones are of concern because of their size, and if so, what ought I to do about this?]  Looking at them straight on, their bellies are rounded not just depth-wise but also width-wise (as you'll see from one of the pics where the light is shining off its stomach.]

NB. There is one pic (ends in 233, if the number shows up) where one of the large fish is blurred; the other large fish, in front of the cave, is a much truer likeness of the size of each of these larger fish.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Title: Re: Size of tetras - any cause for concern?
Post by: Sue on January 10, 2015, 07:31:10 PM

They may just be that shape. If it is something bad, they usually have the symptom of sticking out scales which is easier to see by looking down on them. If their scales are nice and flat it shouldn't be anything to worry about.

As regards eggs, the chances of seeing any are quite small. Tetras are egg scatterers, and the fish in the tank usually eat them as fast as they are laid. And if any did survive long enough to hatch, the fry are incredibly small at first, and would be eaten as soon as they were spotted.

Title: Re: Size of tetras - any cause for concern?
Post by: fcmf on January 10, 2015, 08:15:32 PM

Thanks, Sue. Yes, definitely no sticking out scales - had fantail goldfish in the past with that condition so would look out for/recognise that if that were the case. Re eggs, with pygmy cories in the tank as well doing a very thorough job, I think you're right - they'd be eaten almost immediately. Thanks again - good to get an objective/outside opinion.