Fish getting smaller?

Not a criticism, merely an observation....

Is it my imagination, or are the fish I generally see for sale becoming smaller? I find species such as neons, danio's, harlequins so tiny I would not add them to my tank because my guppies might eat them

I guess breeders want to move their stock asap, but we seem to be going from fry to fish shop in one very quick step...

 

Thats so true Jwh, most of the Ifs I visited are selling fish that are so small that I cant even buy them, pets stores know that the smaller the fish is the lower the price is, so thats why most lfs are stocking small size fish.Fish that I see are still fry and by a week in the ifs most of them are dead.

 

O so it was not just me. Those teeny tiny little neons go for the same price as the old big neons.

 

Yeah, you think that because they are small they will go for a cheaper price but not. Now its rare to see full grown fish.

 

I agree here with @Reedfish ... I love seeing fish "grow" (prolly why I enjoy breeding them so much). Think about them as your pets...and not just an ornament. I mean...would you rather buy a puppy or kitten...or buy a fully grown German Sheppard or Ridgeback?

 

@JAX that comparison is not really fair. My neon aint gonna poop on the carpet or bite the children because it learned bad habits somewhere else.

 

Gerhard...I not referring to "bad" habits. Would you buy a 6 year old dog that's house trained and good with kids, or still go the puppy route? 9 out of 10 will go the puppy route every day of the week...coz everyone wants to nurture and help something "grow", it's who we are as humans. Why should fish be any different?

 

Having just bought 3 Electric blue rams at 2cm for R90 each, I agree that the size of fish seems to be getting smaller. They immediately succumbed to whitespot in quarantine, even with the best possible treatment. So I'd definitely take a stronger adult fish from a LFS given the choice (which we're not really.) Any nurturing of small fish can happen when the big guys make babas...

 

Ok I see your point, are you however willing to pay the same for a puppy then a grown trained dog? Look at the price difference between a 2cm zebra plec and 5cm one. There are more risk on my side buying small fish. I do however agree with Reedfish point.

 

It comes down to personal choice, some people like to see their fish grow in front of them and there are other who prefer to buy adult fish for its beauty, to breed or personal preference. I prefer to buy adult fish has it is easier to add to a existing tank.

 

@Reedfish +1

The LFS is not where fish go to flourish....

 

Went to a LPS looking for neons: about 1.5cm neon R20 and cardinal R40 . I'm like "Don't know what your smoking but pipe it down" I would rather sell my tank then put a R20 baby neon in it.

 

I noticed to cardinals, treadfins,guppies,celebs all become smaller as they get very old . My celebs was small only one female was big , now she is the smallest as she is getting smaller and smaller

 

Marius is your own fish actually getting smaller?

 

I agree but I prefer my fish to grow in my tank plus get a. Full grown fish the life span that u are going to have it will b shorter

 

I won't even pay R20 for a fully grown neon.

 

Lucky here they are between 12 and 15 rand