Could it also be that they are less than an inch ... actually they are about 1/2 inch and purchased from someone who raised them from eggs.

Do you think they would do better in my 5 gallon? Its not running a filter because I couldn't find one appropriate but I do regular water changes and we all know adf are not exactly messy.

Unless you have a recommendation on a filter, I do have several tanks I could cycle it in.