Schooling Question

[zackish]

I know tetras are schooling fish and I plan to get a couple groups of 7 or so for my 30 gallon tank. I was just wondering if I got regular neon tetras and then some of the yellow neons or orange ones the ones that are a solid color would they school with each other or do they have to be the EXACT same type of tetra and color?

[pnphappy]

I think this behavior varies. Different species may school together. It just depends on the fish. My medium sized tetras are physically different and they school together at certain times, but not always. I know they are schooling due to their sync'd swimming and direction. Usually they are a mess in formation though.

[zackish]

I think this behavior varies. Different species may school together. It just depends on the fish. My medium sized tetras are physically different and they school together at certain times, but not always. I know they are schooling due to their sync'd swimming and direction. Usually they are a mess in formation though.

So should I just stick to 7 or so of the exact same kind or can I get like 3 neon tetras, then three of the gold ones and 3 of the green ones?

[NeonJulie]

The different types of tetras usually do not school together - in some tanks they never cross into the others' areas! Besides, you'd miss out on the best thing of schooling fish, their strength in numbers. It's like their beauty just multiplies the more fish of one TYPE/Color you have. Having 3 of this and 3 of that and 2 of this, does not give you the same affect as 8-10 beautiful fish swimming together and closeby. If this is not the effect you want, you should look into a non-schooling fish like guppies or platies.

But more than just for looks, these small fish are prey for other fish - they like safety in numbers. They also develop hierarchy's in the school, so you need enough in order to make sure not the same one or two gets picked on all the time. I do have 3 that I've had by themselves for about six months now, but they were ill, are still ill, and I would normally not gyp myself and them, by keeping their school so small.

There's a reason why all sites and profiles and books recommend schooling fish like tetras, be kept in schools, which are usually more than 5.

So pick the ones you like the look of the most, or go with a non-schooling type fish. Or get another tank?

One other option would be to look out for the types of Tetras that get the smallest, which might squeeze you a bit more room for two schools. Some of them are reported to only get to 1.5" instead of the 2" typical tetras get.
liveaquaria.com for some profiles.

[zackish]

ya julie I am planning on
7 serpae tetras
7 cardinal and a gourami or 2

If you wanted to check out my "final Stocking" list thread in general aquarium section.

[pnphappy]

Yep. Don't buy them expecting them to school. Mine probably do since my tank is pretty small compated to the number of fish I have in it. And like I said, mine only sometimes school. Usually they are just floating around twitching.

[Lady Hobbs]

I've had 4 different types of tetra's and never had them skoal together. I had the rosies that never skoaled at all and the white tetra's that only messed up the formation of the black skirts skoal. The neon's also remain together in bunches and are very pretty if you have a large group. They remain in a tight grouping.

My favorites are the black skirts (and neons) and I so agree with NeonJulie that a large number of one is much nicer than trying to buy a bunch of different ones. I have 9 black skirts that I've had for 1 1/2 years and never lost one. They are in a 55 gallon and just love to have that room to go back and forth in the tank. Another nice skoaling fish is the rasbora's. I have the redtails and like the tetra's, swim the length of the tank and are a very nice fish.

People that head to the store and buy one of this and two of that are usually disappointed in the end results. Find a fish you like and buy several of that one type to get an active tank.

[zackish]

I understand you completely lady. Thanks for the input!