Comment about neon tetras and schooling

**Tiari** · 11-19-2012, 12:07 PM

I have a ten gallon with 12 neons that was specifically made for them. There are no other inhabitants, and it is peaceful. They school.

I am a firm believer, the fish keeper should make their tanks fit the needs of the fish, not fit the fish in with what they wish in a tank. There is always need for Neon Tetra to school, its what they do.

**CONE_YAK** · 11-19-2012, 12:33 PM

I was the same way in only getting a few neons, but after coming to this forum I was told more. I have 10 now and they do school together and they provide that bright color that is so hard to find in FW tanks. I understand you like what you have but just think how much better it would be for them if you had a few more. Your choice, but it seems the consensus is that you should add a few more....again....your choice.

**Troxel** · 12-08-2012, 03:44 AM

+1 to bigger schools:
I started a tank with only 4-5 neons, and have been adding 4-5 neons a month, and I'm up to 25 neons in a 26 gallon bowfront. With every addition, I saw a change in the behavior of the fish. I saw them more comfortable to explore different parts of the tank, and much less jumpy while I do water changes or clean the tank.
When I only had 4-5, I didn't think their behavior was off, but now that I have a bigger school, I can see the difference.

**sheamurai** · 12-08-2012, 02:48 PM

The point isn't whether or not they can survive in small numbers , of course they can. Or the fact that they will interact with other fish - that also happens. We've all seen the stories where a dog and a goat are best pals or that momma cat raising orphan coon kits.

The point is to provide your fish with as close to natural conditions as possible, so the fish may thrive.

Neons playing with guppies happens, but likely would not happen if they had their own kind to school with - they require interaction with numbers so they are getting it wherever and however they can.

Your three fish are likely not schooling because even with three, they don't feel any more secure than they do on their own. You can't feel security in numbers when there are no numbers. When schooling fish are threatened by a predator in the wild, they scatter. Your few fish are simply scattered all the time, as there is no security to be had by grouping. If they are active and zipping about, then sure, they aren't stressed. But if they are in one area of the and not moving around much, they are lying low trying not to attract attention.

Any one here will confirm for you that the natural behavior of the fish is more evident the closer you are able to keep them in the numbers and conditions they would be accustomed to in the wild.

Sure, your fish are doing ok, but they are just making do and adapting to whats been made available to them by you.

**Honey Badger 1** · 12-08-2012, 03:11 PM

Can't explain it any better than Sheamurai just did and I am not going to waste my time trying to convince you of something you don't want to be convinced about. How about you move the three neons from the active tank and put them in with the three neons in the calm tank and see for yourself what we are talking about.

**steeler1** · 12-08-2012, 09:57 PM

I could be wrong but I believe this poster came and started this argument and left. I have not seen a post by him since.

**Honey Badger 1** · 12-08-2012, 11:26 PM

No one is arguing.

**steeler1** · 12-09-2012, 04:01 AM

I didn't say you were but she was till she left.

**Shidohari** · 12-09-2012, 12:14 PM

Trust me...3 fish isn't a school.

I actually donated my three julii cory cats for rehoming because they need a school of six. I only had half that and I was calling it a 'school' at the time.

My concern for my bioload in my ten gallon tank however, forced me to see the inevitable and rehome them in favor of 7 otto cats...However again following the advice of Lady Hobbs, i will be taking 2 of those to one of my LFS this morning so the lot doesn't run out of food.

Now i am not the most experienced one here, Lady Hobbs and the others can tell you i started off as a right mess in regards to fish keeping. They do like to say things straight forward at times depending on the situation, but they only have your fish, and your best interests at heart.

Good luck with your fish and you are a brave one to keep guppies...very...very...brave...

Edit: just saw this poster may have left the forum...I wish them (and the fish) the best of luck if this is so.