Getting Neons to School Tighter

**raulfd4** · 02-10-2013, 03:32 PM

I have a 65 gallon with 25 Neon Tetras, 4 Otos, and a Betta.

I was hoping the Betta would provide the semi-aggressive, but non life threatening, presence necessary to make the Neons nervous enough to keep a tight school.

Can anyone recommend a fish that could help keep the Neons a bit more "in check" and keep them schooling a bit tighter?

I will be perfectly happy if there is no such option, I just liked the way the tank looked better when they were first introduced and a bit more unsure of their surroundings, keeping together for safety.

Tank is heavily planted, if that makes a difference in stocking suggestions.

**mizzoutank** · 02-10-2013, 03:43 PM

cool picture with that cat and tank.

but sadly, there isn't anything to recommend that would get your neon's to school

schooling is a defensive behavior that fish do when they are scared or stressed (as they were stressed when they first entered the tank)

not seeing the schooling behavior is a good sign that you have a healthy and balanced tank.

seeing the schooling behavior means you have stress
and what stress causes is diseases, and neon's are not known to be that hardy to handle such stress. (meaning they will be susceptible to fin rot, ich etc easier/more frequently)

personally, you are very lightly stocked for your 65gallon tank.

if you are going for a big community style tank. then try to add 10-15more neons.
remove the betta
up your oto's to 10
and then add some (like 2 or 3 of one species) dwarf cichlids (kribs, or bolivian rams, or german blue's, or keyholes)

**raulfd4** · 02-10-2013, 04:27 PM

Thanks - my cat likes watching the tank more than I do!

That's kind of what I figured with the Neons, so thanks for confirming.

I know the tank is stocked lightly (there's actually a 20 gallon sump below it, too), but I prefer a sparser tank. I plan on adding a bunch more Otos, Red Cherry Shrimp, and some Malaysian Trumpet Snails.

Thanks for the quick feedback, though!

**Lady Hobbs** · 02-10-2013, 06:19 PM

What you are asking for is a way to keep your fish all stressed out so they will act as you wish them to. I hardly think this is the life the neon's would appreciate.

**talldutchie** · 02-10-2013, 06:23 PM

Agree with the two above this.

What you got is what neons like, a light to moderate planted tank with wood.

**steeler1** · 02-10-2013, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by talldutchie

Agree with the two above this.

What you got is what neons like, a light to moderate planted tank with wood.

These are good points. Everybody assumes neons come from an environment that is thickly planted.

**talldutchie** · 02-10-2013, 08:15 PM

There's some, not much but some, footage on youtube that shows them in the wild. Very interesting.

**CrunchyLeaf** · 02-10-2013, 08:54 PM

Agree with all of the above. Neons not schooling = happy neons.

**nikelodeon79** · 02-19-2013, 09:28 PM

Tetras generallu are not tight schoolers. Even when stressed, they prefer to hide if possible.

A large school of rasbora should give you what you are looking for.

**Hardy85** · 02-20-2013, 12:37 PM

Just a little input from my experience.

I have a small school of zebra danios, most of the time they are just free swimmers, but occasionally (i think when my male apisto acts up) the danios school up. It happens probably 2-3 times a week and only lasts a few minutes, but its cool to see... I'd think a pair of dwarf cichlids would encourage the occasional schooling without causing any sort of constant stress