Neons not schooling!

**saurjusa** · 09-15-2008, 07:33 PM

Something happened lately, I have six neon tetras that use to school tightly except for maybe 1 that seemed to be a loner (don't know why), they were the second load to the tank (see sig) after the corys, then I added the Betta and they schooled even tighter as if they were afraid (probably true) but then they started getting used to the Betta and loosened up a bit, but now, each stays to its own, it would seem evenly scattered throughout the tank and won't tolerato another to roam into "their" section? Is this normal behaviour? or is something wrong?

Help please!

**Alfcea** · 09-15-2008, 08:14 PM

Yeah, my neons do pretty much the same thing. They will school only for short periods of time... but I guess that is because they feel safe. If you want to form a tighter school, you could try adding three or four more of them. How does that sound? I think your 15 gal tank should be enough for them.

**fins_n_fur** · 09-15-2008, 08:24 PM

They feel safe in the tank, thus not as much schooling as you would want. Had the similar with my tetras, bummed that they don't school so much, but nice to see that they feel safe in their home.

**ILuvMyGoldBarb** · 09-15-2008, 08:37 PM

Yup, schooling fish like neons will only school when they feel threatened. If there is no threat in the tank they will happily swim around independently.

**Holyvision** · 09-15-2008, 08:43 PM

Add a black convict and they will school like no other...

...for about 15 minutes..

**saurjusa** · 09-15-2008, 09:42 PM

Well, as long as there is no abnormal behaivour, I guess it makes me feel better the fact that they feel safe, I'll probably add 4 more and if they school good and if not, no problem, as long as they're OK,

thanks guys, I feel better...

Alfcea: Viva Mexico, have a nice Independence Day, I'd give you a gift if I had the points! lol...

**Alfcea** · 09-15-2008, 10:29 PM

Alfcea: Viva Mexico, have a nice Independence Day, I'd give you a gift if I had the points! lol...

Thanks! Same to you, Saurjusa! I'm already getting ready for the celebrations. I'm wearing my green t-shirt and clearing my throat for the shouting tonight! Viva Mexico!

**richberstler** · 09-15-2008, 11:04 PM

I have a tank where my glowlight tetras school and most of my blue neons hide among the plants.

In my other tank my glowlight rasporas and black neons are always together. This is the skiddish bunch that run when i get close.

**korith** · 09-16-2008, 06:59 AM

When the lights on the tank flick on, my neons will rush together and start schooling. After a while they go on their own. In the dark they don't tend to school as much either I've noticed.

**doug z** · 09-16-2008, 07:37 AM

What's a fish that will keep them "scared" enough to stick together, but won't hurt them?

I'll have some dwarf cockatoo cichlids established in my tank, before I add my cardinals..

Will they do the trick?