Why 6 as a minimum # for schoolers?

LeahK

LeahK

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Jul 5, 2007
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I have heard many times, here and elsewhere on the web, that schooling fish need to be kept in a group of 6 or more. Indeed, I have given out this advice many times myself. But I was just wondering, where did 6 come from as a minimum number? I'm not trying to debate it, but I'm just curious if it's based on any kind of science or data, or if it reflects anything about schooling fish's social structure or natural behaviors.
 
None whatsoever. It's just a number which seems to have been settled on as big enough to consider a shoal but small enough for most aquaria.
 
5-6 is a good gregarious number for a shoal though in IMO it varies such as that number works for cories but for tetras/rasboras need even bigger shoals.
 
I don't like even numbers when it comes to schooling fish. I'd go with 5 or 7, but that's just me. :D
 
Vicious_Fish said:
I don't like even numbers when it comes to schooling fish. I'd go with 5 or 7, but that's just me. :D
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Yea...

B/c if you say 4.. people do 2-3.. if u say 5, they go for 3-4..

with 6... 5 is more likely to be used.. People R Strange
 
A man wearing all black and looked like his skin had been touched by fire told me to keep three schools of 6 fish in my aquarium.
 
I cant stand even either..5-7 here too but i cant stand a bunch of fish that are the same here anyways..just a preference of mine..
 
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