Why 6 as a minimum # for schoolers?

[TwoTankAmin]

The fact is in the wild schooling fish like tetras occur in the 100s not 6 or 10 or 20. Somebody made up the number 6 as being the minimum. To really see schooling you need biggers groups and then some form of perceived threat since schooling is a defensive behavior. The threat can not be too great or the result in a tank is hiding not schooling.

I would suggest that to really see schooling one needs tetras or other schoolers in the dozens not the single or low double digits. This means you also should have an appropriately large enough tank.

 

[GEV83]

A school of 10 fish can be 2 groups of 5. It's all on how you look at it really. If you have 8 fish in a school, each fish sees 7 other members of the school.

Yeah but your comment is faulty. 2 groups of 5??? Still have an even number there also one fish only sees seven members but you still see 8. LOL I myself like odd numbers dont ask why. I got 6 Giant Danio in my 55gal but want one more for the 7 but the store only had 7 and one was crooked bodied so only took the 6 healthy ones.

 

[jpappy789]

The fact is in the wild schooling fish like tetras occur in the 100s not 6 or 10 or 20. Somebody made up the number 6 as being the minimum. To really see schooling you need biggers groups and then some form of perceived threat since schooling is a defensive behavior. The threat can not be too great or the result in a tank is hiding not schooling.

I would suggest that to really see schooling one needs tetras or other schoolers in the dozens not the single or low double digits. This means you also should have an appropriately large enough tank.

:iagree:

Thus why I fail to see the point in having 3 or 4 tetras in a 10 gallon tank...sure, they are nice to look at, but they won't display their natural behaviors.

 

[Zaffy]

No fish will show it's natural behaviors in a home aquarium.

Personally, when I see anyone use the word "schooling" I mentally replace it with shoaling because that's really what they mean. People on this board don't care what the technical differences are, and it's more trouble than it's worth to explain it because the next new user is going to come on asking their own "schooling" question.

 

[jpappy789]

No fish will show it's natural behaviors in a home aquarium.

Personally, when I see anyone use the word "schooling" I mentally replace it with shoaling because that's really what they mean. People on this board don't care what the technical differences are, and it's more trouble than it's worth to explain it because the next new user is going to come on asking their own "schooling" question.

Well, yes, but my point is the more the merrier. No sense in keeping small groups.

 

[Zaffy]

Amen to that! I hope I didn't come off as critical. Words on the internet are terrible that way.

 

[jpappy789]

No problem, and I here ya on the schooling vs. shoaling issue. It's just too nit-picky to bring up most times...people run away when they hear too much technical talk. Gotta use small words

 

[Slappy*McFish]

Yeah but your comment is faulty. 2 groups of 5??? Still have an even number there also one fish only sees seven members but you still see 8. LOL I myself like odd numbers dont ask why. I got 6 Giant Danio in my 55gal but want one more for the 7 but the store only had 7 and one was crooked bodied so only took the 6 healthy ones.

How is it faulty when I said even or odd numbers are okay by me?...lol.
Anyway, I don't think you really understood my point. I seriously doubt the fish care if they see an odd or even number of school mates. We make schools for the fish in question, not just for our aesthetic viewing pleasure. ...or maybe I just have a unique way of looking at things.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Maybe this helps some- rummynose
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[GEV83]

How is it faulty when I said even or odd numbers are okay by me?...lol.
Anyway, I don't think you really understood my point. I seriously doubt the fish care if they see an odd or even number of school mates. We make schools for the fish in question, not just for our aesthetic viewing pleasure. ...or maybe I just have a unique way of looking at things.

Its faulty cuz even numbers suck lol. Im an odds person. Just messing with ya is all. A school of fish is nice no matter how many there is well as long as there is enough to call it a school versus a pair or small group which is what we all have if you only got 6-15 its more a small group then a school. But yea.... :sim: