1 big school OR multiple small schools?

[newbeestl]

I've just about got my 75 fishless cycled. Yeah!

What does everyone think would be better, one huge school of fish or multiple smaller schools?

I'm thinking along the lines of Hockeystick Tetras, Banded Barbs, Harlequin Rasboras, and/or Cardinal Tetras.

Thanks!

 

[FreddytheFish]

either way, its kind of a matter of preference. After a while, if you don't have a semi-aggresive fish, the schools might break up 'cause theres no need for protection.

 

[NoчnoyGostь]

Of course large schools look very good, but since most of us can keep a limited amount of tanks and really like fish, multiple small schools are best, since you can keep a lot of different fish in one tank.

 

[RTR]

I have a blind unreasoning prejudice against mixed tanks, which gives me justification to keep many tanks, no more than one school each.

 

[OrionGirl]

I prefer one big school. It looks better, more graceful. With a mix of schooling species, you don't really get several smaller schools, you tend to end up with one big school of mixed fish--just not as nice. The only mixed schools I favor are those where they won't mix--ie, rainbows and tertras, or tetras and pygmy cories. Then you really get to see 2 schools of fish, rather than the mob you get with 3 flavors of tetras.

 

[Holly9937]

I would also vote for one, maybe 2 large schools. Due to poor planning and combining tanks I have serpae, blackskirt, and neon tetras, along with a school of scissortails...The fish seem happy, but the tank has way too much going on, not very harmonious for lack of a better word

 

[newbeestl]

Well, it looks like multiple schools win, and I kind of like the concept of different fish. I do not want the schools to mix though.

Does anyone know if Rasboras would mix with Tetras? Those are the 2 schools I'd really like.

 

[mooman]

fewer larger schools always look better IMO. You could do two large schools in a 75 without it looking too junky. Tanks with multiple small schools just look fake and unsophisticated. Elitist? Maybe, but that's how I feel.

 

[anonapersona]

tetras need large numbers

Tetras need large numbers of fish to really be able to see them well from across the room.

I suggest 30 cardinal tetras, plus a small group of larger fish, maybe the barbs, like just 6. Some barbs are nippy and that will make the cardinals school better. I had 30 cardinals plus 6 serpae tetras in 60 gallons and they schooled well. The Serpae tetra males were always sparring amongst themselves, the females waited in the bushes for the victor. Add some cories 6 or more, and shrimp, and you have a nice community, with large schools.

 

[Harlock]

I have been toying with the pygmy cory and small tetra idea for a larger tank for some time now. It's more fascinating to me to have a large tank full of lots of small fish rather than a large tank with a few big fish.