I'm looking to start a species tank of a single type of very hardy and tight schooling fish in a 20 gallon high. The tank is for my cousin who has never had an aquarium before. Species that come into mind include bloodfin tetras, black neons and harlequins. Which species do you guys think are the most hardy of the three? Any other ideas are welcome. Also, would bloodfins school as well since the tank is only a 20 high? They seem to be the larger tetra in comparison to the black neons and harlequins.
Hardy tight schooling fish
- Thread starter james_kim189
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Whatever you get, don't be surprised if, after a few months, they stop schooling/shoaling. Fish do this in part as a defense mechanism, and once they get really secure in your tank, and don't see any predators around, they tend to get sloppy about the schooling. Just a bunch of dropouts.
I agree, and it may happen even faster than that (i.e. as soon as they get settled into the tank and realize 1. they are the only ones there and 2. the only scary thing they see is you, and you feed them).
What if I put in a larger fish to suggest the presence of a predator? Something like a gourami or a redtailed shark. Will that motivate them school more tightly?
I actually have 8 rummies in my tank, and they were the tightest schoolers i've seen, until my GBR's died. Now they are alone with corys and a female betta, and they school much looser than before.
