interschooling small tetras

[Kuhlifan]

Do small tetras of different types school together? The only tetras I've ever kept are neons and red minors, and never together. There are, however, a ton of smaller tetras about the size of neons that I've thought about trying. It would be nice though to only get a few and not buy a whole school at first. Since I already have neons, would buying a few tetras of similar size simply create a larger hybrid school, or would I have two different schools?

 

[Damodred]

They won't school together as tightly as a species-specific school, but IME similarly sized and "shaped" schooling fish species will form loose groups with one another. The closer the shape, size, and coloration, the tighter the school.

 

[catnipgal]

my neon tetras and glowfish tetras school together. They are similar in size.

 

[rich311k]

They will group up if they feel in danger, but the same species will be tighter and swim together better.

 

[bazil323]

They might loosely school. My lone rosy red minnow (last one alive) would occasionally school with my neons, but it would mostly hide in decor and freak out if anything came near it.

Cardinal tetras and neons, I've heard, might school together. As was said already, the closer in size, shape, and color, the more likely they are to school together.

 

[Dekk]

My neons and glowlights all move together. 1 glowlight/neon moves to the left side of the tank they all follow.