Question about small schooling fish

[Winterose]

Do they care who they school with or do they have to school with their own species? Like i have sunburst Platys and i had 6 and they schooled but 3 died and now i need more for the school cause the fish need a group. But all my lfs don't seem to have any and they can't order them till next week so i'm talking about a 2 week wait to get them. So would they school with some molly platys and some neon tetras? or will they only school with other sunburst platys?

 

[brentling]

While Platies aren't technically schooling fish, I have always sold them (and recommended that they be kept) in pairs, at least, if not larger groups. Platies do not care about their color (a good lesson for us to learn ) just that they are other platies. In fact, many platies are hybrids/crossbreeds, etc. They would not like to hang out with neons or other fish. Get some more platies when you can, but do not stress too much about it until then.

 

[The Zigman]

I have often wondered this myself..
I have about 40 tetras in my 125, cardinals, rummy nose, and black neons.

I have seen the cards and rummys school together, I have seen the break into 2 schools with mixed fish in each. I have seen them school seperately... They all have some sort of identity problem.

BUT>>>
I recelently lost all but one of my 10 cardinals.. The lone survivor became a loner, he wouldn't school with the rummys or the neons. I bought 6 more cards, and they all 7 schooled up...right away, and they school with the other tetras.

My SAE's and Oto's school together.. sometimes they join the black neons...
they all have the same color pattern, maybe that has something to do with it..
OK, I'm rambling now...

I think that you should have at least 3 (5 is better) of any schooling fish, so they dont feel out numbered. I think schooling fish are happier when they are with their own kind.

 

[jm1212]

other species of ture schooling fish do not usually school together.

other fish like corydoras and livebearers that are "social" fish that really just appreciate the company of one another but are largely independent will group with other similar species.

 

[brentling]

A lot of schooling behavior has to do with a fish's tank mates, too. A tank with a bunch of various tetras will all sort of do their own thing. Put some larger fish in with them (Angelfish, etc.) and they will suddenly start grouping tightly, and usually with their own kind. I have found Rummynose tetras to be among the tightest schoolers.

 

[small-fish]

my neons and cardinals school together, but i dont think it is a big deal about the platies

 

[Virtuoso2K12]

yep, no need to worry about schooling them. I have to wait weeks to get my CPD and neons,but patient is a virtue.

 

[Winterose]

Thanks for the input guys, we got some cool looking platys they are white with black spots? any ideas as to what they are? and now all the old fish seem allot happier with the new additions and they swim around together. and i think one is pregnant.

 

[KarlTh]

Information - mollies and platys are different fish, with different water requirements.