What's the best schooling Tetra in low numbers?

VippiN

VippiN

Pro*Lifestyle
Dec 23, 2005
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Hi all, i've got a 18G tank and i'm looking to get some subspecies of Tetra, and would prefer them to school. I realise the lower numbers the less chance of schooling, so i'm asking the question which would be the best.

Numbers would be six to ten in a 3FT 18G tank with buddies 2 BN, 2 Mystery Snails, 4 Kuhli Loaches and 2 Guppies.

Regards,
Rob
 
Schooling fish will generally only school if there is a reason to, ie: a predator or threat. Since there usually isn't anything of that sort in home aquaria, they only school once in a while.

Having said that, neon or glo-lite tetra would be best for your size tank.

Roan
 
As Roan said, schooling fish rarely actually school in the home aquarium, unless they have good reason. Often, relaxed, happy schooling fish like Glowlights or Neons, will separate and pair up, or go it alone. Mine rarely school, they are usually spread out all over the place. They do however interact with one another a lot. Brief play-chasing, circling, etc. To answer your question, it is generally accepted that smaller tetras be kept in a min. school of 6. More being better. I tend to agree, however that is also dependant upon the size of your tank, and other tankmates. I think for your tank, assuming you have all peaceful fish, that 5-7 tetras would be fine, so long as its well planted/decorated, so they can hide. The only time my tetras school is during a water change. Makes sense, considering if a giant with bright purple and orange arms reached into my bedroom window, id be schooling with the wife for sure! LOL. Hope that helps. Take care.
 
aquarob said:
As Roan said, schooling fish rarely actually school in the home aquarium, unless they have good reason. Often, relaxed, happy schooling fish like Glowlights or Neons, will separate and pair up, or go it alone. Mine rarely school, they are usually spread out all over the place. They do however interact with one another a lot. Brief play-chasing, circling, etc. To answer your question, it is generally accepted that smaller tetras be kept in a min. school of 6. More being better. I tend to agree, however that is also dependant upon the size of your tank, and other tankmates. I think for your tank, assuming you have all peaceful fish, that 5-7 tetras would be fine, so long as its well planted/decorated, so they can hide. The only time my tetras school is during a water change. Makes sense, considering if a giant with bright purple and orange arms reached into my bedroom window, id be schooling with the wife for sure! LOL. Hope that helps. Take care.
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I've heard from a guy at my lfs who says you can get fish to school in a community tank by adding a big fish. Of course, the problem with adding a big fish is they may eat the small fish. I've heard for example that if you've got a school of black skirt tetras, for example, and you add an angelfish that the tetras will school a lot closer because the angel intimidates them.
 
aquarob said:
considering if a giant with bright purple and orange arms reached into my bedroom window
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Purple and orange arms? What planet do you come from, pal? :joe:
 
Making your fish feel threatened might make them school, but will also maintain them in a constant high stress level, which wil also turn into non-happy and probably sick fish.

Also, adding a bigger fish will scare them for a while. After they get used (or eaten) to his presence, they will not fear him too much.

regards.
 
i found with my serpaes and head light tetras (i had six of each) would school, there were two angels in with them. At first probably out of fear of the angels, but they kept schooling even after getting used to them. They would school around this driftwood statue i bought online. Chasing each other constantly was really pretty to see. Unfortunately a ick infected catfish wiped out our whole school and quite a few other fish as well, no amount of meds seemed to cure them. It was the reason one of the reasons i bought our bigger tank, so it would free up a small tank for quarantine purposes. Guess i learned the hard way.
 
all tetras ive added get chased by the betta for a while but when he knocks if off they stop schooling.

if i were you id look into redeye tetras. fun fish to watch and they arent small (not huge) either.
 
patoloco said:
Purple and orange arms? What planet do you come from, pal? :joe:
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Nobody else has AquaGloves? (they only come in that color)
 
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