Why 6 as a minimum # for schoolers?

[ct-death]

6 is yet another "Rule-ofThumb" that we use; however, this # varies based on fish species and size, tank size, stock or crowding, cover, use of a dither fish, etc., etc., etc......

6 is simply a number of fish suggested to ensure that a schooling fish will not be too stressed or act too far out of its normal behavior to cause other issues such as eatting problems, skitishness, aggression, etc.

To top things off, each fish has its own personalilty (not the schoolers as much), however, each "school" develops their own temperment, and not any two are the same. In other words, 5 might work for you now, but a later restock, even in the same tank, may not behave the same until you get more. I have seen this happen in my own tanks enough.

 

[excuzzzeme]

6 is usually a good number to prevent unwanted fights as it spreads it out over a greater area. There are some fish you should do as many as 8 for the same reason. 3-4 isn't a good option as all the other can gang up on a single fish.

When they post a school of 6, that is the minimum number.

 

[bazil323]

I think it's mainly because most people have only gotten a couple of them, and if you recommend any more, they will be overstocked. IMHO, the more the merrier, and 6 is bare bones minimum for a school. I personally try to recommend at least 8 or 10 if you have the room. If I am trying to help someone build a tank that they have no fish yet and they want a school, then I really try to recommend the maximum that that tank could hold.

Like someone else already said, it like a rule of thumb. For a 10g tank, 6 neon tetras would probably be fine. However, in a 55g tank, that would be a tiny school. You would want more like 15-20 neons in a 55g if not more.

 

[lateinningmagic]

I thought 5 was the minimum, so I went with 6 for my Harlies and 6 for my Neons (8 actually, 2 died). I went with 6 in case one died.

 

[benzjamin13]

6 never seems like enough for me. I'd always go for a dozen.

 

[LuciferSam]

Well i like 25+ for neons, but then you need a big tank lol, the more merrier

 

[benzjamin13]

I have a group of 24 Serpae Tetras. I was hoping for a tight school, but they're just all over the place.

 

[kyryah]

Well i like 25+ for neons, but then you need a big tank lol, the more merrier

At $3.49 ea (what they go for here locally) that adds up to some bank, lol. It would be nice, but it is a little out of my budget I have no desire to spend almost $90 on spazzy little fish

Kristina

 

[benzjamin13]

Neons are expensive in Michigan!

 

[Vicious_Fish]

There are of course some species that it is recommended to have more than 6 fish. Exodons for instance should be kept in large schools of at least 8 or more. If kept any smaller they have a bad habit of tearing each other apart one bite at a time.