Best Shoalers

[Gourami123]

hi can anyone give me a few species that they think have the greatest shoaling instincts

 

[brads]

I have found that most tetras like neons and cardinals and barbs shoal really well

Brads

 

[crazychris]

Yes definitely tetras. I have red-eyed and Pristella and they shoal in their own groups.

 

[craig855s]

Rummy nose tetras are fantastic, They're the only good ones I've experienced.

 

[Monty-2010]

most tetras, but rummy nose tetras look the best when imho

 

[Truck]

Most characins and cyprinids shoal tightly...for a week or so.

 

[Scott MacAdam]

I remember reading somewhere that fish that DO shoal generally only shoal together if they feel the need to. That is, if you were to have a species tank you may not see the shoaling behavior, but if you had that same group in a larger tank with some tank mates that they may find intimidating or threatening then they will shoal together.

 

[dave_oddballs]

the only fish i have had that shoal really well is glowlight danio's, their colour and pattern far out do that of rummy nose tetras too, also depends on what sized tank you have in mind also, i keep big pink tailed characins and they look stunning in a group! mine are 8" possibly reaching 10" though!

 

[scobie140]

My neons only shoal when the angels are having a go at each other, the rest of the time they just laze about. but my copper harlilquins shoal pretty much constantly. When i had panda corries they shoaled but the albiono's never(i think they were blind as they were clumsy with their swimming)

 

[rdd1952]

Most characins and cyprinids shoal tightly...for a week or so.

This is the key.

This thread offers a great explanation of the difference between shoaling and schooling. Once we put fish in our tanks and they realize there is little to no danger for them, they will pretty much start to go their merry way and you won't likely see them in a large group very often.

 

[craig855s]

On that basis then, The best SCHOOLERS I have in my tank are rummy noses, they stick together like glue, if theyre not all together then it's only 1 who has departed the group to investigate something alone. This may nto happen in a tank with different inhabitants but in mine it does, my harlequins however done school tightly for the most part (they only group up when the light first goes off,but then disperse once they realise its only darkness)

 

[FishFanatic13]

from my old tank i had rummynose and they are my best but also mine and my dads barbs are great and the barbs s i have are pentazona barbs

 

[The Noob Fish Shepherd]

Clown loaches seem to like the company of their own species, heres proof: http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=Amqdj-fEGQo