Black Widows

[shmeepie]

I bought 2 new black widows, and they stick together like glue. Are black widows shoaling fish, because if so, i will get some more

and also, i am trying to change my avatar to a black widow(because they are much prettier than the mose i've got) but everytime i try to change it, it just resize the mouse! can someone help plz?

 

[Rusty_S]

I can see your black widow avatar

Black widows are tetras so technically they are shoaling fish and will tend to stick together, though you don't have to have loads of them for them to be happy, I think a lot of people keep them in groups of two or three. My boyfriend has three and they are perfectly happy that way

 

[Lateral Line]

Schooling/shoaling is a defence strategy. Small fish school together to make themselves look bigger, and to "loose themselves in a group" so they are less likely to be picked off by a predator. This strategy works best in larger openwater areas. Thus, schooling is not seen very often in small or crowded tanks, there is simply no advantage, and the fish go about their business as suits them - sometimes they will group together, other times they will be all over the tank.

 

[shmeepie]

well i think my black widows are pretty insecure, probably because when i first put them in the tank, the goldfish chased them around the tank trying to eat them, so yeah....

 

[sushi]

They are schooling fish. they do swim all over the tank seperately sometime, like the other writer said, but then they school too.
My lfs won't sell them unless you're buying six or more because they are schoolers. they need the other 'buddies' to feel secure.
I've got 6 of them and 6 tiger barbs.
I would reccommend that you have at least 5 or 6.
That's what everyone else on this forum has told me anyway. make them happy
Hope that helps

 

[shmeepie]

ok thanks