Can someone recommend some schooling tetras?

[aquarius]

i was thinking of adding a school of tetras to my tank, preferably something small and colorful. i know i don't want neons since i have had a tough time keeping them and besides they don't school very well. any suggestions are welcomed. thanks

 

[parker313]

Rummynose maybe...

 

[aquarius]

yep, i definitely considered them but i can't find them anywhere. i should have bought more when i had the chance

 

[The-Wolf]

Pengine tetras.
I have five and they don't leave eachothers side.

 

[Lateral Line]

A note I post often when people ask about "schooling" is that schooling is a defensive strategy shown by many fish when they percieve a threat. In a crowded small tank, schooling rarely has any advantage, so is seldom exhibited.

You put ten Neons in a 24"/600mm tank with a load of other things, they'lll wander off on their own and interact little. Put exactly the same 10 fish in a 6'/2m tank with some wide open swimming spaces, you won't be able to seperate them.

So you are looking for species that are naturally "scared", and Rummy Noses, probably best fit the bill. However, they are a sensitive group, (there are 3 species), and will turn over in poor water conditions.

 

[Nethius]

it's not a tetra, but rasboras shoal real nice!

 

[MAM]

glow light tetras are nice and small, and a lovely red color (these are not those genetically altered ones.......). i had a nice little group, and they added some nice and different color to the tank, and being so small, they worked well in a smaller tank

 

[tmlhaus]

I would agree with the rummynose. I currently have 7. All are fairly new to the tank--only about 2 weeks and they have all done fine. MUCH easier to keep alive than cardinals. And rummies are always schooling with each other...even in a larger tank.

 

[fish_boy2004]

I believe head and tail light tetras would make a rather nice shoal or black phanton tetras. I would say neons, but they are a challenge because of there special requirements and the sensibilty to water, etc etc.