Good Shoaling Fish For A Beginner

[mark.w.jones]

I am currently fishless cycling my first tropical tank. It's quite small, 45litres (about 10 UK gallons), which I know is not great for a beginner but I'm going to try it out and see how things go. I really want a small shoaling species that won't outgrow my tank quickly that I can keep as a single species. Was considering tetras sp. but have read that most need a well matured tank of many months before they will live happily. I also don't want to end up with loads of fry as there is no way I could house them, so single species same sex would suit me best I think. Any suggestions that aren't too difficult to look after would be gratefully received. Have been reading bits and pieces all over the forum for days now but still don't know what to get. Best idea so far were Endlers Livebearers but don't know if their easy to come by in the UK.

Thanks

 

[barbiedoll]

Hiya
If you get endlers - which are around - my lfs has some - but then, it is Maidenhead Aquatics
or any other livebearer - you will end up with loads of fry - I mean, more fish than water!!

How about some harlequin rasboras? don't get too big, shoal and school and look gorgeous, especially against plants. Min of 5. Will hang about middle top of tank - feed flake from surface.

anything else I can think of gets too big or - as you say - like neons - needs established tank. Loads of people seem to get told by lfs to chuck neons in a new tank and then peeps wonder why they die off.

You need to do your inches of mature fish to surface area calcilations to see how many - depends on the shape of your tank. see elsewhere on site for calcs.

Then you might think about something small to lurk on the bottom and clear up the scraps - will add interest at the lower level and need a bottom feeder pellet. Look in the Fish index at catfishes and the sizes they get to when mature.

Hope this helps
You'll soon want a new bigger tank!! Bigger tanks are a bit more forgiving when things aren't exactly right!

 

[basia]

Pygmy cories shoal and unlike most cories they swim all around the tank. They are very cute and active too.

 

[timmystood]

6 Neons?

 

[Marcos]

I'd go for some platty's. Hardy, lots of colours available and won't get very big.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Platys, corys and endlers are not really schooling/shoaling fish...They will often stick together, but not shoal like a group of tetras..

What other types of fish are you planning on getting? There are plenty types of tetras that would do fine in a new tank .
Penguin tetras would do well in a new 10gal set up for example;

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=63290

 

[beechey]

slightly off topic but are hatchet fish shoaling fish?? mine always stay together and are intresting looking fish!

 

[Cheese Specialist]

slightly off topic but are hatchet fish shoaling fish?? mine always stay together and are intresting looking fish!

Yes they are.

My suggestion would also be corries, there are not too many options in that size tank but smaller cory species would be good or perhaps otos or neons in a more mature tank.

 

[guppymad]

what about some danio's, do endlers shoal i have 9 and they never shoal

 

[Cheese Specialist]

what about some danio's, do endlers shoal i have 9 and they never shoal

I think that tank would be too small for the fast swimming danio but Wolf's your man on that score.

I didn't know endlers to be schooling personally. But also, yours may not school because theya re happy. Naturally schooling fish like tetra and so on tend to only stick together when stressed or in danger.



White Cloud Mountain Minnows might be an idea but I am not certain on their tempature requirements...

 

[mark.w.jones]

Thanks for advice everyone. Goy my nitrite spike today so will hopefull be off to lfs in the next week or so.

Cheers

 

[pinkdolphin_113]

Maybe White Clouds would be good. They are brown but with lovely red tails. They are really small and look great when they school together. Could maybe get away with 9 if u wanted to in a 10Gal.

I would say my favourite shoal fish, tiger barbs, but they do grow pretty big and need alot of swimming space. These are so gorgeous!! The best little fish ever!

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

White cloud mountain minnows are techically sub tropical fish, do best in temps of around 19-22 degrees, they also really need a minimum of 15gals rather than 10.
Corys may be good, but i'd only really advise them if the tank is going to have sand or very fine rounded gravel in it.