Harlequin Rasbora's Not Schooling

[kylealastairlove]

i have 13 harlequin rasbora in my 120 liter tank, introduced them about a week a go now, is it normal of them to not stay in a school at the minute they seem to be just scattered around the tank, i did see them schooling quite a bit at first but now they all seem to be just all over the place, my tank has a fairly stronger flow than anything i've had before, and i cant adjust it, being as its just the juwel filter box thing and the flow is just what it is not adjustable, well at least i dont think... dont know if the flow had anything to do with it, but they seem to like it as they always swim up to where the water is being blown out as if they are playing in the flow or something, im not sure

 

[deftuch]

is there any other fish in the tank that may be bullying them or causing distress. i had a school of these once, they did the same thing as yours because i didnt realise they were being harrased by my perch which eventually ate them all

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Strange, might be because you have a few in a bigger tank, with mine the more I had the better they shoaled together.

 

[fluttermoth]

Most fish don't school all the time, only when they feel threatened.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Your Harlequins might feel very safe and so their danger schoaling instinct is "turned off."
 
Just an idea regarding your filter flow, which I remember you started a thread about recently... Have you tried adding a thick layer of white filter floss that you can buy in huge sheets and then cut/seperate to make them the right size for a Juwel internal filter? Alternatively, can you remind me about which pump you have (I think you said the tank was a Lido ~100l)?

 

[kylealastairlove]

thanks for the replies people, and thanks NOTG youre right, i did a bit of research, i came to the conclusion they are comfortable and feel safe so i have the courage to go swim around and do their own thing, they school when when the lights go out, and when i first turn them on, sometimes throughout the day, and if i approach

 

good idea! see i wanted to add some kind of gourami to my tank in the not too distant future, but i was worried the flow would be too much for them, although because its a deep tank i think it needs a fairly good flow throughout it to keep it well oxygenated and clean, maybe i'll have to think of another fish for my tank 

 

[eaglesaquarium]

My harlys also "shoal" during feeding...  Fun to watch.  They are usually near each other, but not together.  One or two will scoot away, but eventually they check back in together.  Its kind of like they are teenagers now.  They want independence, but when trouble comes they come right back home where its safe!  lol

 

[kylealastairlove]

haha yeah mine are kind of like that most of mine are still quite young at the minute, although some of the older ones have coloured up beautifully cant wait till they all have done