Neon Tetras

[IovaykInD]

I want my neon tetras to school, and right now, they aren't because there aren't any fish in there that is a potential threat. I was thinking if I could put a dwarf gourami in there, will it make them school? I just want to see them school all the time, because it's really cool. If not the dwarf gourami, what fish will make them school?

 

[MaNkiND]

Your key problem may be that if you have only 4 neon tetras. IMO get atleast 8. When i first purchased my cardinal tetras (similar to neons) I only got 3 because i didint want to add to many to fast. The 3 fish did fine however they didint shoal. Then around 1 1/2 week later i purchased 5 cardinals and they were shoaling. So i wouldnt neccesarily say its that you need a bigger fish to make them shoal.
A few questions:
- When did you purchase them?
- Whats the size of the tank?
- Do you have any plants in the tank?
- Are the water parameters and the temp correct?
- Did you purchase them from the same place? If so, then were the shaoling from where you got them?

Answering these questions would help to give a more accurate response.
Hope it helps

 

[IovaykInD]

Okay, I will get more neon tetras, probably I'd say five more.

1) I purchased them about two months ago.
2) The tank is 29 gallons
3) I have some plants in the tank
4) Yes, water is fine, and it's usually around 73-76 degrees
5) Purchased them all from Petco, and they were shoaling at first. Then they stopped.

I want them to shoal is all, and it'd be better if I didn't need other fish for them to shoal. They only shoal right now when I'm cleaning the tank, obviously because they are scared and quickly huddle together.

This is my tank:

That is a pretty updated image of it..although I've moved around the java moss, and the plants have grown a lot. Other than that, it's all the same.

 

[IovaykInD]

Also...can I add all five neon tetras at one time? Or will this be too much for the bioload to handle. If I could, I'll probably be getting the five or six neon tetras within a couple of weeks. I can only make one trip every couple of months so how many tetras should I get? I was also thinking about getting shrimps. Can I get a couple of shrimps along with the neon tetras, and still have the bioload to be fine?

 

[SkydiveSonic]

I added 5 black skirt tetras to my tank when there was only 6 neons and 3 zebra danios in there without any problems. Adding 5 neons shouldn't be a problem i guess ...

 

[IovaykInD]

Thanks..anyone?

 

[Lateral Line]

The thing most likely to make small fish school up is wide open spaces. You take your Neons that are all over the place in your tank, and place them in a 2m tank with a lot of open spaces and they'l stick to each other like glue.

 

[IovaykInD]

Well this tank is the largest tank I have. Will getting more neons make them shoal or will they just scramble around the tank ignoring each other?

 

[Asmp41]

Neon tetras are not the best for schoaling, unless as you when intimidated or unsure in large open spaces. Read Gina samfords book on Tropical fish. She states this also. Put a net in and they scarper. They like open spaces but also like to hide too. So a place for them to gang in helps.
Cardinals are better and they do schoal with other tetras too.

I think it's kinda sad that you do not accept the fish doing as they please. They are prisoners in our tanks and I think it's great that they can do what they like. When they shoal you will be so pleased but do not expect it.

 

[BubblPopElectrc]

IovaykInD, what are the floating plants at the top of your aquarium? They are kinda cool. Is that java moss growing on the gravel and the rock?
Thanks,
Kyle

 

[Lateral Line]

The floating plants are floating versions of the same plant rooted in the foreground, Ceratopteris thalictroides, Indian Fern. It is a very bouyant plant and often floats free, particularly when planted in gravel, it stays rooted much better in sand. Small plantlets also form of the leaf tips which break free and float when the plantlet is big enough.

And yes, it is Java Moss.

 

[IovaykInD]

Thanks Lateral Line, I always thought that it was water sprite, guess you corrected me. I only want them to exhibit their natural behavior, which is schooling, and its not that I'm not accepting their behavior. Yes, that is java moss as Lateral Line said.

So I can't make them shoal? Does that mean I shouldn't get more neons..since it won't change anything? If there is still away, please advise.

Isaac

 

[BubblPopElectrc]

Thanks guys.

IovaykInD, your tank is awesome.

 

[CytheFish]

I want my neon tetras to school, and right now, they aren't because there aren't any fish in there that is a potential threat. I was thinking if I could put a dwarf gourami in there, will it make them school? I just want to see them school all the time, because it's really cool. If not the dwarf gourami, what fish will make them school?

I read a great article about the differances bewteen "shoal" and "school". I'm going to stay up late to try and find it for ya, just awesome stuff. There are HUGE differances bewteen the two. You would need mabye 20 or more neons to trigger true schooling. 4 will shoal, ie hang out togeather, but there are not enough of them to trigger the schooling behaviour. If they school is will be reguardless of threat level. Fish phychology is neat!

 

[IovaykInD]

http/www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/beha...schooling.shtml
This website says schooling is want aquarists want. Schooling is when they huddle together, not because they are scared, but for surviving and reproduction reasons. It also says you need a couple dozen of the same species of fish for them to school. Shoaling is when they huddle together because they are scared, and they have a fright reaction. So what I don't get is how people have seven or more neon tetras, and they seem to be schooling. Unless they are shoaling because of fright, I don't know any other reason they could be shoaling. It must have been triggered by another fish in the tank, that is a threat.