Why do my schooling fish not school together

[ruffneck]

Hi there. I have a 55gallon tank thats been setup for about a month now. I noticed alot of the schooling fish don't school or hangout together (ex. black skirt tetras). Is this cause this is a very non threating non stress tank with lots of swimming space? the only ones that school on a constant bases are the 5 neon tetras and 2glow-lite tetras. they all school together but they only stay close to the bottom around hiding spaces and plants. Why is that should I get alot more?

I currently have:
2angel fish (small)
4 long finned blue danio's (full grown)
2 bolivian rams (full grown I think)
1 boeseman's rainbowfish (just baby)
1 aqua frog
1 otto algae eater (very small)
1 bala shark (small)
1 chinese algae eater (6.5")
2 rosy barb (4" each one male and one female both good buddy's)
1 albino Cory (3.5" 6year old and fat)
1 julii cory (2")
1 panda cory (just baby)
2 glowlight tetra
5 neon tetra

I'm very happy with what I have in here and realize that some of these fish will get alot bigger. but I was wondering if I could get away with adding alot more tetra or some more rosy barbs or boseman rainbows with out over populating can someone please give there advice and opinion if I could have more fish and wich fish would be recommened. Thank you very much

 

[ruffneck]

I also have 1 cooli looach
and my 55 gallon tank has lots and lots of hiding places shelter and plants if that helps??

 

[Dwarfs]

Schooling fish usually only school when they feel threatened, if they are not threatened they will remain in a scattered group

 

[Raechal]

I would take the bala shark back as it will outgrow your tank and they need to be in groups, and get some more tetras.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

Non-schooling fish:
2 angel fish <-- Natural Predators of Neon Tetras
2 bolivian rams
1 bala shark <-- Will gow to be a foot long
1 chinese algae eater
1 aqua frog Dwarf or Clawed? African Clawed Frogs are piscavores

Not Enough for A School: [How Many Would Make a School]
1 boeseman's rainbowfish [4+] <-- get rather large
1 otto algae eater [3+] <-- can be fine on their own
1 albino cory [3+] <-- cory cats typically school in species groups
1 julii cory [3+] <-- cory cats typically school in species groups
1 panda cory [3+] <-- cory cats typically school in species groups
1 khuli loach [3+]
2 glowlight tetra [5+]
2 rosy barb [4+]

Undersized Schools: [Recommended]
4 long finned blue danio's [6+]
5 neon tetra [5 qualifies, but the more the merrier!]

 

[ruffneck]

the frog is a dwarf frog I've had him for 6 years.
So I think I'll take back the bala shark
and if I replace it with the underschooled fishs in my tank it shouldn't be over crowded I hope what do you think? I would only school the panda cory sine the julli and albino are getting really old. also I heard if you grow the angels up with the other fish there shouldn't be a problem with the tetras or have people still had problems with them I may even take them back if you think there is not enough room if I make all the underschooled fish schooled? and is I have them all in schools will that make them happier even though they are already non

 

[pica_nuttalli]

well, in that case, here's what I would do. (just a me-thing, you are allowed to make your own decision )

2 angel fish
6 long finned blue danio's
2 bolivian rams
2 boeseman's rainbowfish
1 aqua frog
1 otto algae eater
0 bala shark
1 chinese algae eater
4 rosy barb
1 albino Cory
1 julii cory
3 panda cory
5 glowlight tetra
5 neon tetra

i've not done the maths, so the above list would prolly be overstocked.

(the only reason i wouldn't add any more neons is the risk of introducing "neon tetra disease". but if you could find stock that had been at the LFS for 2 or more weeks with no deaths, i'd get 5 more in that particular case. but that'd be a rare find...)

 

[BigFishSmallPond]

the bala wont outgrow the tank for quite some time and they do ok by themselves

Just keep in mind u will have to buy him a new home in a few years