Suggestions for schooling fish

Discussion in 'Tropical Fish' started by gamma, Aug 17, 2004.

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  1. gamma

    gamma Spaghetti Worm

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    I'm looking to get some schooling fish in my tank-120g.

    So far all I have is:
    a pair of clarkii clowns
    a domino
    a yellow-eye tang

    I've heard that chromis are pretty common, but are there other good schooling fish? Also, how many would be enough and is it true that an aggressive fish is needed in order to keep the fish in a school?

    thanks,

    GaMmA ;D

    Oh, here's my tank so far. I couldn't have done it w/o everyone's help and advice here.
     

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  3. somethingfishy

    somethingfishy Purple Spiny Lobster

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    I have 3 firefish they school together, they aren't very active swimmers, but the technically do school. I am thinking about getting 3 more.

    I don't have any aggressive fish in my tank and they still school. I'm not sure if this is always the case. The more you have the better, I would say you need at the least 3.
     
  4. somethingfishy

    somethingfishy Purple Spiny Lobster

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    BTW, Domino Damsels are a aggressive fish which only gets worse with age.

    I have two green chromis which have no interest in each other.
     
  5. JohnO

    JohnO Moderator

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    Hey GaMmA,

    Tank looks fantastic :)

    John
     
  6. gamma

    gamma Spaghetti Worm

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    Thanks John. I love the way the tank is coming along. I've focused lately on just corals and now i want to figure out what other fish I should put in.
     
  7. Matt Rogers

    Matt Rogers Kingfish

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  9. JohnO

    JohnO Moderator

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    Matt,

    I was always told that Chromis were the nearest thing to schooling fish for an quarium, but I think ( from memory ) you need to have 7 plus fish and some sort of 'threat' fish in the tank to cause them to school :)

    John
     
  10. gamma

    gamma Spaghetti Worm

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    Thanks Matt.

    I have also heard that eventually most schooling fish in an aquarium will find that they don't need to stay in their schooling formation due to an abscence of a predator. Any truth to this?

    GaMmA
     
  11. Matt Rogers

    Matt Rogers Kingfish

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    I've heard that once or twice but can't tell you from experience. Seems to make sense though. I would think any fish larger than the school would be considered a threat even if it's docile.
     
  12. gamma

    gamma Spaghetti Worm

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    What do you think about anthias as schooling fish?