Fish That Will Live Happily in Groups of 3-5?

[NomiGold]

I was wondering if there were any (small) fish that will shoal or co-inhabit in small groups instead of signally or in pairs? I know many of the species commonly considered to be shoaling fish will pick on each other as adults, like blue/green chromis or banggai cardinalfish. Are there species that will be fine in small groups, perhaps if care is taken to have either all female groups or a harem with one male and multiple females?

 

[MCCOOL]

My trio of Pseudanthias Dispar have co-existed perfectly fo the few months I've had them (far from long term, I know)

also, Apogon Parvulus and Zoramia leptacanthus do well together, or so I've read here numerous times.

 

[Mikeygo1]

Any of the anthias are good in groups, as long as you only have one male. They move around the tank together and are very freindly, you dont have to worry about them ganging up on other fish.

 

[NomiGold]

Thank you both. Are any anthias generally considered easy to keep, or are hardy enough for beginners? I think I recall hearing that they can be a little finicky.

Any opinion on a harem of flasher wrasses, one male and several females?

 

[MCCOOL]

Flasher wrasses are fine in groups

I wouldn't say all anthias are ok in groups, bartletts will generally all turn male and dislike one another.

Lyretails are one of the hardier species, but they get larger than some of the others.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Thank you both. Are any anthias generally considered easy to keep, or are hardy enough for beginners? I think I recall hearing that they can be a little finicky.

Any opinion on a harem of flasher wrasses, one male and several females?

Its refreshing to hear a question like this. I never got this vital info until after the fish croaked. Anthias are not beginner fish; IMO&IME, they really don't require anything all that special; but they just don't tolerate the little beginner mistakes like many fish do. Again, IMO&IME, they really do best in a large, well established reef tank. Very frequent feedings (mine are fed at least 5X daily) and pristine water are musts.
You might like blue reef chromis (Chromis cyaneus); they're a little flashier & less ordinary (IMO) than other chromis and easy to keep. Down side, quite pricey for a Chromis, probably $15-20 per.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I wouldn't say all anthias are ok in groups, bartletts will generally all turn male and dislike one another.
.

Do you have a source for this? I've kept Bartletts for years and this certainly isn't my experience.

 

[LCP136]

You could look into chalk bass. I've heard they like to school.

 

[MCCOOL]

Do you have a source for this? I've kept Bartletts for years and this certainly isn't my experience.

Sure thing, this is the thread I read.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1132189&highlight=long+term+bartletts

 

[tacwise]

You could look into chalk bass. I've heard they like to school.

Hi i have 3 chalk bass in my tank and they school,they are considered hardy.

regards Colin.

 

[NomiGold]

Its refreshing to hear a question like this. I never got this vital info until after the fish croaked. Anthias are not beginner fish; IMO&IME, they really don't require anything all that special; but they just don't tolerate the little beginner mistakes like many fish do. Again, IMO&IME, they really do best in a large, well established reef tank. Very frequent feedings (mine are fed at least 5X daily) and pristine water are musts.
You might like blue reef chromis (Chromis cyaneus); they're a little flashier & less ordinary (IMO) than other chromis and easy to keep. Down side, quite pricey for a Chromis, probably $15-20 per.

Yes, I learnt the lesson of researching before you buy back when I started with tropicals as a preteen. Anthias are probably a fish to save until I have a bit more experience with SW.

The Chromis cyaneus are very eye catching. I'll be sure to look into them. I think I would prefer to spend a little bit more to get the right fish that will thrive and live long in my tank, rather than the wrong fish and have to replace it.

 

[NomiGold]

You could look into chalk bass. I've heard they like to school.

Hi i have 3 chalk bass in my tank and they school,they are considered hardy.

regards Colin.

Ooh, I do like the look of chalk bass. They remind me a bit of some african cichlids. That's another one to add to my research list.

 

[Patterson117]

FYI - Chalk Bass will jump....nice fish though, peaceful, fast.

 

[MikeandNicole]

Gold assesor bassletts will also hang out in groups. They are hardy fish and they are also tank raised by ORA now. Really cool behaving fish, they hang out upside down and around the rock work. Also peaceful fish.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Sure thing, this is the thread I read.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1132189&highlight=long+term+bartletts

Thanks, this is weird! I thought it may just be collectors shipping the larger males, but that isn't the case. A while back, I put A LOT of small Bartletts into a 240 reef and they formed 2 obvious harems As far as I could tell, there were two dominant males, each with about 8 females. There was one "loner male" that stayed by himself and perished. I changed this tank; but most of the Bartletts are still doing well in another home; with the same make-up. Before moving after Katrina, I had another group with the typical dominate male and 5-6 females. In this hobby; everything happens, I guess.

 

[MCCOOL]

From that thread, it sounds like the males will tolerate one another most of the time in a large enough tank. Maybe you had enough females to keep them occupied.

 

[Western_reefer]

What about mollies/guppies? They school. :lolspin:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1934528

 

[89Foxbody]

Pajama Cardinals will school when placed in groups, and establish dominance without much aggression at all.

 

[64Ivy]

In my experiences with Bartletts in shoals, while not ALL of them turn male, inevitably several will indeed do this. The resulting aggression will eventually cause injury to one or both (they seem to like going for the eyes) and possible loss or damage to 'SPS' frags as they violently chase each other around the tank. Also, these fish will not necessarily school unless they perceive danger. Otherwise, they seem to just go about their merry way, all over the place.

My tank is very large, however, so their behavior will no doubt be different in tighter spaces. Unfortunately, I wouldn't think for the better.

 

[NomiGold]

Pajama Cardinals will school when placed in groups, and establish dominance without much aggression at all.

Really? That's interesting to hear! I suppose I assumed that their behaviour would be more like Banggai Cardinalfish.