Good Shoaling fish?

[Tennyson]

I'm looking for good shoaling fish (3+) that will do good in a 46 gallon tank. Anything besides chromis and cardinalfish. Are there any shoaling fish for a reef?

thanks.

 

[Tennyson]

Wait, I know I said not cardinalfish, but would a group of three pajama cardinalfish be good? Will they eat flake foods?

And also, would a group of a couple firefish gobys, or pearly jawfish, neon gobies be good?

thanks

 

[chrissreef]

three pajama cardinalfish be good - they don't shoal... nothing in a group of 3... maybe 10 blue cheek cardinals

Will they eat flake foods - yes

And also, would a group of a couple firefish goby - will likely kill each other until 1 is left
pearly jawfish - don't know, but they don't school/shoal either
neon gobies - might stay close, short life expectancy tho

 

[Grunt]

Red Spot Cardinals (A. parvulus) imo.

 

[Tennyson]

Will red spot cardinals eat flake food? They seem alright. Are there any shoaling fish besides cardinals that would be good?

 

[LauraCline]

Neons have alot of personality and are better looking than the cardinals IMO.

 

[snorvich]

Agree with chrissreef. Cardinals are good bets for shoaling despite your tank size.

 

[Grunt]

Did you guys switch to freshwater?

Red Spot Cardinals are a type of saltwater fish...Apogon parvulus.

 

[snorvich]

Freshwater? I have not done that for over 40 years.

 

[forddna]

Anyone have experience with these? Very striking!!!

 

[chrissreef]

forddna - my friend has 20-25, stunning how close they stay together!

i'll be getting some as well... imo, you need 15+ to make it look like a decent group. less and they jsut look like a few random silver fish =/

 

[forddna]

How do they do in reefs?

 

[chrissreef]

reefsafe ... is that what you mean?

just qt them, you might lose 2-3 from shipping/disease but they're easy to feed and hardy.

 

[forddna]

Yes. I can't find any good info on them, but that their natural diet consists of shrimp. So I wasn't sure how to take that. ??

 

[nycreef]

yup, those are nice for your size tank:bum:

 

[forddna]

Sorry to hijack the thread like this, but I figure this is still helpful to the OP????

Do the fish I posted usually look that good? What I think I am trying to ask is, is that typical, or would I usually see less color if I found them in a LFS or ordered online?

 

[King-Kong]

Here are some in my tank.

...and here is a small video of them in my tank:

http://www.d3f.org/misc/fish/90g/video/mediaplayer.html


Tips on threadfin cardinals: only purchase eating ones!!!

If they are not eating, then they will die when introduced into reef tanks with strong flow.

Mine live in a BB tank with very strong flow and eat like pigs, and do fine.. BUT THEY CAME IN EATING!

If not eating, you can attempt to rehab. SOME of them in very calm, lagoon/refugium like settings (something comparable to a Seahorse).

Great fish.. love'm.