Lyretails won't school

[phishlet]

I have 4 females and one male in my 125 and they don't school. They're all out and about but they don't really stay in a group.

 

[tryffin]

I guess you could call that a "loose school"? lol. Do you have any tangs or other large fish in the tank, or anything that could cause them to group together more tightly?

When I got mine, my green chromis was quite aggressive towards the anthias, but now after six weeks they're the ones being bossy.

 

[Psyire]

Generally schooling is a defense mechanism, so they need to feel threatened in order to school.

 

[phishlet]

Yeah, that makes sense.... I have a pretty peacful tank. The only tang is a hippo tang. The anthias are in with a flasher wrasse, a couple fairy wrasses, ocellaris clown, royal gramma and a copperband butterfly. Not really any fish to threaten them.

 

[Angel*Fish]

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that Lyretails will stay together more cohesively in a tank with stronger & varied flow - I'll see if I can find/remember where...

I know it sounds unlikely but I think it's true

 

[IRM0212]

Marie, you are right! I have had my lyretails for rougly 6 months, at first they would not school, but with the upgrades of a few filters and such, which led to an increase in flow...they did actually begin to school! They are a real joy to watch when they are schooling! you will also notice if you have chromis' they will join in as well! It puts on quite the visual display!

 

[Angel*Fish]

IRM0212,
Thanks for saving me from having to look it up

Your tank sounds like a joy to watch - What is it about schooling fish that we all love so much?