Need a school of fish

[Mikey122687]

I'm thinking of getting like 5-6 barlett anthias for my 80g to school. Is this a great fish for schooling? I don't like lyretail because they're kinda plain in color, let me know what other reef fishes are good for schooling

 

[89Foxbody]

Chalk Basslets are nice.

 

[Reefnub]

Bartletts don't school too much but if you do get a school of them, get all female first so they can establish dominance. If you really want some schooling fish, you should get some cardinals. You should also look into ignitius or dispar anthias if you're an anthias fan like me. :fish2:

 

[prickles]

my chromis "school" together. They are always in a bunch of 6. Cheap and nice color too.

 

[Monkeyfish]

As chromis mature, they tend to kill each other until there are only 1 or 2 left. Bartlett's anthias are infamous for turning male and killing each other when in smaller aquariums.

Your best bet for a "school" of fish would be one of several species of Cardinals (but not Banggai/Kaudern's) or Zebra dartfish.

 

[89Foxbody]

I have one dartfish now, he's been in the tank for almost a year, would it be safe to add another or is that no good? I've heard both yes and no...

 

[hermesfansf]

Blue eye cardinals are very nice. They will definitely school.

 

[Monkeyfish]

What kind of dartfish? Some do not enjoy the company of others

 

[OodleyBoodely]

Blue gudgeons, zebra dartfish, cardinals...redspots, orange-lined, stoplights, Blue-eyed

 

[snorvich]

Blue gudgeons, zebra dartfish, cardinals...redspots, orange-lined, stoplights, Blue-eyed

Agreed. Although technically they shoal rather than school. Cardinals, however while initially shoaling, long term will pair off.

 

[pleasants9]

chalk basslets are nice.

+1

 

[Putawaywet]

The hard truth is you can buy whatever fish strikes your fancy and in the end you will more than likely not acheive the result you are looking for. At least, not with the size of tank you have. Schooling is an instinctive behavior in response to outside stimuli not usually found in home aquaria. Inveribly, most attemps take on the following behaviors:

Fish hang out for a few days until they become cofortable witht their surroundings at which time they split up and begin to settling in.

Fish then become territorial of their new surroundings and begin fighting over the limited space found in home aquaria.

The more dominant fish tend to pair up and begin picking on smaller/weaker members of species.

Smaller/weaker fish slowly die off due to attrition or predation.

 

[luxtralarge]

just get some Sergeant major damsels. lol

 

[Mikey122687]

yea i just told my local store to get 5 dispar anthias. i think they're cool looking and i hope they do well in my tank.

 

[snorvich]

The hard truth is you can buy whatever fish strikes your fancy and in the end you will more than likely not acheive the result you are looking for. At least, not with the size of tank you have. Schooling is an instinctive behavior in response to outside stimuli not usually found in home aquaria. Inveribly, most attemps take on the following behaviors:

Fish hang out for a few days until they become cofortable witht their surroundings at which time they split up and begin to settling in.

Fish then become territorial of their new surroundings and begin fighting over the limited space found in home aquaria.

The more dominant fish tend to pair up and begin picking on smaller/weaker members of species.

Smaller/weaker fish slowly die off due to attrition or predation.

Correct.