Schooling fish?

[adam82]

What schooling fish are out there that dont get too big? other than chromis and cardinal.

 

[cougaran]

Anthias-1 male w/ harem of females, some tangs if you have the room, Coral Catfish-which I saw a huge school in an aquarium, it was like a ball on the ground of them moving, they stay very close to each other.

 

[Moonstream]

^I'm not sure what you mean by dont get too big, but I'd have to say that tangs and coral cats dont exactly fit that guidline. plus, besides maxing out at a few feet in length, coral cats dont show schooling behavior as adults.

there are several smaller dartfish/goby species who show shoaling/schooling behavior; Bryaninops natans (though nearly impossible to get a hold of and very, very tiny) hang out in dense groups around SPS colonies and their behavior mimics a school. blue eye dartfish (Tryssogobius colini) hang together in fairy tight groups. Parioglossus raoi as well show some shoaling behavior.

I have a feeling that cardinals will be your best bet, probably easier to get a hold of than either the B. natans or blue eye darts. red spots or blue eye seem to be the better choices among them.

 

[cougaran]

yeah missed "too big" in post..Didnt realize the coral cats get that big-1'..says they stop schooling as they mature. The aquarium musn't be worried about it..It was really cool to see the large school of cats.

 

[ccalabro]

Again, not sure what you mean by "don't get too big" but a nice small schooling fish is the dart goby...they are small though so you'd wanna be careful they don't become feeders for larger tankmates.

 

[ja4207]

Anthia, Firefish, cardinals.......