Schooling Fish ideas

[jhatfield]

Just starting out with a Red Sea reefer 170 mixed reef and working on a stocking list for fish. In addition to a pair of clowns and a blenny I'd like to have some small schooling fish. I understand that chromis may pick each other off over time. Any other ideas for schooling fish? I'm thinking 3 to 5 small fish. Benggai's may be an option but not my first choice either.

Even if they don't school is it possible to keep multiple firefish?

 

[Zack K]

Just starting out with a Red Sea reefer 170 mixed reef and working on a stocking list for fish. In addition to a pair of clowns and a blenny I'd like to have some small schooling fish. I understand that chromis may pick each other off over time. Any other ideas for schooling fish? I'm thinking 3 to 5 small fish. Benggai's may be an option but not my first choice either.

Even if they don't school is it possible to keep multiple firefish?

In a 175 yes multiple firefish are possible. Pajama Cardinals, Any Anthias, Chromis. At the moment that is all that comes to mind. I Have a school of 5 chromis and they have been doing well for 4 months. Some aggressions to each other here and their but nothing major.

 

[eatbreakfast]

In a tank the size of a Red Sea reefer 170 the social fish I would recommend would be either zebra or scissortail dartfish.

Bangaiis pr off and kill the others. Firefish are also fairly intolerant of their own kind unless they are a bonded pr.

 

[jhatfield]

In a 175 yes multiple firefish are possible. Pajama Cardinals, Any Anthias, Chromis. At the moment that is all that comes to mind. I Have a school of 5 chromis and they have been doing well for 4 months. Some aggressions to each other here and their but nothing major.

Sorry, it's ~40 gallons (170l). May have to limit it to a single due to the smaller tank.

 

[Roy 9121]

In a 175 yes multiple firefish are possible. Pajama Cardinals, Any Anthias, Chromis. At the moment that is all that comes to mind. I Have a school of 5 chromis and they have been doing well for 4 months. Some aggressions to each other here and their but nothing major.

I have a pair of pajama cardinals, and they don't school. Actually they don't get along very well at all.

 

[Zack K]

I have a pair of pajama cardinals, and they don't school. Actually they don't get along very well at all.

Interesting. I know my LFS has a school in a display. About 8.

 

[jhatfield]

In a tank the size of a Red Sea reefer 170 the social fish I would recommend would be either zebra or scissortail dartfish.

The scissortails may work. Much thanks!

 

[davocean]

Pajama cardinals may shoal, (correct term) but bangaii generally do not.
keep in mind LFS tanks are just temporary, not an example for long term success.

I personally have always kept chromis w/out issues, not sure why so many other people have issues, but I see many others keep them long term as well.
I have 5 in my 120g, and they stay very tight, no aggression at all.

Anthia are another good option if your tank is fairly established and healthy, and you can deal w/ the multiple daily feedings.

 

[Roy 9121]

Interesting. I know my LFS has a school in a display. About 8.

That's why ibought then, because i want a them to shoal, guess that's what it's called. I originally bought 2 of them, but they just don't like each other. Then someone told me to try getting a third, but that one died because the bigger one bullied it and wouldn't let out eat.

 

[Roy 9121]

Pajama cardinals may shoal, (correct term) but bangaii generally do not.
keep in mind LFS tanks are just temporary, not an example for long term success.

I personally have always kept chromis w/out issues, not sure why so many other people have issues, but I see many others keep them long term as well.
I have 5 in my 120g, and they stay very tight, no aggression at all.

Anthia are another good option if your tank is fairly established and healthy, and you can deal w/ the multiple daily feedings.

They are all swimming in the same direction in a coordinated way. Schooling and shoaling is a kind of collective animal behaviour by fish. Any group of fish that stay together for social reasons is said to be shoaling, and if the shoal is swimming in the same direction together, it is schooling.
I had no idea.