Just Stared my School

[Sydsmom367]

I picked up 3 Harlequin Rasboras yesterday. 2 of them are schooling pretty tight but the 3rd one seems to keep to himself. They've only been in the tank for a day. Do they need time to adjust to their new surroundings before schooling well or do I just have an odd Rasbora?

 

[MICEY]

you need to get at least 3 more the 2 are probably picking on the third 1
most schooling fish need to be in schools of 6 or more some times you can mix similar fish with them neons and cardinals, scissortails , danios

 

[Sydsmom367]

My plan was to get 6 but the LFS said I should only add 3 at a time. How soon can I add 3 more without throwing off my water parameters? Could I add 3 Cherry Barbs with them instead of 3 more Rasboras?

 

[PNWaquarist]

My plan was to get 6 but the LFS said I should only add 3 at a time. How soon can I add 3 more without throwing off my water parameters? Could I add 3 Cherry Barbs with them instead of 3 more Rasboras?

The employee who told you that is clueless. And I have no idea how adding more than three rasboras would mess with your water parameters.

Get three more rasboras as soon as you can. Add the Cherry Barbs a good two weeks later (and, again, get at least six... they can get aggressive if they're in small numbers).

 

[Sydsmom367]

Thx PNW. Just so I understand correctly, I MUST have at least 6 fish for 1 school and can NOT mix & match 3 Rasboras with 3 cherry barbs. Do Barbs have to be kept in schools or can I have just a pair? I heard cherry barbs can do well as long as there's at least 2.

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[Angela1108]

Cherry barbs are the same. They need bigger groups. Also you need like 2 females for every male or the makes will torture the females


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[PNWaquarist]

The Cherry Barbs may also nip at your Harlequins if they're in too small of a group and stressed.

Unfortunately, too many clueless people work at LFSs. Researching on the internet prior to purchasing is the way to go.

 

[Fishobsessed7]

When I first got my rasboras one of them didn't school now they are all comfortable and none of them school

 

[Sydsmom367]

Thx all. I will be getting 3 more rasboras asap. I'll skip the cherry barbs since I will not have space for them in a 10 gal with 2 guppies and the school of rasboras. Guess I'm maxed out now.

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[Sydsmom367]

Could I get more than 6 in a 10 gal with 2 guppies? I do want to add ghost shrimp eventually.

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[Sydsmom367]

Uh oh. Looks like the 1 fish was keeping to himself for a reason. I found him stuck in the filter, dead.

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