will schooling fish still school if they are different sizes

[Bubble_B0y]

50 gallon tank

I have 3 silver dollars (3inches). They are a little shy at times.

I want to add another 4 silver dollars. But the only silver dollars at my LFS are 1.5 inches.


Does it matter?
Will the larger silver dollars school with the small silver dollars?

 

[Esra]

I have one spotted silver dollar at about 3 inches and just added 4 silver dollars that are about 1.5 inches.

The smaller ones try and school with the bigger one but he's too fast for them.
Plus i think he got used to being on his own and thinks they're chasing him.

I'm sure they'll settle down into a school over time though

 

[Bubble_B0y]

thank-you -
very helpful information


maybe I should trade my 3 silver dollars (3 inches).
And just buy 6-7 silver dollars (1.5 inches).

 

[Esra]

Yeah having them all the same size from the start will help with the schooling.

However i'm sure over time they will school anyway, and your giving up an established fish for a new one.

Your choice though.

I kept my single larger one cause he's spotted and i haven't been able to find many small ones of that kind.

 

[trotty]

i think they will school anyways.... but all the same size will look better!

 

[hc8719]

i didnt think silver dollars were that big of schoolers anyways, but i dont thin you should get rid of a fish, because you want smaller ones, its not fair to the bigger one