Schooling fish dont school?

[Bearchumjs]

Why don't my schooling fish school!? They just swim about doing their own thing. I thought my 7 neons would stick together all the time. The only fish I have that school are Titan and Thor- My two rummy nosed tetras.

 

[Chronos313]

Fish tend to school when there's bigger fish around as a defensive mechanism.

 

[Bearchumjs]

Fish tend to school when there's bigger fish around as a defensive mechanism.

That makes sense. So they are just comfortable in my tank. Guess I need to throw in a big ol' angelfish then... J/k. I like them being happy. It's good to know they aren't weirdos because they don't school though.

 

[phoenixkiller]

My Neons do the same thing. If they are randomly chased by something, they "form up" (School together). I wouldn't be concerned, a lot of them do that. Truthfully, using a big fish as a defense mechanism is kinda mean to the fish, because they do that to frighten off big fish and they may get stressed.

I say leave 'em be, they're fine.

Hope I helped!

 

[Bearchumjs]

My Neons do the same thing. If they are randomly chased by something, they "form up" (School together). I wouldn't be concerned, a lot of them do that. Truthfully, using a big fish as a defense mechanism is kinda mean to the fish, because they do that to frighten off big fish and they may get stressed.

I say leave 'em be, they're fine.

Hope I helped!

Lol! I said j/k (just kidding). I wouldn't be mean to them.

 

[phoenixkiller]

I know . I was just making sure you weren't gonna get a big(ger) fish to make them school.

 

[jetajockey]

There's nothing wrong with having a peaceful larger fish in the tank to get them to school up tighter, I have never seen it adversely affect the fish in any way. Personally though I just pick species that have a tighter schooling tendency. Many of the shiner species I've kept as well as certain danio species seem to tight schoolers no matter the tank situation.

 

[Bearchumjs]

I just thought I had weird fish. You guys set me straight. Thank you!

 

[TT71]

My danios must be defective. They swim around all haphazardly like 7 fish with adhd.

 

[jetajockey]

The good schooling danio species I was referring to was danio choprai and devario sondhii. Zebra danios and their variants are not good schoolers.

 

[bobc4d]

ahhh this is good to know, I have 4 each tetra's and platy's in a 36 g, they don't school either, I thought they were strange and now I know it's because there is no threat

 

[gkuzel]

My danios must be defective. They swim around all haphazardly like 7 fish with adhd.

Haha that's so funny, Mine are the SAME way. Sometimes even running into the side of the tank.

 

[emerald76]

ahhh this is good to know, I have 4 each tetra's and platy's in a 36 g, they don't school either, I thought they were strange and now I know it's because there is no threat

Platies don't school

 

[DRad2003]

My betta will school with my tetras on occasion. I thought that was pretty neat.

 

[Bearchumjs]

My betta will school with my tetras on occasion. I thought that was pretty neat.

That's cool!

 

[bobc4d]

Platies don't school

well, there is another Pet Smart blunder. they told me I needed at least 4 or more "because they are schooling fish"

 

[Coursair]

well, there is another Pet Smart blunder. they told me I needed at least 4 or more "because they are schooling fish"

They are Social fish rather than schooling/shoal ing fish. You normally want 3-4 females per male with Livebearers such as Platies.

 

[DRad2003]

That's cool!

Yeah. This betta is really something else. Haha.

 

[phoenixkiller]

well, there is another Pet Smart blunder. they told me I needed at least 4 or more "because they are schooling fish"

I have never trusted pet store people's advice, unless it was backed up by the experienced people on here.

I agree, they do need a bunch of females per male, but they are schooling fish. I'm sure they like the company of their own kind though.

 

[Coursair]

I have never trusted pet store people's advice, unless it was backed up by the experienced people on here.

I agree, they do need a bunch of females per male, but they are schooling fish. I'm sure they like the company of their own kind though.

Being Social is NOT the same as Schooling or Shoaling together. See the definition :
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoaling_and_schooling