stocking question

[weaver7175]

i have a 55 gallon that id like to put all neon tetra's in
i was wondering how many i could put in there

 

[Wizzard~Of~Ozz]

I'd say somewhere in the neighbourhood of 80, posiibly 100 if you have it heavily planted (would be nicer for the fish).

If you are doing it to see a nice school, it won't happen. Fish need a threat to school (it's a defence mechanizm).

try adding 5-6 Diamond tetras, then 15 Neons and see if they start schooling (the size of a diamond is big enough to be a threat, and small enough that you aren't stocking feeder neons like I was with the congos (lost 21 neons in 1 week, 0 bodies and none were injured, the congo's doubled in size).

Also, Cardinals and Rummynose make nice schools, you could set up a school of neon's or cardinals and a school of rummynose.

 

[Fishyfanatic]

I wouldn't put too many in because the neon's are not top, mid, and bottom dwellers. If you put a nice mix of a few bottom dwellers, some top dwellers, then the neon's, you could have easily 25. But like Wizzard stated, they won't school unless they feel threatened. I was really hoping mine would in the 55 gal tank but I guess they dont' feel threatened because they all hang together scattered throughought the tank.

 

[weaver7175]

thanks for the idea's im not going to do anything till spring
so im still in the planning stage i'll have to give your idea's some thought
i had no idea neons wouldnt school i figured id drop some in and it would be cool

 

[Fishyfanatic]

It would be pretty cool to have a few schools of Neons, but they need to feel threatened to actually school together.

 

[weaver7175]

i'll have to try the diamond tetra's, and see if this makes them school
maybe i'll get lucky!! if not i'll have a bunch of pretty fish to watch

 

[Wizzard~Of~Ozz]

Diamond tetras look amazing with powerglo or 50/50 lighting, the purple in their fins stands out beautifully.

Best of luck, You'll have to post back if the diamonds are big enough to make them school.