Which Tetra should I buy?

[plantedtankman]

I currently have 5 Congo Tetras. They seem to school on occasion, but not all the time. Should I get 3 more Congo Tetras? I can either do this or buy some Rummynose Tetras. Will the Congo Tetras school better if I buy more of them? Or will it not matter? Which tetra would you buy?

 

[Surfer]

I don't think it'll matter. I had them at one point and congos were always pretty loose. Get the tummy nose instead

 

[Oohitsae]

What other fish are in the tank?
Honestly, I've noticed most fish that are considered schooling, only really school when they feel a bit threatened, or it's dinner time.
There are a few types of fish that are considered great at schooling like rummynose tetras and harlequin rasboras, but that's still not guarenteed..

The best thing you can do is to add a couple more and get a more aggressive fish, maybe an apisto, or something larger if you have a large enough tank, to make them want to school more.

 

[Bottomfeeder88]

Mine school. I have 10 in a 75 along with other tetras. Blue emperors are always in schools for me as well. Cardinals/neons, penguins, actually most of them do even as one big a-- group.

 

[t4runnr]

I have 16 cardinal and 12 rumnynose tetras. The cardinals came first. They used to school all them time. Then when I finally got my compliment of rumnynose those schooled all the time as well. After having them together for a few weeks now, they don't school much at all. Unless they see me. Then they bunch up expecting food. It's a 55 gal and they are all over the tank. I'm hoping that means that thy are comfortable and not stressed at all.

 

[shawnleon]

What other fish are in the tank?

The best thing you can do is to add a couple more and get a more aggressive fish, maybe an apisto, or something larger if you have a large enough tank, to make them want to school more.

I agree is it a combination of congos school size and other tank mates, but I don't like the idea of adding a more aggressive fish. Congos aren't the best schoolers and can be timid, so simply having a larger (peaceful) fish they might perceive as a threat at times might make them show. I have both congos and rummynose tetras in various set-ups, hands down no one schools like my rummy! They'll need a decent school size too.