Best Small Schooling Fish

[PBirdsong]

Some of you may know I am in the process of cycling my new 55 gallon tank. I'm going to put a couple of Bala Sharks in there for sure, but I would also like to stock it with a small schooling fish. One that stays small and breeds easily. Any ideas on a species?

[talloulou]

Bala sharks are schooling fish. They are very shy and skittish if kept alone. You should have 4-6 minimum and eventually they will outgrow a 55 gallon. If you want another schooling fish to go with them I would consider silver dollars, rainbowfish, or danios. You could try smaller schooling fish but you better keep your bala sharks well fed. As far as an easy to breed fish I think guppies are the easiest....perhaps too easy.

[Zezmo]

Though, not easy to breed... Bloodfin Tetras are small (but not too small), hardy, and they love to school. My nine like to play in the currents from the filter. Sometimes they will zoom all over the tank playing follow the leader in a single file line

[PBirdsong]

I know Balas are schooling fish. Our other tank has four small ones in it. I'm just looking for something that will stay small to put in the new tank. Small being under 2 inches.

[SerLunchbox]

blue eyed popondettas ... small rainbowfish.

Mine LOVE to school around together. They breed fairly easily but do require a breeding mop for the best results

[flamingonhot]

white cloud mountain minnows.......

The only bad thing is that they are pretty samll and need cooler water

[tracygh]

I really like my neon tetras. They are so much fun to watch. They school well, and use the bubble wall as a roller coaster ride...quite entertaining. I believe they come in a 'regular' and 'large' variety if you are concerned about size. They're awfully pretty too

[talloulou]

Fish that remain under two inches could eventually become snack food for big bala sharks. If you are unconcerned about that many of the tetra species stay small. A school of tiger barbs would be cool and may be better at holding their own with growing bala sharks. And they should only get to about 2 1/2 inches.

[amitnarain]

platies are very beatiful. otherwise tetras, swordtails, guppies