Best (most tightly) schooling fish?

[wickeded]

I want a school of fish, tightly schooling fish. Like those sardines or something you see in ocean documentary.

I tried Neon tetra, black neon tetra, white cloud (all 10+ when I tried), but in my opinion they school rather too 'loosely'. Any recommendations?

TIA-

 

[rich311k]

Most fish wont school unless there is a threat. Rummy noses school better than most fish.

 

[MyCatsDrool]

Try ghost/glass catfish.

 

[theotheragentm]

Harlequinn Rasboras?

 

[plecoperson]

I second the harlequin rasboras. Mine are usually in a tight school, and apparently happy 'cause I found a few fry in the quarantine tank when I took it down. They are "common", I know, but are really beautiful and do school well.

All my tanks are full, so if I take the q-tine down I can't get any more fish. RIGHT?

 

[evercl92]

Most of the tetras and such need a 'threat', or at least something they see as a potential threat. Red-tailed or rainbow sharks work well for this purpose. I had a loose school of 15 black skirt tetras. I added a rather large (4 1/2in) red-tailed shark, and the school tightened up quite quickly.

Without a 'threat', I would probably have to say: 1. rummynose tetras, 2. bloodfin tetras, and 3. harlequin rasboras, in that order.

 

[MyCatsDrool]

I should have posted more info about ghost/glass cats.

They require a school of 6+ and will rarely ever leave thier pack. They are the tightest of tight schoolers. So tight in fact that they will die without a school (so it is said) from stress.

I have a school, and they move as a single unit about the tank. Get to be about 3-4 inches from tip to tail, but have small, compact main bodies.

 

[wickeded]

Rummynose- I shall try. Thanks!