Neon tetra not schooling ...?

[melissa1977]

I ve just got 6 neon tetra for my 20 g well planted tank.
I had them for 3 days now and they are the only species yet in my tank.
One thing worries me...

They don't school that much... Is that normal ?? They hide a lot in the plants...
Plus, sometimes I catch them picking on each other...

 

[Mr Burns]

That's perfectly normal. 6 neons in a 20gal won't school most of the time. Schooling is a protection thing, safety in numbers. Unless you add something that would harass them a bit, I doubt they'll display the schooling behavior.

 

[vega]

If you prefer fish that school all the time, rummy nose tetra would be great. Both cardinal and neon do not school under threat free condition.

 

[mattrox]

Try more neons.

I agree, by adding an active fish it will assist the schooling process. Try a pair of kribs. The neons WILL school if (when) the pair get into breeding mode. On that thought perhaps just one krib in a 20 gal with neons?

 

[lighter]

If you want them to form a tigh school, put in a bigger fish! lol

 

[Menagerie]

This is all true. Most fish will shoal, but not truly school unless there is a threat.