Schooling Plunge

[mr.waffles1842]

So i decided to try a different schooling fish, seeing as how all of my bloodfins died... So what are some good ones for a 20 gallon high? I'm personally thinking black neon tetras (should be black cardinal tetras...) but am open to suggestion.

 

[bruinsbro1997]

-Bentosi tetras
-rummynose tetras
-pristella tetras
-cardinal tetras
-ember tetras
-green neon tetras
-serpae tetras
-glowlight tetras
-black skirt tetras
-bleeding heart tetras

Just some ideas

 

[jcolon]

+1 on rummynoses, cardinal and neon tetras. The blue, red, silver, back and white colors the offer are stunning.

 

[KaylNeko]

I love my black neons--larger than neons, hardy, and curious! My mid-level schooling fishes are all over the tank, poking their noses into what's going on.

 

[aqua_chem]

Harlequin Rasboras are great little schoolers, bother colorful and tight formations.

 

[mr.waffles1842]

hmmm... Im thinking serpaes, rumynoses, and gold neon tetras now. Problem is im not sure where i can get rummynoses, dont know much about serpaes (ie, size, water params, compatibility), and gold neons may just be albino neons. Advice?

 

[KaylNeko]

Everything I've read about serpae's are that they're nasty little buggers. Gold neons appear to be regular neons with a different color, so same care. I hear a lot of good stuff about rummynoses--they're supposed to be pretty hardy and colorful.

 

[Gawang]

Serpaes are not THAT nasty! They just nip eachother a bit and are aggressive toward other whenever they are in small groups ie less than 7

 

[mr.waffles1842]

Weelllllll, how big do they get? are they lively? Will they keep their tankmates active? are they compatible with female bettas??? the moer i hear about them, the better they sound. some sites say serpaes get 1.5 in.

 

[Gawang]

They an get about 1.5-2 inches by they may be too aggressive and nippy to be with a betta.

 

[mr.waffles1842]

she's a female, with short fins, and irene is very solitary, just chilling in the driftwood most days.

 

[Gawang]

You might be okay' so long as they are I groups of at least 7 as they will mostly be aggressive towards themselves.

 

[mr.waffles1842]

thats what ive been planning

 

[aqua_chem]

If it were me, I would do a single large school rather than several small schools. It gives the tank a more unified feeling. However, some people like 'collect species', which is also perfectly ok.

 

[Gawang]

The only bad thing with serpaes is that they are not really " schooling" fish but they will occasionally if they are frightened.

 

[Hobgob]

The only bad thing with serpaes is that they are not really " schooling" fish but they will occasionally if they are frightened.

I'm pretty sure they are good at schooling. A lot better then my gold barbs which only shoal not school in the mornings. Bleeding hearts, cardinals, emperor, blackskirts, basically all tetras are a decent schooling fish. My favorite would be the bleeding hearts as long as there is a good heart shape on the side. If it looks like a blob then I steer away from them.

 

[mr.waffles1842]

Ugh now im confused. Would they be compatible if i got 7 serpaes, and kept them with amano shrimp, nerite snails, a platy, corys, a female betta, and java moss???

 

[bruinsbro1997]

Ugh now im confused. Would they be compatible if i got 7 serpaes, and kept them with amano shrimp, nerite snails, a platy, corys, a female betta, and java moss???

Bettas+Serpaes=Nipped Betta

Just sayin'.

 

[mr.waffles1842]

ugh... ill plop my betta into my bros tank, hes been pestering me for her. so if i wanted, say, 7 serpaes, would they destroy plants???

 

[KaylNeko]

I don't think so--the only plant eaters amongst the tetras are Silver Dollars as far as I know.