Fish that are good for schooling

[jrod11]

What are some fish that do well in schools? Are clownfish schooling fish?

[gregod]

we had gold fish when I was in 5th grade, but seriously, i have heard chromis will school

[HappySkittles]

i heard chromis will kill each other till there is only one left
i think you need a really big tank for chromis to school
clownfish are not schooling fish
anthias are but you might need a big tank i think because they need a lot of swimming room

i think you can do one of each different types on damsels. i've seen em in tanks before and they seem to stick together

[Genetics]

Originally posted by HappySkittles
i heard chromis will kill each other till there is only one left
i think you need a really big tank for chromis to school
clownfish are not schooling fish
anthias are but you might need a big tank i think because they need a lot of swimming room

No, I've never experienced this. Just buy them all at once if possible to minimize this issue. In 120g tank there will be plenty of room.

[fivesmallworlds]

I've seen chromis school as well, but it's hit or miss. Sometimes they fight, sometimes they are all fine. I don't know if it's a fight for dominance, or what.

Anthias will school as well, but a 125 is a bit limited for space, you could maybe do 3 of them (1 male, 2 females) but that doesn't leave you much room for other fish either.

[atvdave]

My chromis do just fine.

[Kieth71]

I read somwhere that bluestreak cardinalfish school well..i have actually thought about getting some.

[mikey3165]

i ve never heard of heard of chromis fighting and i would recommened them for your tank they are perfect very calm fish in my experiences

[coralninja]

Good schooling fish:

Chromis
Cardinals
Anthias (best with one male and multiple females)
Assessors (best with one male and multiple females)

[thebradybunch]

Cardinals or Chromis

[Kdocimo90]

chromis look awesome as a school

[Cadu]

Originally posted by coralninja
Good schooling fish:

Chromis
Cardinals
Anthias (best with one male and multiple females)
Assessors (best with one male and multiple females)

ditto

and in a 125 gal tank you'll be good. i personally like the cardinals and the anthias.

[spw4949]

Cardinalfish school, & in my opinon may be a better addition than damsels. Not as colorful but almost as cool because of the patterns....

[PARADISE1]

Originally posted by Rockymtreefer
I read somwhere that bluestreak cardinalfish school well..i have actually thought about getting some.

I bought a nano tank from a friend. The bluestreak cardinal is extremely friendly! He is "best friends" w/ my clown. They swim side by side all day.

I plan to get more to create a school of cardinals and another buddy for the clown soon.

[Raibaru]

Why won't Anthias work? I was under the impression several variety of anthias stay moderately small (Dispar?) and would work?

I ask because I'm planning a 70g (3ft long) build and had intended to try Anthias. Would they not work?

[fivesmallworlds]

The issue with most anthias is usually not size, but feeding. Anthias are constant feeders and will feed on your pod population in between feedings. If you have too many anthias they compete for all the pods and eventually you see 1 or 2 getting nice and fat and the others completely dependent on their owners feeding. Not to mention that this will eventually deplete the pod population completely.

They also need a lot of swimming room. They may be small, but they're fast buggers that will dart back and forth. Chromis on the other hand are fairly laid back.

I'm planning on keeping just one solitary lyretail anthias in my 75g to compliment my tang, wrasse and clowns.

[tewkes]

Isn't there a difference between shoaling and schooling? I think many people believe their fish school, when they are actually shoaling. Shoaling is basically hanging out together, schooling is when they are all syncronized in a pattern. I had 5 green chromis when I first started my tank and they actually schooled together but over the past year two of them died and the other three just kind of hang out.

[bkvreef]

When I had a 110g I was frustrated that my clowns and coral beauty among other fish would never come out.

I added 5 chromis and the other fish have been out all the time.
I happened to get one larger chromis (don't know how that happened), and it has taken charge, and every once in a while it will chase one (for just a couple of seconds) and then they are fine.

I strongly recommend the chromis (but as anything it's personal experiences and preference)

Good Luck.

[sps1-2-b]

Is there any truth behind the theory that chromis do better in odd numbers rather than even?

[drama07]

Originally posted by HappySkittles
i heard chromis will kill each other till there is only one left
i think you need a really big tank for chromis to school
clownfish are not schooling fish
anthias are but you might need a big tank i think because they need a lot of swimming room

i think you can do one of each different types on damsels. i've seen em in tanks before and they seem to stick together

So true! Had six chromis & now all I have is one. Either my water quality was off, which I doubt, or that they attacked each other when my back was turned

Funny how no remains are found. Guess a crab must have ate the corpses... hmmm

But to answer your question jrod, chromis are excellent schooling fish, for a big tank that is

[greg_mills]

Black and White Heniochus - Heniochus acuminatus

These are really good schooling fish! i have 3 of them and they look like birds when they swim together. they all move at the same time, in the same motion and it looks really cool. There should be mroe then enough room in your 125g.

[fivesmallworlds]

The heniochus is nice but 3 in a 125 is going to max out your bioload alone. I can't imagine 3 plus a choc tang and 2 clowns in a 55g.

They've also been known to nip at coral polyps, but if kept well fed there shouldn't be an issue.

[redhdmedic]

there are a few gobies out there that look spectacular in groups...we have 7 bar gobies in our 215g that have carved out their own little "hood" and fairly much always travel together around the tank then hang on their side of it...should also work with scissor-tail gobies, which are also fairly interesting looking fish.

[cfw1199]

+1 for Dispar...they are from shallower waters and are out 24-7...just make sure they are eating. can be tough to get them to eat a variety of foods. I just received 3 from reefhotspot and they ate the first day flake even by far the best schooling fish. They even hang pretty tight with the 3 chromis I have. Which is even better. And they stay relatively small.

[Tswifty]

Anthias