Best Schooling Fish Species

John N. · 04-09-2008, 11:38 PM

Besides cardinals and neons, what are some of best school fishing for an aquascape? I'm talking about really tight schooling that we see in some finished aquascape photos. Is there a trick to keep them in those tight formations? Share photos if you have them too.

-John N.

Roy Deki · 04-10-2008, 12:17 AM

My Favorite schooling fish are Barboides gracilis (Africas "tiniest" barb). These are very small fish, adults are 3/4" at best. I love having about 60 of these in a tank and watching them school. When feed Cyclopeze They will glow a brunt umber color. Not the tightest schooling fish but tight enough for me.

John N. · 04-10-2008, 07:08 PM

Ah, you're living my dream of having a large tank with a bunch of nano fish like those barbs you mentioned. On the flip side, I've often consider having a large tank with a school of vibrant color discus. I know we have all seen tanks like this and wondered to ourselves..if only I could find the room...

-John N.

KristinM85 · 04-11-2008, 05:23 PM

Rummynose tetras are probably the best schooling fish I've seen/owned.

They are really tight schoolers. 2nd best for me are Harlequin rasboras.

dougz · 04-11-2008, 06:26 PM

Rummies, eh? I might use those as a complimentary fish with my cardinals...

Though they get bigger than cardinals, don't they? 2.5"?

Might distract from the "focal" cardinals.. Hmm..

Anyone have both in their tank?

KristinM85 · 04-14-2008, 12:48 PM

I'd say they are more like 2"....not quite 2.5". They are lean though. They are pretty active fish and great schoolers, so they might distract from the Cardinals....

dougz · 04-14-2008, 02:12 PM

Hmmm..

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking..

Guillermo · 04-15-2008, 11:40 AM

Trigonostigma espei AKA Rasbora Espei / Lambchop rasbora

These little beautiful fish school really nicely, my .02

Regards

**Liz_M** · 04-21-2008, 10:31 AM

I enjoy Danio chopre in my 30g. Here's a poor quality video of them:

YouTube - Danio 30 gallon

Hmm... that's an old vid, I'll have to start updating!

Enjoy!
-Liz

waterfaller1 · 04-21-2008, 11:23 AM

My favorite~ Blue & Red Form Axelrod's rasboras, they school together! Oh I see, you are looking for the ones who stay in a tight pack. Do you think they will always do this, or only when first introduced,stressed, or young? Well..anyway..the blues will remain my favorite, as they are such a strikingly beautiful fish. Hard to find such a nice small, blue, freshwater fish.

Brian · 04-21-2008, 12:39 PM

Serpae tetras, I have 6 and do schoolingthe most part of the time

ReefJones · 04-22-2008, 04:33 AM

I would have to go with Oranda Goldfish!!!

Seriously though... I do like my h. rasboras although they are getting fat as they get older almost too big for my taste!
Reef

milalic · 04-22-2008, 04:07 PM

Ember tetras, trigonostigma hengli/espei, boraras...
they key for me is to have them in large numbers

John7429 · 04-30-2008, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milalic

Ember tetras, trigonostigma hengli/espei, boraras...
they key for me is to have them in large numbers

How many is enough?

I got some Embers from Pedro and they look GREAT

Anti-Pjerrot · 05-01-2008, 03:47 AM

Hybressobrycon amandae. Its one of the smallest tetras and has a warm amber color. (Amber tetras). I had them for years and under the right light they are the most beautyfull schooling fish.

Next is Boraras brigittae. Their deep red color and small size is stunning. They are very shy (IME) but sometimes they school like no other.

Swordtail · 06-14-2008, 02:53 PM

Has anybody mentioned Hemigrammus rhodostomus? As far as I know, these are the best schooling fish, because they are swimming togeter the whole time...

crstn_savu · 06-15-2008, 12:50 PM

Hemigrammus rhodostomus are really great... I 'love' them

...

04-09-2008, 11:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
John N. Administrator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 1,242	Best Schooling Fish Species Besides cardinals and neons, what are some of best school fishing for an aquascape? I'm talking about really tight schooling that we see in some finished aquascape photos. Is there a trick to keep them in those tight formations? Share photos if you have them too. -John N. __________________ Welcome to AquaScaping World!

04-10-2008, 12:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
Roy Deki Moderator Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chandler AZ Posts: 483	My Favorite schooling fish are Barboides gracilis (Africas "tiniest" barb). These are very small fish, adults are 3/4" at best. I love having about 60 of these in a tank and watching them school. When feed Cyclopeze They will glow a brunt umber color. Not the tightest schooling fish but tight enough for me. __________________ www.aape.naturalaquariums.com

04-10-2008, 07:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
John N. Administrator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 1,242	Ah, you're living my dream of having a large tank with a bunch of nano fish like those barbs you mentioned. On the flip side, I've often consider having a large tank with a school of vibrant color discus. I know we have all seen tanks like this and wondered to ourselves..if only I could find the room... -John N. __________________ Welcome to AquaScaping World!

04-11-2008, 05:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
KristinM85 Aspiring Aquascaper Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 54	Rummynose tetras are probably the best schooling fish I've seen/owned. They are really tight schoolers. 2nd best for me are Harlequin rasboras. __________________ *Kristin* 4 planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 20g, 5.5g Checkout my tanks blog for pics/updates: http://justonemore20.blogspot.com/

04-14-2008, 12:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
KristinM85 Aspiring Aquascaper Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 54	I'd say they are more like 2"....not quite 2.5". They are lean though. They are pretty active fish and great schoolers, so they might distract from the Cardinals.... __________________ *Kristin* 4 planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 20g, 5.5g Checkout my tanks blog for pics/updates: http://justonemore20.blogspot.com/

04-11-2008, 06:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
dougz Senior Aquascaper Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: mackenzie, BC Posts: 281	Rummies, eh? I might use those as a complimentary fish with my cardinals... Though they get bigger than cardinals, don't they? 2.5"? Might distract from the "focal" cardinals.. Hmm.. Anyone have both in their tank?

04-14-2008, 02:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
dougz Senior Aquascaper Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: mackenzie, BC Posts: 281	Hmmm.. Yeah, that's what I'm thinking..

04-15-2008, 11:40 AM	#8 (permalink)
Guillermo Senior Aquascaper Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Mexico City Posts: 215	Trigonostigma espei AKA Rasbora Espei / Lambchop rasbora These little beautiful fish school really nicely, my .02 Regards __________________ Green thumbs up !!

04-21-2008, 10:31 AM	#9 (permalink)
Liz_M Junior Aquascaper Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 28	I enjoy Danio chopre in my 30g. Here's a poor quality video of them: YouTube - Danio 30 gallon Hmm... that's an old vid, I'll have to start updating! Enjoy! -Liz

04-21-2008, 11:23 AM	#10 (permalink)
waterfaller1 Senior Aquascaper Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Orlando,FL Posts: 307	My favorite~ Blue & Red Form Axelrod's rasboras, they school together! Oh I see, you are looking for the ones who stay in a tight pack. Do you think they will always do this, or only when first introduced,stressed, or young? Well..anyway..the blues will remain my favorite, as they are such a strikingly beautiful fish. Hard to find such a nice small, blue, freshwater fish. __________________ =) smile~ Carole

04-21-2008, 12:39 PM	#11 (permalink)
Brian Senior Aquascaper Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: comerio Posts: 203	Serpae tetras, I have 6 and do schoolingthe most part of the time

04-22-2008, 04:33 AM	#12 (permalink)
ReefJones Junior Aquascaper Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 31	I would have to go with Oranda Goldfish!!! Seriously though... I do like my h. rasboras although they are getting fat as they get older almost too big for my taste! Reef __________________ http://aape.naturalaquariums.com

04-22-2008, 04:07 PM	#13 (permalink)
milalic Junior Aquascaper Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: McKinney, TX Posts: 30	Ember tetras, trigonostigma hengli/espei, boraras... they key for me is to have them in large numbers

05-01-2008, 03:47 AM	#15 (permalink)
Anti-Pjerrot Moderator Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Posts: 383	Hybressobrycon amandae. Its one of the smallest tetras and has a warm amber color. (Amber tetras). I had them for years and under the right light they are the most beautyfull schooling fish. Next is Boraras brigittae. Their deep red color and small size is stunning. They are very shy (IME) but sometimes they school like no other. __________________ Scape it - Kristoffer

06-14-2008, 02:53 PM	#16 (permalink)
Swordtail Junior Aquascaper Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Austria Posts: 2	Has anybody mentioned Hemigrammus rhodostomus? As far as I know, these are the best schooling fish, because they are swimming togeter the whole time...

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Fish Stores in the area	KristinM85	Birmingham Planted Aquarium Society BPAS	8	11-27-2008 10:07 AM
Fish jumping from opentop aquariums!	Richie	Fish	23	11-07-2008 05:05 AM
Your favorite fish?	landstrykeren	Fish	67	08-04-2008 11:13 PM
What is fish this?	dirrtybirdy	Fish	12	07-07-2008 01:55 PM
Fish and Shrimp	Pat7676	Shrimp and Invertz	12	05-29-2008 05:20 PM

06-15-2008, 12:50 PM	#17 (permalink)
crstn_savu Aspiring Aquascaper Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oradea, Romania Posts: 61	Hemigrammus rhodostomus are really great... I 'love' them ...

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode