Looking For A Nice Small Schooling Fish

[serbusfish]

Im looking for a schooling fish in the 1 - 1.5 inch range, that will get along with these species:

5 White Cloud Mountain Minnow
7 Black Skirt Tetra
1 Pearl Gourami/Delta Betta
3 African Dwarf Frogs
Amano Shrimp
Filter Shrimp

My tank is a Juwel Rio 125. I dont want neons, cardinals are a possibility, although i'd like something a little less common. I like the look of red coral/purple dwarf pencilfish but ive read they arent really suitable for a community tank?

Any suggestions would be really appreciated, i'll probably get a shoal of 6 - 8 of whatever I choose.

 

[#1 Fish Fan]

Neon tetras are nice schooling fish.

Oh, sorry just seen that you dont want neons!

Rummynose tetras are nice schooling fish.

 

[Flute]

Just wondering what you mean about 1 Pearl Gourami/Delta Betta? Is that planned stocking? If so, I wouldn't go with a betta with the tetra you have stocked, the black skirts are notorious fin nippers, which could cause problems with a betta. If I've misunderstood then I apologise

Have you had a look at some of the rasbora species you can get? Espei rasbora are gorgeous little fish that look fantastic in shoals. Other smaller species of shoaling fish that you could look into: ember tetra (one of my favourites), platinum tetra, celestial pearl danios, and if you like the colour of those pencil fish, what about chilli rasbora? All would look fantastic in larger shoals.

 

[DrSlackBladder]

I saw a tank of blue tetras last weekend at my LFS; looked fantastic, and a little different!

 

[serbusfish]

Rummynose tetras are nice schooling fish.

I dont really like the rummynose (I admit im a little fussy when it comes to fish...)

Just wondering what you mean about 1 Pearl Gourami/Delta Betta? Is that planned stocking? If so, I wouldn't go with a betta with the tetra you have stocked, the black skirts are notorious fin nippers, which could cause problems with a betta. If I've misunderstood then I apologise

Have you had a look at some of the rasbora species you can get? Espei rasbora are gorgeous little fish that look fantastic in shoals. Other smaller species of shoaling fish that you could look into: ember tetra (one of my favourites), platinum tetra, celestial pearl danios, and if you like the colour of those pencil fish, what about chilli rasbora? All would look fantastic in larger shoals.

Well yes I want to get either a Betta or a Pearl Gourami once ive upped my black skirt numbers from the current 4 to 7.

I thought that fin nipping with these tetras was a 'slight possibility' which can usually be solved by having a larger group? Ive never heard anyone call them 'notorious' fin nippers before, in fact ive watch numerous videos on youtube of people keeping bettas and black skirts together, one which springs to mind had a blue betta frolicking around near a shoal of 6 which didnt seem to care it was there at all.

Espei rasbora look quite nice, as does the Chili rasbora. I like Celestial Pearl Danios but read that they wont actually shoal together?

I saw a tank of blue tetras last weekend at my LFS; looked fantastic, and a little different!

I do like the look of those although it seems they may be fin nippers unfortunately.

 

[phoenixgsd]

harlequin rasboras are quite nice fish

 

[JenJ]

I saw a tank of blue tetras last weekend at my LFS; looked fantastic, and a little different!

I do like the look of those although it seems they may be fin nippers unfortunately.

I have some of these - obviously I can only speak from my own experience, but I've yet to see any fin nipping from them. They are stunning looking - any photos I've seen online (and taken myself) do them no justice whatsoever.

 

[serbusfish]

I saw a tank of blue tetras last weekend at my LFS; looked fantastic, and a little different!

I do like the look of those although it seems they may be fin nippers unfortunately.

I have some of these - obviously I can only speak from my own experience, but I've yet to see any fin nipping from them. They are stunning looking - any photos I've seen online (and taken myself) do them no justice whatsoever.

What fish do you keep them with? And how many do you have? Its possible it could simply be the old 'when kept in small numbers' that can causing nipping.

 

[JenJ]

I saw a tank of blue tetras last weekend at my LFS; looked fantastic, and a little different!

I do like the look of those although it seems they may be fin nippers unfortunately.

I have some of these - obviously I can only speak from my own experience, but I've yet to see any fin nipping from them. They are stunning looking - any photos I've seen online (and taken myself) do them no justice whatsoever.

What fish do you keep them with? And how many do you have? Its possible it could simply be the old 'when kept in small numbers' that can causing nipping.

I've got them in with honey gouramis, dwarf cichlids, tiger barbs, panda cories and a plec. I started off with 7 but had 2 jumpers

 

[serbusfish]

Ah, I just noticed you have that info in your sig

 

[leighton_87]

Have you considered Lemon Tetra - they look pretty dull in the store but will colour up lively in the right environment - definitely something different. There's not many yellow tropical fish around.

 

[zoeya]

Boesemani Rainbow fish are beautiful schooling fish, and their maximum size is 11cm.

 

[leighton_87]

Boesemani Rainbow fish are beautiful schooling fish, and their maximum size is 11cm.

I think he was looking for something 3-4cm

Bosemani's are lovely but would prefer a bigger tank even without all the other fish already planned/stocked.

 

[Flute]

From personal experience I've found black skirt/ black widow tetra to be nippers, but as you say they might behave themselves in a larger group. But it's not really something I'd risk with betta, for many reasons. Another factor that concerns me about having a delta betta is the size of the tank- they have huge over sized fins and aren't great swimmers because of it. They need to be able to get to the surface easily for air, and are not quick movers, so get knackered out in larger tanks. A plakat would do well, and wouldn't have all the fancy fins that would make him a potential target for tetra.

Just my two cents

 

[shepherd88]

I have two shoals in my tank. 20 harlequin rasboras and 10 cardinals....if im honest the cardinals look gorgeous but the harlequins shoal better