Schoaling fish

[Katchan]

I know your supposed to have at least 5 or 6 neons, cardinals etc to keep them happy but can you form a schoal of multiple types eg 3 white clouds, 2 or black neons and 2 or 3 normal neons?

katchan

PS are black neons as "fragile" as normal neons?

 

[The-Wolf]

my black neons tend to stay near the mid/top range and my neons and cardinas tend to stay on the lower part of the tank, so I think black neons would not school with regular ones.
I have noted that since adding my cardinals my lutino neons are schooling with them, rather than schooling with the glowlights as they did before.
yes black neon tetras Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi are a seprate species to neon tetras Paracheirodon innesi

 

[Katchan]

Thanks for info Wolf.

The reason I'm asking is I had 4 guppy fry (1 to 2cm) which will be moving to another tank soon but I got 4 white clouds (all I had the money for ) to act as dither fish to help settle a couple of rams. The guppies have been schoaling often with the minnows and since they will be going soon I wanted to replace them with something a little more colourful than more minnows.

katchan

 

[The-Wolf]

then why not get gold WCMMs?

 

[Katchan]

Because i havnt heard if them meaning it could be difficult to locate some here in Brisbane, will do some quick research though.

katchan

 

[The-Wolf]

Because i havnt heard if them meaning it could be difficult to locate some here in Brisbane, will do some quick research though.

katchan

they are a colour variation of the std one, if wcmms are available the lfs should be able to get gold ones, although they are often slightly higher in price.

 

[Katchan]

I'll talk to my LFS see what they say, but I still think my tank could do with the neons for the colour

Katchan

 

[freddyk]

Studies on shoaling fish have shown that when given a choice the fish try to schoal with others that are as close in type and size as possible. When choice is limited they will shoal with whatever compatable species are available.

Take this how you will. I see it as saying it's best to have more numbers of the same type. The other way to see it is that you can mix them and it will do the job.