"shoaling" Fish

[CKutz]

I'm in search of a group of fish to make up a shoal in my 30 gallon tank.
i'm looking for fish that actually shoal, not just school. when we were at the lfs they had some very interesting colored pencilfish that shoaled, but they were pricey. i think the other thing we saw that realllyy shoaled was blue tetras..but there isnt' much info about these..and they aren't veryy colorful, very pretty, but might not stand out much.

i'm just trying to get some other suggestions cause it's hard to tell if fish will actually shoal (swim together as one practically), or if they will just school (like their company, sorta hang out together). i have harlequin rasbora in my 10 gal and they shoal very nicely typically. but i'd like something different for the 30.

Thanks for any suggestions!

edit:
my stocking is going to be pretty tight already, so maybe something 2"

 

[fatheadminnow]

Endlers?

-FHM

 

[CKutz]

do they actually shoal? i thought they'd be like guppies?

..they seem pretty common but i actually dont' think i've seen any in my area..

 

[fatheadminnow]

Yeah, I dont think they will shoal, they will school for sure though.

-FHM

 

[bolivian_d]

Isn't schooling one element of shoaling?

 

[minxfishy]

What other fish will be in the tank, it will help to suggest something compatible.

 

[mrbudgie]

i've recently become a huge fan of scissor tails got 15 or so in my tank and with good lighting they look great almost an irridescent effect when they catch the light and the shoal very well

 

[CKutz]

bolivian,
yes, if a fish shoals, it also schools...but fish that school, don't necessarily shoal
(unless i mixed the two up)

minx,
lavendar gourami (blue gourami morph), yoyo loaches, m/f krib, 1 swordtail.
i'm not too worried about compatibility except for fish that might nip the gourami's feelers, or the kribs might snack on/pick on..but the kribs are mostly in the bottom of the tank, the shoaling fish would probably be more at the top.

 

[Davo86]

Pristella tetras, harlequinns, black phantoms,

 

[keenonfish]

Yeah I am peeved off with my Neons & Cardinals they don't really shoal at all. In fact they don't school that often just sort of 'hang around'. If I walk past the tank or the platy has one of it's funny phases then they might regroup for a while before going casual again. Maybe the lack of stress is making them like this lol!

I got a pair of BPT's today (Male & Female) and am seriously thinking of getting some more if these shoal because they are quite beautiful to look at!

 

[CKutz]

thanks for the suggestions everyone,
any others are still welcome though.
just trying to compile a list of fish to check out

 

[loachman]

bolivian,
yes, if a fish shoals, it also schools...but fish that school, don't necessarily shoal
(unless i mixed the two up)

Schooling is a higher form of shoaling. You have it mixed up.

Shoaling is a looser aggregation of fish. Schooling is all of a group of fish moving as a coherent unit. Typically, you won't see schooling in a fish tank. Sometimes, you can see shoaling.