What Other Schooling Fish Would Work?

[woody0687]

Hi,
 
Just wondering what other small schooling fish (around 6 fish) would work with the following :
 
1 Siamese fighter
6 copper rasboras
2 julli Cories
2 Otocinclus
 
could tetras work?
 
Any suggestions?
 
Cheers Anthony

 

[TallTree01]

How big is the tank? Bo the ottos and the cories need a school of 6 each.

 

[woody0687]

Iv been told they can both live in pairs, this was advice from a reputable aquatics centre. 
 
what are the consequences of not schooling the oto's and the cories?
 
its 11 Gallon.

 

[the_lock_man]

Reputable in terms of quality of stock, maybe, but cories definitely are shoaling fish, and need to be in 6. Ottos, I feel, there is a little more debate over, but I do tend towards TallTree's viewpoint.
 
With shoaling fish, in the wild, they live in shoals of hundreds, often thousands, of fish, because it makes them feel secure - safety in numbers, and all that. It is generally accepted that 6 is the level at which they lose count, and just assume that they are in a large group. In a group of less than 6, they feel stressed. Stressed fish, as with stressed humans, have other health issues, and often a shorter lifespan.
 
If you increased both those species to 6, you'd be about full.

 

[TallTree01]

The consequences: stressed fish
stressed fish= disease= death.

I would rehome the ottos and cories and just keep the rasboras and betta. It is overstocked currently.

 

[woody0687]

Ok point taken, makes sense!
 
i dont actually have the fish in my tank yet so just looking for the right balance at the moment.
 
I definitely want the siamese fighter and 6 copper rasboras also got to have some kind of sucker fish (to keep the other half happy) so she chose the Otto's.
 
Bearing all that in mind what would you add to that collection that would work? would 6 cories be overstocked? if not them what else?

 

[the_lock_man]

If you want a suckermouth, then I'd suggest you have a look here, and forget the cories.

 

[woody0687]

Thanks for that link!
 
So do you think my tank would be overstocked with 1 fighter 6 rasboras and 2 otos?

 

[fluttermoth]

Thanks for that link!
 
So do you think my tank would be overstocked with 1 fighter 6 rasboras and 2 otos?

I would go with six otos; they really do do better the larger the group.
 
That would put you slightly overstocked, so you'll have to be rigorous about keeping up with your water changes. Also, otos don't do well in new tank, so hold off on getting those until you've got a good lot of algae growth in your tank.

 

[Sophie]

I adopted 3 Corydoras Sterbai. After a while of hunting I found a place selling baby ones. Up'd the number to 12 - the difference in behaviour was amazing! So confident and dare I say cheeky. So much happier