Will Different Types Shoal?

[LongS]

I was wondering if different types of tetras, barbs, loaches or anything will shoal together if there aren't lots of the same in the tank?

For instance, will the likes of black widow, black phantom, bleeding heart, glowlight tetras shoal together if there aren't a few of them? say i had like two of each?

and the likes of loaches, some like to be in groups of around three. Would a yoyo loach keep company with a zebra loach? seeing how they are around the same size and appearance?

Same with barbs, like cherry, golden and tiger barbs?

i have noticed my friends platies trying it with his glowlight tetras and guppies. its cool to watch.

 

[backtotropical]

Hi,

Your question is very broad, but I think the answer is generally yes. I have 2 different species of corys (C. Trilineatus and C. Paleatus) which shoal together. Maybe not as closely as if they were the same species, but they do shoal together all the same.

I also (and this is quite funny to watch) have 8 Snakeskin Barbs which shoal together with my Rummy-Nose Tetras. Don't ask.........

It may not be the case with all types of fish, but certainly in my experience, different types can and do shoal together.

Cheers

BTT

 

[fifefish]

usually similar shaped fish will shoal if there are limited numbers..
my neons and glowlights often shoal together
barbs of similar shape shoal together aswell

 

[7755matt]

Our tetras (neon, serpae, head/tail light and silvertip) dont seem to shoal together.

Our danios do (zebra and leopard) and we have a guppy that thinks its anything that swims near by so trys to shoal with them all

 

[fifefish]

Our tetras (neon, serpae, head/tail light and silvertip) dont seem to shoal together.

Our danios do (zebra and leopard) and we have a guppy that thinks its anything that swims near by so trys to shoal with them all

thats because your tetras arent similar shapes,
and also your guppys a loon

 

[Bignose]

Shoaling behavior is very highly dependent on color and shape. The little highlights that certain species have (a bright swath on the tip of a fin or fins, for example) is presumed to have evolved so that the members of the same species can identify their own kind more easily. So, if the question was "In nature, would these shoal together?" The answer is undeniably no. Fish only shoal with their kind.

With that strong preference toward single-species shoaling, why do we sometimes see shoaling behavior in fishtanks among unlike species? Well, if there is a small enough group, and the fish feels a strong enough urge to shoal, shoaling with unlike species -- as undesirable as it is -- seems better than not shoaling at all. The question then comes up, why do the fish need a feel to shoal so bad that they will shoal with unlike fish?

After the fish have settled in (obviously not the same for all fish), the shoaling instinct should be needed less and less. So long as you have given your fish a good environment. Anything that causes stress will tend the fish toward shoaling -- unhealthy water, poor diet, some fish in the tank that they perceive to be a predator, lots of traffic going by the fishtank, poor tank layout, etc. That last one, poor tank layout, is more important than people think. Fish, especially small ones, will feel a lot less stressed and more confident to come out if they know that there are lots of hiding places they can duck under really quick if the need should arise. Lots of plants, lots of rocks with little caves, etc. are good for hiding spots. If your fish have lots of these, they won't feel a need to shoal because they can go hide in an instant if they feel threatened.

So, really, I think that it is fair to ask yourself, why do my fish need to shoal at all? What is making them so uncomfortable that they need to huddle together out of fear? What should I do to minimize or even eliminate this need?

 

[GSD]

Fish tend to shoal when threatened, and in aquariums alot of shoaling fish tend to swim alone. For example i have a shoal of pristella tetras, whom never shoal except when scared.

I have noticed that fish of a similar size will tend to stay together, but not shoal as such.
Tiger barbs will all shoal together as they are just colour morfs of the same species.

I would always go for a big group of the same type of fish rather than afew smaller groups of different fish.

 

[LongS]

Cool, i know why fish shoal but i just wonder why we say we must have at least six of one type in an aquarium.

If the case is that the tank setup is poor then they will shoal. My tank has lots of hiding places and my fish don't really feel the need to shoal, meaning they do as they please individually. All good there.

So does this not point more to the conclusion that we could realistically (if tank setup is sound) have literally one of each species in the aquarium becuase they DO NOT feel threatened? and therefore don't feel the need to shoal?

 

[kevinthecow]

Generally yeah, but sometimes it relates to size/colour? Doesnt it?
I mean, I never got neons and black skirt tetras to shoal.
But then, whenever I try to shoal fishes, they dont work. (my cories don't shoal.)
And then, when I don't want to shoal, they do. (My bala shoals with my tetras. O:!)

 

[LongS]

So what do people think of buying one type of "shoaling fish?".

Heres the thing that confuses me, pet shop says you MUST keep at least 6 of certain a type of fish, however if tank set up is right, they won't shoal anyway so a single fish will be happy? Would this work?

 

[kevinthecow]

I was told you should introduce the fish at the same time.
And not always 6 is a certain. What about cories? Isnt it four minimum?
That rule applies to tetras right?

Feel free to correct me, any other experienced shoalers!