A good schooling fish?

[AWW]

Hey guys,

I may be getting ahead of myself a little bit, but I am thinking about what to stock my future 400 g. Right now, The stock is going to include several severums, some true parrots, and other semi aggressive cichlids.

I have decided i want to do a large school of fish, and i am not talking large in size of fish. I am thinking 10 - 30 of something depending on size.

Size wise, I am looking between 2 and 4 inches.

I have combined fish this small with larger fish in the past with no problems, but i fear in a school they will draw more attention. Let me know what you guys think about my list so far. I will add the number of fish I am thinking beside

Possibilities right now include:

Congo tetra(male only) - 30
Bosanami rainbow - 15
silver dollars (unlikley) - 12
Giant hatchet - 40
Colombian Tetra - 50
Lake Kutubu Rainbowfish - 20
Neon Rainbowfish (dwarf) - 40

Price is no real object here, And fish will be added to the tank fully grown (160 grow out). Really leaning toward the Kutubu rainbows, I had one as a youngster, and he was by far my fave fish.

All you rainbow keepers out there, Do you think there school will be tight in such a large tank with so many larger fish?

Thanks guys,

Alex

[Shell Dweller]

You might think about odessa barbs, really beautiful when they colour up.

[AWW]

You might think about odessa barbs, really beautiful when they colour up.

hmmm, that could be cool... i like the red. Do you think the would school tightly?

[Bizbomb]

I had a school of tiger barbs in my six foot tank and they would school quite nicely. When one fish would start the rest would join in and they would race back and forth length wise speeding up as they went. I am going to try denisonni barbs in my community tank as I think they look really nice in a planted tank and will go well with my altums and rummynose.

[plantedinvertz]

Lemon Tetras are nice (:

[AWW]

hmmmm, so many options. I am leaning towards two schools now, Do you guys think if i got several rainbows, and several hatchets, they would school separately?

[Luke78]

Both these fish keep to the upper parts of the water and rarely travel near the bottom.There could be chance they get mixed in together in your setup.The length of the aquarium is important to rainbow fish,rather then the depth.They will utilize the entire tank when moving about or breeding.They do look more lively in larger groups and in a planted setup.More secure and safe,since their natural habitat is just that.Good luck with your project!

hmmmm, so many options. I am leaning towards two schools now, Do you guys think if i got several rainbows, and several hatchets, they would school separately?

[AWW]

Both these fish keep to the upper parts of the water and rarely travel near the bottom.There could be chance they get mixed in together in your setup.The length of the aquarium is important to rainbow fish,rather then the depth.They will utilize the entire tank when moving about or breeding.They do look more lively in larger groups and in a planted setup.More secure and safe,since their natural habitat is just that.Good luck with your project!

Thanks luke!

Tank is going to be 8'X4'. I was worried they would mix. Does anyone know of a tight schooling fish that will school lower in the tank?

[pistolpete]

bleeding heart tetras might be nice, because they won't look lost in that size tank. They don't look like much at the juvie stage they're sold at, but adults are beautiful. Not as showy as rainbows though.

[AWW]

bleeding heart tetras might be nice, because they won't look lost in that size tank. They don't look like much at the juvie stage they're sold at, but adults are beautiful. Not as showy as rainbows though.

Hmm, If i do kutubu rainbows, the bleeding hearts would really add another color to the tank. If full grown, you dont think they would be chased do you?