Schooling fish question for reef safe tanks

[DEE’S reef]

So I’m new and looking at fish and I’m thinking about trying schooling fish but would like to know feed back and which fish work best and are reef safe

 

[Waters]

So I’m new and looking at fish and I’m thinking about trying schooling fish but would like to know feed back and which fish work best and are reef safe

Chromis or Anthias are probably your best bet but a lot depends on tank size.....they will not always show schooling behavior in our tanks like they would in the ocean.

 

[Isaac Alves]

Are cardinal varieties and maybe anthias the only “schooling” fish that won’t murder each other?

 

[reefteaser]

I’ve had both, and they can have nefarious intentions.

 

[DEE’S reef]

How many should you get for a group of the fish you guys mentioned

 

[Isaac Alves]

@DEE’S reef check out the threadfin cardinal
(Zoramia leptacantha).

Supposedly this will truly shoal together even without the high flow needed for fish like Anthias and Chromis.

Found this on ReefBuilders

https://reefbuilders.com/2016/05/22/threadfin-cardinalfish-peaceful-and-most-impressive-in-numbers/

 

[Isaac Alves]

There’s also the RedSpot Cardinal that will school happily and not kill each other for sport. But I’m not too keen on its appearance. Like similar to a freshwater tetra or barb.


Ostorhinchus parvulus - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostorhinchus_parvulus

 

[Isaac Alves]

Here’s Reef2Reef thread on the RedSpot from some keepers…

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/red-spot-glass-cardinal-fish.232458/


Seems these guys are very delicate. Need to have an automatic feeding system or they starve quickly.

The Thread Fin seems hardier.

 

[Isaac Alves]

Reading a bit more on the ThreafFin and there could be caveats…

• Slow swimmers mean slow eaters
• Nocturnal (?)
• Seems ORA tried to breed but looks like availability is only wild caught
• I’m not certain but their diet seems to me to be pretty specific and requires frequent meals

Too much for me. But could be nice for a dedicated tank or seahorse setup.

 

[DEE’S reef]

Thanks for the help with the suggestion
Is there any more schooling fish that are reef safe that you guys haven’t mentioned yet

 

[JumboShrimp]

I believe Bannerfish will likely shoal (if not outright school), but you would need a sufficiently large tank for 3 or 5 of them.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m not convinced that green chromis kill each other. I think the problems some folks have, such as I did in the past, is more disease related (uronema). Some folks, including my tank now, keep groups of them just fine.

 

[Isaac Alves]

For the OP there’s a good summary from this site (it is a commercial site — but seems comprehensive) regarding chromis care:

https://www.saltwaterfish.com/education/green-chromis-care-guide-chromis-viridis

I know some QT fish vendors do complain about uronema being a huge issue — discussions via @Dierks from Fishotel.

But these are also damsels. So there is probably some instinctive competitive aggression with regards to food and domains.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromis_chromis

 

[exnisstech]

Twice I've added groups of 7 chromis and have ended with a single fish. I don't know it they killed each other off, starved or what but mine didn't have any signs of disease.
Last September 25th I bought 10 chromis from a lfs where they had been for almost 90 days. They had no signs of euronema but I ran them through observation for over 30 days while training them to eat food coming out of a plank feeder tube. October 5th I added all 10 to the display where they immediately took to the rocks for several days. 2 never came out I now have 8. They are in with large tangs and stay together as a group. I'm feeding a lot. Almost all food gets put onto the plank feed tube where its dumped in front of a powerhead and blows all over the tank.
Speculation on my part but after watching the chromis in observation I have a hunch many may starve. These fish never stop moving. Even when hiding they still twitch and jerk like little spastics. That makes me think they are burning a lot of energy and I don't think feeding once or twice a day is going to provide the nutrition that they need.
Who knows, maybe a year from now I'll be back to one but I'm hoping the extra feedings will help them survive longer. My tank also has enough rock that every fish in the tank has their own safe place. With the popularity of NSA scapes this step is missing from many tanks and I think it leads to stress and eventually can lead to death of many fish we keep.
I failed with a group of anthia once as well. As colorful as they are I'm not willing to spend the money to try them again. I can get chromis for $8 each if I buy 5 or more otherwise I may not have tried them a 3rd time.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I like your analysis.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Twice I've added groups of 7 chromis and have ended with a single fish. I don't know it they killed each other off, starved or what but mine didn't have any signs of disease.
Last September 25th I bought 10 chromis from a lfs where they had been for almost 90 days. They had no signs of euronema but I ran them through observation for over 30 days while training them to eat food coming out of a plank feeder tube. October 5th I added all 10 to the display where they immediately took to the rocks for several days. 2 never came out I now have 8. They are in with large tangs and stay together as a group. I'm feeding a lot. Almost all food gets put onto the plank feed tube where its dumped in front of a powerhead and blows all over the tank.
Speculation on my part but after watching the chromis in observation I have a hunch many may starve. These fish never stop moving. Even when hiding they still twitch and jerk like little spastics. That makes me think they are burning a lot of energy and I don't think feeding once or twice a day is going to provide the nutrition that they need.
Who knows, maybe a year from now I'll be back to one but I'm hoping the extra feedings will help them survive longer. My tank also has enough rock that every fish in the tank has their own safe place. With the popularity of NSA scapes this step is missing from many tanks and I think it leads to stress and eventually can lead to death of many fish we keep.
I failed with a group of anthia once as well. As colorful as they are I'm not willing to spend the money to try them again. I can get chromis for $8 each if I buy 5 or more otherwise I may not have tried them a 3rd time.

I agree that green chromis often have this dwindling happen to them. The question is why sometimes and not others, and that is why I suspect uronema or other disease despite not having outwards signs. Starvation might also be an explanation, as you note.

I had it happen twice, but not the most recent time with the carefully quarantined fish from Dr Reef. But I also feed many times a day now with auto feeders.

 

[BryanM]

I've researched this and came to the conclusion that the school will eventually get down to one.

It may not be true, but not worth the risk for me.

 

[JumboShrimp]

For multiple reasons Chromis are off my list. Just too many other "fish in the sea." Lol.

 

[exnisstech]

I agree that green chromis often have this dwindling happen to them. The question is why sometimes and not others, and that is why I suspect uronema or other disease despite not having outwards signs. Starvation might also be an explanation, as you note.

I had it happen twice, but not the most recent time with the carefully quarantined fish from Dr Reef. But I also feed many times a day now with auto feeders.

It may very well be disease or unhealthy fish to start. My dwindling down took months which is why I don't think it was disease and I always had a single survivor.
I spent a lot of time watching my current group while in observation and a had no idea just how active these fish really are. They never stay still, even at night they twitch and quiver like they're nervous. That Just got me to thinking about nutrition. When I failed with groups in the past I was only feeding twice a day. Now that I'm retired and don't travel I feed so many times through out the day i don't even count or keep track of amounts. I'm also making sure I feed a lot of smaller foods like reef jerky as well as cyclops and baby brine. Time will tell if it makes any difference.

 

[Saralay]

I agree that green chromis often have this dwindling happen to them. The question is why sometimes and not others, and that is why I suspect uronema or other disease despite not having outwards signs. Starvation might also be an explanation, as you note.

I had it happen twice, but not the most recent time with the carefully quarantined fish from Dr Reef. But I also feed many times a day now with auto feeders.

The reason might be because not everyone gets the same species:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/you-want-a-group-of-green-chromis.726577/