Schooling fish

EZMAC114 · Jul 8, 2014

So I've read through some stuff that I've found on different forums and such about different types of schooling fish. I read that blue green chromis, firefish or cardinalfish are good for schooling but then I saw that the chromis might not always school and that if I went with firefish or cardinalfish that they might kill their own in groups. Oh and I saw that I could go with Lyretail Anthias which would be my top choice but they get up to 5" and I don't know if that'll be too much in my 180 if I did 6 of them with my other fish that I have already. Right now I have two small clowns, a Dejardini Sailfin tang and a Niger Trigger but I plan on adding more. Like I said my tank is 180 gallons and I would think I would be ok to do a good amount of fish. I guess my main question is are there any other good schooling fish that would be on the smaller size so I can do a big group?

Thanks

tyler1503 · Jul 9, 2014

Some cardinals will also school. I think the chromis would be your best bet though :)

G_Sanab922 · Jul 9, 2014

I think cardinals would be nice, never heard that about cardinals but ok! Chromis are doable but keep in mind that they can be aggressive with one another. Many say that once aggressive, over a matter of months, they will pick off the smallest one until there is one left. Just something to consider. Anthias would probably be your best bet.

EZMAC114 · Jul 9, 2014

Ok good because I think the Anthias look awesome

Aqua fire/medic · Jul 9, 2014

I agree with anthias as your top choice. Not so much of a schooling group but more of a shoaling group. Same as chromis. Heck.... Why not do both. That would add two groups of different colors and patterns.

shornik · Jul 9, 2014

I've got 3 Bartlett's Anthias in my 60g. They are "together" quite a lot but also swim off indecently. Mine like to sit in the stream from my Vortex waiting for food, pretty cool to watch. They display some "aggressive" behavior but I think it's mostly them figuring out the male/female thing and no serious harm is ever done.

G_Sanab922 · Jul 9, 2014

Aqua fire/medic said:
I agree with anthias as your top choice. Not so much of a schooling group but more of a shoaling group. Same as chromis. Heck.... Why not do both. That would add two groups of different colors and patterns.

Both would look sick! Think your tank is big enough for that as well

Gabriel

EZMAC114 · Jul 9, 2014

If I did a group of Chromis and Anthias how many should I keep in each group? 6 each?

Aqua fire/medic · Jul 9, 2014

EZMAC114 said:
If I did a group of Chromis and Anthias how many should I keep in each group? 6 each?

If it was me..... I would not do an even number for a shoaling group. So if you did 5 anthias and 5 chromis you would be good. Then maybe 2-3 more fish. Or you could do 7 chromis and 5 anthias.

EZMAC114 · Jul 9, 2014

Aqua fire/medic said:
If it was me..... I would not do an even number for a shoaling group. So if you did 5 anthias and 5 chromis you would be good. Then maybe 2-3 more fish. Or you could do 7 chromis and 5 anthias.

Would 5 Anthias, 5 Chromis, two clowns, Niger trigger and a Desjardini Sailfin tang be close to my max amount of fish because on there full grown size?