what is a good schooling reef fish

prow · 05-06-2005, 06:13 AM

hi everyone how goes it out there. working on a fish list and want to get 3-4 reef safe schooling fish that will remain fairly small. any idea's they will be going in a 120gal tank.

almostdiva · 05-06-2005, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prow

hi everyone how goes it out there. working on a fish list and want to get 3-4 reef safe schooling fish that will remain fairly small. any idea's they will be going in a 120gal tank.

have you ever tried scissor tail gobies? They look great, stay pretty small and are not delicate. They do jump, so you have to have a cover.

Rebecca

dougc · 05-06-2005, 09:32 AM

Most schooling fish do not exhibit this behavior for very long in captivity unless the tank is on the scale of Atlantis Marine World on Long Island. Schooling is largely a risk management strategy that is not necessary in the absence of predators.

That being said, the best small schooling fish I have seen are some of the cardinals. I have a group of six apogon leptacanthus (spinecheek cardinals) that still school at night or when there is activity around the tank. The rest of the time, they are dispersed around the tank in pairs. The other commonly available cardinal that will exhibit this behaviour is Apogon cyanosoma (orange-lined cardinal).

The most commonly cited schooling fish are the chromises. Unfortunately, they only school as juveniles, becoming territorial as they mature.

Even if they do not truly school, I think that it is much more natural to keep groups of fish where possible rather than having single representative from each species.

**scubadude** · 05-06-2005, 01:06 PM

I like bartlett, sunburst, and dispar anthias they do require a bit more feeding regime but are very colorful and active.

**kevinpo** · 05-06-2005, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Im partial to anthias

Me too!
Kevin

vtec si · 05-06-2005, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scubadude

I like bartlett, sunburst, and dispar anthias they do require a bit more feeding regime but are very colorful and active.

ME THREE!

Martin

prow · 05-06-2005, 11:37 PM

thanks for the info. need to do some research now that i have some good places to start. thanks everyone

ick sucks · 05-10-2005, 11:33 PM

surprised nobody mentioned chromis?

dougc · 05-11-2005, 10:37 AM

I did.

**scubadude** · 05-11-2005, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ick sucks

surprised nobody mentioned chromis?

I was gonna mention chromis, but if you read some of prow's other threads he has chromis (a few of them) already in his sump that he doesnt want

prow · 05-11-2005, 01:43 PM

yeah a lot of people did chromis is the one that seems to alway come up frist.

hey been looking into the anthias either dispa or bartlett. between the two which one is less shy or more bold.

*Papa Doug* · 05-12-2005, 12:58 PM

My 5 pyjama cardinals, that are now a year old, are still schooling well. Not sure what will happen when mating occurs. The chromis seem to always school well, but their longevity is not very good. They require several feedings per day to keep them healthy. I used an auto feeder, when keeping chromis.

05-06-2005, 06:13 AM	#1
prow Citizen Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: california Posts: 243	what is a good schooling reef fish hi everyone how goes it out there. working on a fish list and want to get 3-4 reef safe schooling fish that will remain fairly small. any idea's they will be going in a 120gal tank.

05-06-2005, 01:06 PM	#4
scubadude Moderator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 5,298	Im partial to anthias I like bartlett, sunburst, and dispar anthias they do require a bit more feeding regime but are very colorful and active. __________________ Rocky

05-12-2005, 12:58 PM	#12
Papa Doug Gallery Team Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 832	My 5 pyjama cardinals, that are now a year old, are still schooling well. Not sure what will happen when mating occurs. The chromis seem to always school well, but their longevity is not very good. They require several feedings per day to keep them healthy. I used an auto feeder, when keeping chromis. __________________ Doug

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05-06-2005, 09:32 AM	#3
dougc Contributing Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 482	Most schooling fish do not exhibit this behavior for very long in captivity unless the tank is on the scale of Atlantis Marine World on Long Island. Schooling is largely a risk management strategy that is not necessary in the absence of predators. That being said, the best small schooling fish I have seen are some of the cardinals. I have a group of six apogon leptacanthus (spinecheek cardinals) that still school at night or when there is activity around the tank. The rest of the time, they are dispersed around the tank in pairs. The other commonly available cardinal that will exhibit this behaviour is Apogon cyanosoma (orange-lined cardinal). The most commonly cited schooling fish are the chromises. Unfortunately, they only school as juveniles, becoming territorial as they mature. Even if they do not truly school, I think that it is much more natural to keep groups of fish where possible rather than having single representative from each species.

05-06-2005, 11:37 PM	#7
prow Citizen Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: california Posts: 243	thanks for the info. need to do some research now that i have some good places to start. thanks everyone

05-10-2005, 11:33 PM	#8
ick sucks Tenant Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: canada Posts: 67	surprised nobody mentioned chromis?

05-11-2005, 10:37 AM	#9
dougc Contributing Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 482	I did.

05-11-2005, 01:43 PM	#11
prow Citizen Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: california Posts: 243	yeah a lot of people did chromis is the one that seems to alway come up frist. hey been looking into the anthias either dispa or bartlett. between the two which one is less shy or more bold.

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