Small Schooling Fish? (1 Viewer)

[fishboyt]

So I've got a 20 high reef tank that I plan to put a pistol shrimp and goby into, but I'm also wanting to add some small schooling fish. Does anyone know if such a fish exists? I'm just looking for about 5-10.

 

[DonnieKim]

reef chromis or bangai's

 

[DustinB]

Won't the pistol shrimp kill the smaller fish?

 

[fishboyt]

Won't the pistol shrimp kill the smaller fish?

Well, if they're smart, they'll stay away from it. I could always just go with a goby and forget about the shrimp.

 

[inigomontoya]

I have some scissor tail gobys and zebra gobys that schoal real well. I hate it when people do the "tank size" police, but I think it might be tough to do a schoal of any sort in a 20. You would definitely want to go more 3-5 than 10.
People have had mixed luck with chromis, some get good schoals, others get one chromis and 4 victims. Anthias rock, but no way in a 20 because of their 3x a day feeding.

 

[DustinB]

My 5 chromis turned into 3 chromis within a week. So far the 3 left are doing ok, though I suspect the small one will be gone at some point down the road.

 

[flexrac]

Orange Lined Cardinalfish, also the red spot cardinal if you can find them.

 

[tmgrash]

I have tried chromis several times, it always ends up with one.

 

[NarnyTheGreat]

I have tried chromis several times, it always ends up with one.

They killed my clown fish! I had no idea they were so mean. Every where I ready said they would school and get along great, not aggressive at all... what a bunch of Whooie!

There is going to be limits to everything because of the tank size. I too am not the tank size police but its gonna be a tight fit to find anything schooling. Maybe you could just get a couple of clown fish and a goby of some sort. Though it depends on the goby because I have heard that when the clowns pair up to mate the female will kill other animals in the tank (I dont know this for a fact just remember reading about it somewhere)

Good luck.

 

[fishboyt]

There's no saltwater fish that are the equivalent to freshwater guppies? Oh well, I'll come up with another plan for the tank. Thanks, y'all!

 

[tmgrash]

All sorts of cardinal fish are good schoolers/shoalers.

 

[DustinB]

How about mollies?

 

[fishboyt]

How about mollies?

Are they reef-safe?

 

[DustinB]

No idea...

 

[fishboyt]

Guess it's worth a shot. I really like the gold dust lyretails and the orange sailfin.

 

[bugman]

Blue eyed cardinals do real well in schools!

 

[fishboyt]

Blue eyed cardinals do real well in schools!

Ooooo, purdy! I'm going to do more research on them. and then see if anyone in the area has some.

 

[bugman]

I got mine from Mike (Rocknreef)! I also know that Dennis(FJW) has them some time.

 

[tmgrash]

They are reef safe, they are algea eaters