Raul-7

What do you think is the best schooling fish, that is an absolute must in any planted aquarium?!

 

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HeyPK

A bunch of glass cats are nice. You can see the plants through them!

tsunami

I don't know about an absolute must for a planted aquarium, but there are plenty of schooling species I am particularly fond of:

Cardinal Tetras (P. axelrodi): the classic and most used schooling fish for planted aquaria. Not exactly tight schoolers, but they are very social fish that group together very tightly when they perceive a threat. They look spectacular in schools of twelve or more. Relatively hardy. They live about 2-3 years on average when well kept.

Rummynose Tetras (H. rhodostomus): probably the second most used schooling fish for planted aquaria (the fish I like most other people seem to like, too...). Excellent, tight schoolers with more subdued colors than the cardinal tetras. The brightness of their red noses is indicative of the water quality of the aquarium. There is also another species (P. georgiae) which grows slightly larger, but the nose is never as bright. A sensitive species --acclimate to your aquarium slowly.

Green Neon (P. simulans): lively, tiny little fish with a cool, green-blue neon stripe and less intense red on the belly than the cardinal tetra. Does not grow nearly as large as the cardinal (about half the size). Very social. Great for small planted tanks.

Red Phantom Tetra (M. sweglesi): not really a schooling fish, but still a very social tetra which tends to form loose groups. Their more ovate body shape and deep red color contrasts excellently with the more slender shape of the cardinal tetra. Not nearly as nippy as the serpae tetra.

Tube-mouthed Pencilfish (N. eques): another fish that forms loose groups. Very dainty, small species of delicate appearance. Not exactly very colorful but the unusual way in which they swim (at a 45 degree angle with the head pointing up) is very cool.

Silver Hatchetfish, Marbled Hatchetfish (G. sternicla and C. strigata): I have always loved hatchetfish! Unfortunately, since both of my current aquariums have openings in the back, I have been unable to keep any for a very long time. They will jump out of the tank given the slightest chance. The silver hatchetfish schools particularly well, in my experience.

Those are my favorites. I love most of the fish I've kept, really. Each seems to have its proper place.

Carlos

Steve Pituch

I know they don't school in the traditional sense, but Sailfin mollies generally group themselves together rather informally at various locations in the tank. Fifty mature male Sailfin mollies in a 75 gal, or 75 in a 125 gal aquarium sure look nice together. Plus they are free for the taking down here.

I guess there's a lot of fish that can be locally caught that school nicely. I once had some pretty red shiners that schooled nicely.

I guess the classic schooling fishes for an aquascaped tank are tetras, like the Neons, Cardinals, Rummy Nose, or Scissor tails.

Steve Pituch

Raul-7

What do you think of Ember Tetras, or how about Von Rio Tetra?

Sir_BlackhOle

Dont forget the harlequin rasbora

cactusdoug

My favs would be...

Rummy nose Tetras, they constantly stay in a group swimming back and forth.

Black Neon Tetras, school almost as much as the Rummy Nose

Harlequin Rasboras, they're just so pretty.

White Cloud Mountain Minnows, also very pretty.

And for a species tank because they are a bit nippy, Serpae Tetras. Once they settle in they get a beautiful smokey pink in color.

And if you put at least 6 cory cats in a tank they will almost never leave the side of their buddies.

Cheers, CD

ryuken168

The best schooling fish I ever worked with are the following.
1. Rummynose Tetras - Barnone the best.
2. True SAE - amazing long lines.
3. Cardinal Tetras - I use this a lot.
4. Glowlight Tetras - Nice orange w/ white tips
5. Rasbora Hengeli
6. Veiltail Angels

shannon

I know they are not your traditional schooling fish, but a group of Dwarf neon rainbows are beautiful in a planted aquarium Neon tetras are another of my favorites...

What do you think of Diamond tetras or Congo tetras? Under the right light these guys are beautiful!!!

Shannon

sjogren1

Blood Fin, Congo and Lemon Tetra have worked well for me in the past, but the 'must have' has got to be Harlequins. IMHO, the best schooler (and they look so good with Crypts!).

 

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