Tropical Fish Keeping banner

do black tetras and neon tetras school together?

47K views 9 replies 4 participants last post by  MrEd 
#1 ·
I currently have 6 neon tetras in my 35G tank. I want to get more for them to school better. Do I have to get neon tetras? or can I get black tetras and expect them to school together?

thanks,
Ed
 
#2 ·
I currently have 6 neon tetras in my 35G tank. I want to get more for them to school better. Do I have to get neon tetras? or can I get black tetras and expect them to school together?

thanks,
Ed
If stocking numbers thus far are only the tetra's I would add another six or seven neons and six or seven black tetra's as well.
 
#9 ·
In my tank, all 3 tetra species (black neons, neons and flames) stick with their own kind. Black neons will not school with regular neons. They don't even occupy the same region in the tank. Black neons are mid to top and neons are mid to low.
 
  • Like
Reactions: huckleberry77
#5 ·
Assuming that by "schooling" you means swim throughout the tank together in a group formation, the answer is mainly no. But will they mingle, yes.

Shoaling fish are not strictly speaking schooling fish like many marine species. Freshwater fish that shoal must have a group, six is usually considered minimum, but the more the better. It adds security, which reduces stress and possible aggression [even in "peaceful" fish], and some species have social interactions within their group. They may sometimes swim together, many times not. Other similar species may sometimes join them. Quite often they just "hang out" somewhere, and fish frequently have their favourite spots dependant upon light intensity, water flow from the filter, plant or other cover, and other species in the tank with behaviours that influence them somehow.

Byron.
 
#7 ·
Thanks, Byron.

I did mean school in the sense that they would swim together in one direction. i guess the answer then is that I should get a group of all neons.
As you have space (though not unlimited), I would add another 3-4 neons.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top