I don't know if a calm species of schooling fish exist, but high energy fish in my experience are quite nippy and will outpace my 2 platies I currently have in the 25 gallon. I'm wondering if you guys can think of a 2 inch max size schooling fish species that aren't very nippy or that are calmer and more relaxed?
well lets rule out most tetras since they are usually nippy. there are Harlequin rasboras, glowlight tetras, bloodfin tetras and white cloud mountain however lets forget the last one since they prefer cooler waters
What makes glowlight and bloodfin tetras less nippy or more reasonable than most other tetras? Have you just found them to be calmer in your experience? I had considered the harlequin rasboras, are there any other rasboras that act similarly or that act just as relaxed as the harlequins?
i have found in larger groups they are less nippy but it may be a hit or miss. From experience those are the 3 that were the least nippy
Thank you for the input, much much appreciated I assure you. Perhaps I shouldn't get a school, do you reckon it might be better for me to just get more platies and other livebearers like swordtails, guppies or mollies?
I like the concept of the cories, but my aquarium is a standard size, it's fairly tall and I have a lot of hardscape placed so it isn't the best environment for cories, they won't have a lot of space to move around.
I have 6 long finned black skirt tetras in my tank. They are not nippy at all and for the most part are very calm. They are the perfect mid tank dwellers for my tank. edited to add: they are right at 2 years old now so I assume they are full grown. The largest of them is close to 2 inches long not including the flowing tail.
Are they high energy in your opinion or more calm? I'm fairly certain my LFS doesn't sell pygmy cories though
black skirts we somewhere in the middle for me. Some times they were nippy and sometimes they were normal ok
I think that Danios could be a good choice, especially for a big 25 gallon, just keep them in groups of 6 or more Rasboras might, and again might work. I think that neon Tetras could be a good choice, as wells as glofish tetras( I house seven of them with my four platys and they get along fine)
Danios are extremely high energy though, are they not? I've heard they get quite nippy, I think their temperament is kind of a hit or miss situation. I've also heard that neon tetras are quite bad nippers, although I have heard good things about glowfish tetras. I'll give them a look then, thank you for the suggestion
Glofish Tetras are genetically altered black widow Tetras I believe, so their not that crazy. I think that sometimes Danios can sort of be jerks, but I’ve never seen mine attack another fish, but you really should keep them in groups of six(at the least), otherwise they go psycho
Maybe I just have a naturally calm tank because I also have neon tetras and have never seen them nippy either. Right now I have 8 of them and they pretty much just hang out together and never bother either each other or anyone else. You are right about danios. (I have both zebra and pearl) They think they are race horses and never slow down. Never nippy but never still either
Most everyone loves Corys. Pygmy Corys are great. : ) IF and when you opt for whatever breed of Corys, in consideration with your tank size you could get either 3-6. Most do very well and even better, in a group of 6. SOME Tetras and Danios can be nipyy, however in my experience, the size of the tank IS very relevant and relative. Cardinal tetras aren't all that nippy though...err at least the ones I've had in the past...had a big school of about 16.
What else is in the tank? IME, zebra danios aren't nippy at all, they just never sit still. CPDs, EDRs, GRDs, and GDs are all "calmer" danionins and aren't as hyped up as zebras, staying below 2". Ruby tetras (OR Embers) would work very nicely & Kubotai rasboras are also very peaceful and both max out at approx. 0.75", although I would say the rubies get a smidgen bigger (not past an inch though).
Ahh that's fairly interesting, I didn't know that. Ya I know keeping them in appropriately sized schools will help keep the aggression to a minimum but I still think their high energy might be too much for my platies haha. But I really appreciate your input, thank you! Haha, I've heard as much about the danios I think you might have lucked out with those neons though, I just went browsing through some older forums on neons and it turns out there have been some neon nippy massacres out there I'm thinking of avoiding cories for the moment just because of the amount of hardscape taking up the ground space in my current settup. I wouldn't mind doing the pygmies but I don't remember my LFS ever having them so I doubt I'd be able to get my hand on any easily. I'm thinking your cardinals are probably doing well because of the size of that school (you likely have a tank thats large enough to house them happily as well haha), keeping 6 of them I think creates more opportunity for nippiness against the other fish in my aquarium however and I'd just rather not risk it if they are similar to neons hah
Zebras got super wild during feeding time! They're little pigs really! Especially if it's bloodworms or tubifex worms. It's up to you in the end, but perhaps ask some more people on here, as I only ever really had Cardinals and Red eye Tetras. Oh and Glowlight Tetras which are really mellow and are NEVER nippy, never. Very docile and peaceful to the max.
