Shoaling

[subz88]

Does anyone have a group of truly shoaling fish in their setups? What species are they and how large are the setups?

Reason I ask is because since adding a seven strong "shoal" of chromis to my 4x2x2 a few months ago, they've completely lost the ability to hang out together. When they come out to feed, they constantly fight and bicker among themselves. I thought about a cardboard cut out of Jaws to make 'em think theres a natural predator out there, but the missus wouldn't have it.

So can anyone recommend any species that actually shoal in aquaria without the continual bickering?

[liquidlogic]

ooooo u know wht u need a nice tang or sumthing to put them in there palce :D. i made a thread about shoaling fish as im after a nice group of small shoaling fish (please advice if u have any ideas).

[Gillybaby]

There were a couple of interesting threads on shoaling fish on RC a while back...in fact here are the links if your interested:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=714079

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=825871&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

One's lamenting the fact there are few small shoaling marine fish and the other is about long term success of shoaling chromis. I think the conclusion with both threads is that marine fish just don't shoal in captivity because the predator has been removed from the equation and also 15+ would be considered a shoal but too many for most aquariums.

What does everyone else think?

[oakwell]

i am in the same predicument....i thought about chromis, but been advised they dont stay together.
Looking at the bangai cardinals at the minute and also thought about anthias.

I wait with interest for replys to this thread:)

[thereefshop]

We have 30ish chromis in our show tank looking brill and shoaling well.
I would say that you more activity in the tank to bring them out more.

[subz88]

There were a couple of interesting threads on shoaling fish on RC a while back...in fact here are the links if your interested:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=714079

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=825871&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

One's lamenting the fact there are few small shoaling marine fish and the other is about long term success of shoaling chromis. I think the conclusion with both threads is that marine fish just don't shoal in captivity because the predator has been removed from the equation and also 15+ would be considered a shoal but too many for most aquariums.

What does everyone else think?


Thanks for those links ;)

From reading them, I think the easiest method of maintaining a shoaling behaviour is (in order of decreasing expense)
1) Buy a piece of reef in hawaii or similar
2) Have a reasonably large aquarium, with a largish (7+) number of chromis, and at least one territorial damsel to harrass the chromis to instinctively school together. I say largish number to reduce the likelihood of any particular fish bearing the brunt of the hostility. The other thing seems to be to feed multiple times a day to reduce aggression caused by the fishes hunting instinct.

When I upgrade my aquarium to a larger system I'll give the second idea a go, or if anyone feels charitable towards the first idea could they lend me a few million on a semi-permanent basis? :D