good schooling reef fish

[new reefer in michigan]

I am interested in adding a school of fish to my 120 reef tank. Can anyone suggest a reef fish that can be kept as a school in a reef tank? Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Blue/Green Chromis. I would go with 3 or 4 in a 120.

 

[Anonymous]

Actually, what other fish are you planning on having.

 

[danmhippo]

If you have a big predator in your tank that terrorizes (and is ready to eat) everyone else, you will see all other fishes school.

Schooling behavior is a natural defensive instinct for reef fish. Fishes form school to deter large predatory fishes. For damsels, they will school for the first couple of weeks to months, but after they realized they are in no danger in the tank, schooling no longer visible, or at most, loosely formed.

 

[Garry thomas]

Yes green chromis good choice, but what about wreck fish,anthias squampinnis, the reef swarms with them, a little more delicate than chromis viriardis ( damsell familly) but more pretty

 

[Anonymous]

Get 4 to 6 bannagai cardinals. They don't swim like chromis', but look great together. you could use pajama cardinals too. Or get 4 chromis and 4 cardinals.

 

[anemonefish]

Garry- Do you happen to have a pic of the anthias squampinnis? Or any other schooling fish?

 

[kevinpo]

I have a school of Lyretail anthias and they are very cool. You need to get all females or 1 male and 4-5 females. They are always active inmid to upper levels of the aquarium.

HTH,
Kevin

 

[Garry thomas]

there you are anemonefish 2 anthius the larger one is the male not just by size but extended first dorsal fin. if you picked up 6 anthius/wrecks all females, the most dominant would turn into a male quite quickly! i have 20 chromis in my tank and 18 anthius they all look stunning. Check out pics of my tank you'll see the shoalers....GT'S tank!

 

[kevinpo]

The male coloration is highly variable depending on location where collected. Here is a picture of a female I had that turned into a male.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[kevinpo]

Here is the whole school in their typical behavior. Notice the erect dorsal fin in the male? He is constantly courting the females. He will dive down from above and fip upsidedown underneath the females and then back up again. He also chases the sub male but doesn't harm him.

I love these fish can you tell?

Regards,
Kevin