Saltwater aquariums can be so diverse because of all the different types of marine life you can add. One of the most popular species is schoolfish. Swimming together, these fish can add a nice touch to a large marine aquarium. It can be fascinating to watch a group of fish swimming together in the water. It can be even more enjoyable to see a group of colorful fish gliding in and out of the rocks and corals.
It is fascinating to observe a group of fish swimming in a marine aquarium as if they were a single organism. There are so many types of saltwater fish you can put in your aquarium and it's important to understand which types of fish like to swim together. We take a look at the best schools of fish for the saltwater aquarium.
In your aquarium, blue-green chromias, anthias, dartfish and cardinals are the best choices for schooling fish. If you want to add groups and movement to your aquarium, you can get some species that stick together. It will give your saltwater aquarium a new dynamic.
What exactly do saltwater fish form?
Schools of fish are species of fish that aggregate as mature adults. This occurs in its natural habitat in the sea and sometimes in home aquariums. If you spend some time watching fish, it can be easy to spot fish in schools. These fish gather in groups and swim almost simultaneously in the same direction.
Fishing together for many reasons such as safety, security, efficiency and food. These behaviors help fish survive in the ocean, but these behaviors are usually not necessary in a hobby-sized aquarium.
When it comes to raising fish for saltwater aquariums, your tank size will limit you to the species you can keep. While there are many different marine fish that swim in the ocean, most of them are either too large or unable to adapt to home aquariums. Most fish in your aquarium are only a few inches in size.
Using the formal definition of politeness, the chances that you have saltwater fish that actually do this are very slim. They will likely not be the required size and most of the fish considered in this group will not really train. What you will actually see is called a swarm. This is the term used when fish gather and stay close to each other.
The term shoal is actually more accurate to describe fish that stay together in home aquariums.
The best school of fish for saltwater aquariums.
1. Antías
Anthias come in many different specimens and it is important not to mix them up. You should only keep one sample in your tank for best results. There's nothing that says species can't be mixed. You can if you like, and some refrigerators have had success with this. But in general, you'll do better with just one type. Some common species of Anthias are Lyretails, Dispar, Carberryi and Ignitus. It's a good idea to get a little more than planned, as unfortunately 1 or 2 may die during the quarantine.
You'll need at least 120 gallons to keep Anthias, but they will do better in larger tanks. You could have one in a 75 gallon tank, but we're looking at schools of fish here. You can have one male and several females for your group.
2. Teal-green Chromis
The blue-green Chromis(Chromis viridis)it is a great school fish. The main attraction of these fish is their ease of maintenance and low price. You can usually get them for around $10 or less, and for saltwater fish that's a great price. This species is usually available at your local fish store, as well as online.
You should have at least 3 of these in your tank, but they will do better in a group of at least 6. Fish will be less stressed in larger groups and healthier. They tend to fight each other more if you keep less than 6 of them. In chromis, the more the merrier.
These fish like to swim together at the top of the tank and love to swim, so it's best to keep them in a longer tank. We recommend at least 3. They sometimes like to hide in rocks, especially at night, so make sure you have plenty of hiding places for them.
When it comes to feeding, these chromis are aggressive eaters and are usually first in line when food meets water. This can make these fish more desirable, as you can't defeat a school of Chromis all at once. Chromis are large fish but seem to have a higher mortality rate than many other common aquarium fish.
A school of Chromis can kill each other over time. It doesn't happen 100%, but often. However, a group can last many years before it does.
3. Langstacheliger Kardinalbarsch
The Long Spine Cardinal(Zoramia leptacantha)can be swarm or "school" together. These fish are shy and you will also need some good hiding places for them. They blend in well, with their only downside being a lack of bright colors. These saltwater aquarium fish are mostly translucent with some blue and yellow iridescent markings.
The minimum group size for Longspine Cardinalfish is 4, but if you can get closer to 10 they will do better. This will reduce your stress and contribute to your overall health. Fish like to group together for security and protection. If they don't feel safe in a confined space, they could be feeling a lot of stress. If you only keep a few they can get too hidden and this will cut down on how many they feed.
4. Zebra dart
zebrafish(Ptereleotris-cebra)they are great beginner fish that go in schools. These marine fish have many benefits and there are also some things to keep in mind. They are shy and peaceful fish and do not do well in tanks with aggressive fish. They are active, firing in and out of you.The living structure of rock. Live rock is important for many reasons, and these fish will use it as a playground when coming in and out. They are excellent feeders and a wonderful addition to any aquarium.
Dartfish should be at least in pairs in your tank, but they will do best with at least 5. While they don't train in the traditional sense, they will gather as a group and are fascinating to watch.
These sea fish are easy to care for and not very expensive. The adult usually grows to around 4 inches and does best when introduced to the tank as a group rather than individually. It's also a good idea to buy a cover for your aquarium if you don't have one. This species of fish is known as jumping fish.
5.argentinian money(fish finger)
the swordfish(silver monodactyl)swarm very well, but consider how big they get when fully grown. An adult fish can grow up to 10 inches, and if you have a group of them, keep that in mind. We don't recommend buying them unless you have a tank of at least 120 gallons.
These are more advanced fish, so we don't recommend buying them if you're new to the saltwater aquarium hobby. These fish can start out in fresh water when they are younger, but will need to be transferred to brackish water when they are fully grown. They do a great swarming job and are fun to watch in groups. These fish are not usually seen in hobby aquariums.
Useful information to keep in mind
Some important data to take into account when adding fish is that the school or shoal understands each species.
- how big will it be
- How long does it take to mature the fish?
- how many do i need
- Do I have to add them all at once?
Fish that swim together in a school often do better when added to your tank at the same time. You can always add more later, or you might have one that dies and want to replace it. Sometimes new fish are good and others can be isolated or even attacked.
Understanding the limitations of your saltwater tank is important, and when you add groups of 5 or more fish, it's even more important. You need to understand how big the fish gets in relation to how big it is when you catch it. Regardless of the size of your tank, there will be a limit to how much it can hold and you will also be limited by your equipment such as a skimmer.
Some fish that get together do better with certain numbers. Owning a dartfish will not be the best for that fish's health, so ask your LFS what the best number is and you'll be limited by what you already have and the size of your tank.
Saltwater fish are a great addition to any large tank and can add depth and personality to the environment. Whether you want to call it school or school, these fish are great to have anyway.