NetMax wrote:

"pausto" wrote in message
...
It's the first time I have seen them school since I introduced them
to the 75galUS tank 10 weeks ago. 18 of them. Awesome.
Their mates are, 3 large clown loaches 3inches, 3 small clown
loaches 2.5 inches, 5 SAE's 2.5", 3 platies 1.5", 2 oto's, 3 cories.
And the newest additions 8 small?/med? rainbow fish, two different
kinds.

Question is, Why don't my skirts school more often?

The Storck

I think that fish school/schoal for protection, to feel secure and from
instinct. Without a predator or perceived threat, they relax and scatter
(less work, less having to share food). Some fish keep a loose grouping
while others scatter to the winds. IME, Black skirts are one of the
worst for scattering, seeming to put an equal distance between each
individual, as soon as they know the tank. Large tanks with dark corners
and a few large herbivores might keep them in a pattern more often, but
this schooling behaviour requires more energy from them, so they will
resort to scattering again if possible.

NetMax

Thanks NetMax. My tank is happy and healthy, so I suppose these fish
will be with me for quite a while. That should give me the time to
gather info as my fish's tank slowly evolves. Better schooling fish? A
big Plec, perhaps? We'll see.

Paul