"pausto" wrote in message
...
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

I've been told that Rummy Nose tetras retain their schooling habit more,
but I've yet to test that to see for myself. I have seen Harlequin
Rasboras hold a loose pattern long after acclimating to a tank which only
had Discus & Cardinals for company. I don't know if the Discus were the
perceived threat vector. A 5" Discus would have trouble taking out a
full grown H.rasbora, but the Harlequin's perception is their reality
;~).

NetMax