For those who enjoy aquariums, schooling fish are a popular and fascinating option. These fish live in schools and move in synchronized patterns that are interesting to watch and good for their health.
Some of the most popular varieties of schooling fish that you can keep in your aquarium will be discussed in this article. Whether you’re a novice or an expert hobbyist, you can create a more lively and healthy aquatic environment by learning about these fish and their behaviors.
| Fish Type | Brief Description |
| Neon Tetra | A small, vibrant fish with blue and red stripes, perfect for peaceful community tanks. |
| Harlequin Rasbora | A hardy fish with a distinctive black triangle on its body, ideal for beginners. |
| Zebra Danio | An active, striped fish known for its hardiness and adaptability in various water conditions. |
| Cardinal Tetra | A bright fish with a striking red and blue coloration, slightly larger than the Neon Tetra. |
| Rummy Nose Tetra | A fish with a unique red nose and a silver body, adds an interesting contrast to the tank. |
Barbs
- Sumatran (lat. Puntigrus tetrazona)
Out of all the species, this one is the most prevalent. Sumatrans is easily recognizable. From the outside, they look like crucian carp. incredibly flexible. Reach a height of 4-6 cm. The body is short and fairly tall. There are four black stripes on a background that is yellowish or silvery; the first one goes through the eye, and the last one is next to the tail. The soil’s background affects how brilliant the color is. They have a three to four year lifespan. They require at least a 50-liter aquarium. Six to eight pieces is the ideal school size.
- Schubert"s barb (lat. Barbodes semifasciolatus)
In nature, this species does not exist. Tom Schubert, an American, was the first to breed and describe it. Just as well-liked as the previous barbs are these ones. They are a lovely golden hue with hints of orange, red, or lemon. The body is crossed by a darkly speckled greenish stripe. The fish are lively, gregarious, and tranquil. They require a 100-liter aquarium, ideally one that is longer. The ideal group size is composed of ten people.
- Cherry barb (lat. Puntius titteya)
Its homeland is considered to be the island of Sri Lanka in southeast Asia. The reservoirs where it can be found have stagnant or slowly flowing water and a lot of silt on the bottom. Europe saw these fish in 1936, and the USSR – only in 1959. Their five-centimeter body is elongated in length, and the back is curved. The color is olive-brown, the sides are raspberry-red or yellowish with a longitudinal dark stripe. The fins are red or transparent. The iris of the eye in the upper part has a spectacular red stripe. Males have a more spectacular appearance, and during the spawning period they acquire a noble cherry color. Females are paler, but larger. By nature they are calm, but a little timid. They are kept in a school of 6 individuals.
- Barbus Denisonii (lat. Sahyadria denisonii)
Otherwise, it is also called the red comet. The homeland of the fish is South India. The reservoirs familiar to these barbs have a rocky bottom, a lot of plants and oxygen. Denisoni are very beautiful, but also quite demanding of conditions. Their body is long, resembles a torpedo. Its length reaches 9-11 cm. The color is bright, along the silvery background on the sides there are two contrasting stripes: one – black long, the second – red short. There are yellow and black lines on the tail. The border of the dorsal fin is scarlet. They live for about five years. They need at least a 200-liter aquarium. The group size is at least 7 individuals.
- Shark barb (lat. Balantiocheilos melanopterus)
Because of its size, form, and prominent back fin, it is known as a shark. This barb has a calm, timid, and even gentle nature. These "sharks" are indigenous to Thailand and southeast Asia, where they live in swift-moving rivers and streams. Their oblong body can reach a length of 35 cm. big eyes. Their backs are a deeper shade of their silvery hue. The tail and fins have a black border and are yellow and white in color. It is preferable to keep them in a flock of at least five, and the minimum 150-liter capacity should be sufficient for such a flock.
- Oligolepis barb (lat. Oliotius oligolepis)
Additionally known as Barbel Island. These fish are five centimeters in size, bright, with two pairs of antennae and large eyes. The body has big scales and is greenish-silver in color. The belly is lighter than the back. Every scale has a dark area. When combined, they create a unique checkerboard design. Females have transparent fins, and males have red fins with a black border. It is advised to maintain a minimum of 6–8 fish in each group. These babies will even thrive in a small aquarium of 25 to 30 liters.
- Butterfly barb (African moth, lat. ‘Barbus’ hulstaerti)
These crumbs only spread out to a maximum of 3-3.5 cm. They have a light belly and a dark back on a long, yellow or brownish body. There are dark specks all over the sides. Every fin is yellow, with a black border encircling the dorsal and caudal fins. You can house ten to twenty of these babies in an aquarium with a one-meter front wall.
There are other kinds of barbs besides the ones that are commonly thought of, such as black, green, scarlet-finned, fire, etc. Although they are currently less common, all of them are also in school, so stop worrying about them.
Fish that school in aquariums are amazing animals that live best in groups. They also make home aquariums look better and feel healthier. These fish are a fascinating addition to any tank because of their synchronized swimming and social behaviors. Popular species like tetras, barbs, and rasboras are among them. A vibrant and peaceful aquatic community can be established by having a thorough understanding of the various types and their unique requirements.
Family cichlids
- Bolivian butterfly (lat. Mikrogeophagus altispinosus)
In nature, it can be found in South America in the Orinoco River basin. These are bright 8-centimeter fish with a high body and a large head. The background of the body is grayish-olive. The spot on the side, the upper parts of the rays of the dorsal fin and the oblique stripe passing through the eye are black. The edges of the unpaired fins are edged with red. Males are larger, brighter, have elongated fins on the back and near the tail. The butterflies have a peaceful character. They do not spoil plants. In an aquarium with a volume of 70 liters, you can comfortably place a school of 8-10 fish.
- Discus (lat. Symphysodon aequifasciatus)
It inhabits South America and Brazil in the natural world. Fish with an unusual disc-shaped body that is very relaxed and leisurely. The mouth and head are tiny. The iris is red, and the eyes are protruding. They reach a height of 15 cm. They developed a great deal of their color variations through selective breeding. It is preferable to keep in a sizable, warm-water species aquarium that is deep. Many aquarists take great pride in having a school of opulent round fish because these phlegmatic creatures are extremely picky.
- Lamprologus (lat. Lamprologus ocellatus)
These fish are modest and do not damage plants. They also have intriguing habits, a method of reproducing, and a means of caring for their young. Their entire existence is intimately linked to mollusk shells, where they lay their eggs during the breeding season and seek refuge from harm. They are unable to claim to be well-groomed. The sizes range from 2 to 10 cm, depending on the species. Eight to ten pieces should be kept in a 90–120 liter aquarium.
- Parrot motley (lat. Pelvicachromis pulcher)
These fish are about 10 cm in size, medium in size, and have a strong, elongated body with variegated coloring. Long longitudinal stripe on silvery-yellowish body with purple tint. There’s a big bright red spot on the anal fin. The rear poil has a silver border and is dark gray in color. The tail’s lower section is grayish-violet, and the upper portion is pink with two dark spots. The abdomen has red poils. You can comfortably house 8–9 parrots in a 100-liter aquarium.
- Glorias ordinary (lat. Pterophyllum scalare)
Often referred to as "Angel Fish," this fish is exquisite and graceful. The aquarium should be at least 150 liters and should contain 4-6 pieces. grows to a maximum of 15 cm. possesses a body with a diamond shape, where the height is greater than the length. The abdominal plaivniks are filamentous. They vary greatly in length, width, and perpendicularity to the body location on the back and in the vicinity of the tail. The extreme rays have an elongated tail. Traditional silver-white hue with four transverse black stripes. There are, however, genetically modified varieties, such as white, gold, leopard, marble, and others. A veil form is also present.
- Frontosa (lat. Cyphotilapia frontosa)
That’s why it’s referred to as the Tanganyika queen. Even among other bright fish, its striking size (up to 35 cm) and unique coloring (alternating white, blue, and black stripes) will draw attention. Can be housed in a species aquarium in groups of four, but it’s best to keep them in groups of eight to twelve. You’ll require a large, roomy tank.
- Cyprichromis (lat. Cyprichromis leptosoma)
Tanganyika Lake is its home. reaches a maximum size of 11 cm. There are wide variations in coloring. Males are typically honey colored with bright fins (blue, turquoise, blue, striped), and bluish neon inclusions. Both the head and body are longer. extremely tiny scales. semi-moon-shaped appendage. The abdomen and back have long, rounded fins. A 150-liter aquarium with a front wall that is at least one meter in length is required for a school.
Carp
- Danio rerio (lat. Brachydanio rerio)
These are small (4-5 cm) graceful fish. Very peaceful and unpretentious. They are kept in groups of 5-6 pieces. This amount will fit perfectly even in a ten-liter aquarium. The main thing is that its length exceeds its height. The body of the fish is narrow with an original striped coloring: longitudinal yellow (sometimes with green) stripes alternate with blue-black. This pattern covers the entire body, including the fins. There is a veil form. Pink and albino forms are most often found on sale, since they look much more impressive. Recently, with the help of genetic modification, these fish have received new color variations, and now they come in light green, blue, red and yellow.
- Cardinal (lat. Tanichthys albonubes)
These 2.5–3 centimeter infants are utterly unassuming. They don’t require a big aquarium. They can even be kept in a backyard personal pond during the summer because they do well in cold water. They also have a bright color, are easy to breed, and are non-aggressive. It is advised to keep them in classes with six or more students.
- Wedge-spotted rasbora (lat. Trigonostigma heteromorpha)
Agile, unpretentious, not very large (up to 5 cm), peaceful, beautiful – all this is about them. With a longish and rather high body, flattened from the sides. The transition to the tail is sharp. The tail itself has a deep notch. The background of the body can be silvery with a reddish or pink tint or golden. A distinctive feature is a large wedge-shaped black spot on the lower part of the body, for which the rasbora got its name. You can determine the sex by this spot. In females it is blurred, and in males it has sharp corners. It is recommended to keep in a large school of 10-15 individuals in an aquarium of 50 liters.
Characins
- Long-finned bricinus (lat. Brycinus longipinnis)
It has a longish and flattened body on the sides, shaped like an ellipse. Its length is no more than 12 cm. The tail consists of two lobes. There is an adipose fin. The back is gray-brown, the sides are olive or yellow-green, the abdomen is pinkish. There is a black stripe on the caudal peduncle and tail. The iris of the eye is red and shiny on top. The fins of some individuals are grayish-yellow, while others are reddish. The fish have a peaceful, timid character. They move a lot and are very jumpy. They are kept in a school in an aquarium with a front wall length of at least 1 meter.
These tiny (up to 3.5–4 cm) fish are timid, peaceful, active, and schooling. They are housed in groups of ten people each. Putting them with big fish is strictly prohibited because the helpless neons will be eaten. They come in various varieties:
- Blue or ordinary (lat. Paracheirodon innesi). The back is dark olive, under it there is a bright blue neon stripe across the entire body, even lower – red from the middle to tail, bottom silvery-white. All fins colorless.
- Green or costelo (lat. Hemigrammus hyanuary). Greenish-silver fish with an olive back and a whitish belly. The lateral line is duplicated by a greenish stripe. At the base of the tail there is a dark spot, and above it a golden "flashlight". The fins are colorless. The anal is edged with white.
- Red (lat. Paracheirodon axelrodi). Similar to the common neon, but the lower part of the body is red.
- Black (lat. Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi). The silvery-olive body has a black coating. From the back edge of the gill cover to the upper lobe of the caudal fin there is a bright, as if glowing, white stripe.
- Metynnis (lat. Metynnis hypsauchen)
A South American native. a little herbivorous and shy. Grows to a maximum of 15 cm in the wild, slightly less in captivity. It is preferable to keep it in a group of six in a species aquarium. A minimum volume of 200 liters.
- Petitella georgii (lat. Petitella georgiae)
The upper reaches of the Amazon River are home to this characin family member in the wild. It is painted a silvery color and is slender. The head is reddish, and the back is tinted blue. There are three black stripes on the white tail. Males have red fins, and females have transparent other fins. Fish can only get as big as 5 or 6 cm. Fish can be kept in an aquarium that holds 50 liters.
- Ternetia (lat. Gymnocorymbus ternetzi)
An exquisite fish. Its body is silvery, high and flat. reaches a maximum growth of 5 cm. The tetra is distinguished by two dark stripes running vertically along its body and a broad, black anal fin that resembles a skirt. The others are colorless, and the back fin is likewise black. Apart from the standard form, there exist a veil, albino, and GloFish that has undergone genetic modification. A minimum of seven pieces must be kept.
These fish come in a variety of varieties. The sizes are 2 to 7 cm. The body’s shape also varies, ranging from long to nearly diamond-shaped. What is there to say about the range of colors? The most well-liked tetras representatives are:
- Copper or hasemannia (lat. Hasemania nana). The body is silvery-brown. Milky white fin tips.
- Royal or palmeri (lat. Nematobrycon palmeri). Brown or olive back. Yellowish-white belly. Dark stripe along the body. Translucent pointed fins.
- Diamond (lat. Moenkhausia pittieri). It got its name thanks to the bright scales that shimmer like the edges of a precious stone: turquoise, peach, blue and silver.
Numerous other species exist, such as the Columbian, rhodostomus, von rio, flashlight, and firefly. For everyone, ten to twelve pieces of schooling are advised. These fish can get aggressive and bothersome when left alone.
- Minor (lat. Hyphessobrycon eques)
Its second name is red, bloody tetra or serpas. It was brought from Brazil and Paraguay. Slender body. Minors found on sale are a color variation bred through selection. The appearance is quite memorable. The upper part of the body is olive-brown with a green tint, the bottom is bright red. A dark stripe runs along the body. Gill covers and dorsal fin may have small spots. The fins are red, there may be a white border on the dorsal. A distinctive feature of the species is a quadrangular erect fin on the back, often elongated. There are no scales at its base. Kept in a school in a species or community aquarium.
- Rainbow Hemigrammopeters (lat. Hemigrammopetersius caudalis)
Fish from freshwater with a maximum size of 6 cm. The body is long, level, and fairly tall. The rear fin is long and shaped like a sickle. An adipose fin exists. Transparent, grayish-yellow, and shimmering in shades of green, blue, or golden. Fins have a yellowish color. The body is outlined in a black stripe that is surrounded by white. Calm character. housed in an expansive aquarium in a school.
- Congo (lat. Phenacogrammus interruptus)
A school of Congo requires a large aquarium because they can grow up to 8 cm in captivity. These fish have bright green males with a dorsal fin shaped like a pigtail and a tail protrusion that resembles a ribbon. Females have transparent or yellowish fins and are brownish-yellow in color. huge proportions.
Other species
- Bedotia (lat. Bedotia madagascarensis)
It lives naturally in the Madagascar island’s reservoirs. Its oblong, graceful body has a forked dorsal fin, a small head, and an elegant length. big eyes. With a lilac sheen and a black stripe running the length of it, the color can be either olive-yellow or silvery. The fins of males are bright red in color and much brighter than those of females. The fish is 12 centimeters long on average. The ideal arrangement for them would be eight to ten pieces in a tropical species aquarium. For a school of this kind, the "vessel" must hold at least 100 liters.
- Clown loach (lat. Chromobotia macracanthus)
Its homeland is southeast Asia, Indonesia (Borneo, Sumatra). These are very beautiful, active and quite large fish (20-25 cm). They are considered long-livers. They can live up to 20 years in an aquarium with good care. Keeping them alone is impossible, since they die outside a school. The body of clowns is longish, flattened on the sides. The mouth directed downwards has 4 pairs of antennae. There are spikes under the eyes that protect the botia from enemies. The main background of the body is yellow-orange. Three wide black stripes are clearly visible: through the eye, in front of the fin on the back and after it. As they mature, the color of the fish fades slightly. It is better to keep them in a 200-liter (this is the minimum volume) aquarium.
Particularly the speckled and golden catfish, these little, lively, and adorable fish are well-known to all. They are submerged and live there. They clean the aquarium and are always looking for food. Extremely low maintenance and tolerant of many environmental factors. It is more entertaining to watch them when they are surrounded by their family because it makes them feel better.
- Piranha (lat. Pygocentrus nattereri)
Impressive in appearance, mature red-bellied piranhas are typically kept in aquariums by enthusiasts of exotic animals. Silver body, steel back, and bright red throat, anal fin, and belly. It is advised to keep them in groups of four or fewer people. However, you should be aware that they have a rigid hierarchy and that cannibalism occurs frequently. Their maximum growth is 30 cm. Thus, a very large aquarium will be required.
Piranha common (red-bellied).
These fish are available in the most astounding combinations of colors. In the morning, the fish are particularly stunning. It is crucial to keep in mind that stress and worsening conditions cause the fish to turn silvery-gray. You must hold at least six fish together at once.
- Carnegiella (lat. Carnegiella strigata)
This fish is easily recognized by its unique body shape—it resembles an ax, which is how it got the nickname "wedge-bellied." Also, the fish has an innovative method of feeding: it uses its fins as wings to leap high out of the water in search of food. Very bashful. A group of six or more fish makes them feel more at ease.
Any aquarium is made livelier and more peaceful by the presence of schooling fish. They feel safer and more secure when they swim together, which is a natural behavior that also produces a beautiful visual effect.
There is a schooling fish species to fit every tank, whether you are drawn to the vivid colors of Neon Tetras, the graceful movements of Rasboras, or the elegant formations of Black Neons. These fish flourish and exhibit their most natural behaviors when kept in groups, which adds vibrancy and interest to your aquarium.
Recall that the secret to a successful community tank is to select species that get along and to create an environment that suits their requirements. Schooling fish can be a delightful addition to your aquarium, providing endless enjoyment as they glide through the water together, with the correct care and attention.
