Schooling helps fish escape enemies, find food, and conserve energy. This natural adaptation is more common in small fish as they are more vulnerable to predators. Since tetras are some of the smallest fish kept as pets, you may wonder if they prefer to live in groups. So, are tetras schooling fish?
Yes, tetras are schooling fish. They swim in a school to protect themselves from predators. Most varieties of tetras thrive in groups of six or more and prefer to swim with their kind only. Keeping them alone or in small numbers will stress the tetras and affect their overall health and well-being.
Let’s talk about this in greater detail now.
Why Do Tetras Prefer To Live In Schools?
Tetras are peaceful community fish. They are a favorite with both beginners as well as experienced fish hobbyists.
When tetras are kept in large groups, they can entertain onlookers for hours by swimming in unison.
It is amazing to watch them swim in a synchronized fashion.
All the members of the school will change directions simultaneously, never colliding with each other.
Notably, this schooling behavior is a defensive trait. You must know that it is safer to be in a group than alone.
While predators can easily catch a lone fish, they find it harder to attack a whole group of fish.
So, tetras minimize their risk by staying together.
When these fish swim together, they appear like a single, large creature that can intimidate a potential enemy.
A large group of fish will be better equipped to defend their territory from attackers.
Apart from staying safe, there are other advantages to this behavior as well.
In the wild, food is the main concern for any animal.
The chances of finding food are higher when more fish are searching for it.
Schooling is also believed to help fish conserve energy while swimming.
When many fish swim closely, there is less friction between them.
Living in a school also improves the chances of survival of young fish that are easy targets for predators.
When tetras are in schools, their aggression will be spent within the community.
Tetras with aggressive traits will not chase or take out their irritation to other fish in the tank.
Thus, it also helps to maintain peace in the aquarium.
Recommended Further Reading:
- Why Do Tetras Die? (13 Primary Reasons)
- Why Do Tetras Lose Or Change Their Color? (5 Main Causes)
- Why Do Tetras Jump Out Of The Tank + How To Stop Them
How Many Tetras Should Be In A School?
There is no perfect school size for tetras.
However, the ideal condition would be to keep them in groups of not less than six fish.
You can increase the number of fish according to the size of the tank.
The more fish in an aquarium, the more beautiful the tank will look.
A large group will also help the fish feel secure and help them thrive.
When you keep schooling fish in small numbers, they tend to become stressed.
In their natural habitats, they are more vulnerable to attacks when alone.
This problem will not affect them in a fish tank unless they live with aggressive tank mates.
Nonetheless, stressed fish have a greater chance of catching diseases and becoming sick.
It can affect their overall well-being and even reduce their lifespan.
Are Neon Tetras Schooling Fish?
Neon tetras love to school. These peaceful, colorful fish will be most comfortable in groups of six or more.
It would be even better if there are fifteen to twenty fish in the same tank.
For ten neon tetras, you will need at least ten gallons of water.
When you increase this number, you must also increase the water in the tank.
You should also tend to their additional nutrition and hygiene requirements when you increase the size of the school.
Will Neon Tetras School With Other Fish?
Most tetras will only school with members of their own species.
However, they may make an exception for similar-looking fish.
When there is a significant resemblance between two types of fish, they may swim together.
Neon tetras and cardinal tetras are good examples of this. Both fish have fluorescent blue and red in their bodies.
However, the cardinal tetra has more red coloring than the neon tetra and is slightly bigger. Nonetheless, they look similar.
Due to the physical resemblance, these two fish may swim together when there aren’t enough of each type in a tank.
Related Further Reading:
- Why Do Tetras Swim Upside Down? (Is It Normal For Tetras?)
- Why Do Tetras Chase Each Other? + How To Stop Them?
- Do Tetras Like Current? (Neon, Cardinal, Glofish, Etc.)
Are Glofish Tetras Schooling Fish?
The main difference between glofish tetras and other tetras is in their physical appearances.
However, the glofish displays the same behavioral traits as other types of tetras.
They also like to live in schools of five or more members.
You can mix and match different colored glofish tetras, and they will still swim around in a group.
Just make sure that there is enough space and water for each fish.
Glofish can become aggressive and chase one another when pressed for space or resources.
Are Ember Tetras Schooling Fish?
Ember tetras are beautiful red or orange fish.
Although they are peaceful fish that adjust well in a community tank, they are happiest in groups of their own.
This fish is easily stressed out and seeks out hiding places.
However, it feels secure and relaxed with its kin. So, keep it in a large group of at least six fish, and it will thrive.
Are Cardinal Tetras Schooling Fish?
Yes, cardinal tetras prefer to live in groups. The larger their school, the more secure the fish feel.
Cardinal tetras will not usually create any problems in a tank. However, they prefer to socialize with their own kind.
You can also mix cardinal tetras with neon tetras. Since both these fish look alike, they will school together.
However, cardinal tetras will seldom school with other varieties of tetras.
Keeping them with active tetras like black skirts can create stress for the cardinal tetras.
Are Black Skirt Tetras Schooling Fish?
Black skirt tetras are schooling fish.
When you keep them in large groups, this fish will spend most of its time cruising around the tank with the rest of the group.
Individuals may occasionally leave the group to explore the tank on their own.
However, they will return in a short while and continue to stay with their kind.
Black skirt tetras will also school with white skirt tetras.
It is always advisable to keep black skirt tetras in groups, especially if you keep them with fish having long-flowing fins and tails.
The blackskirt tetra is a fin-nipper.
When there are fewer black skirt tetras in a tank, they will be more attracted to the other inhabitants of the tank.
Related Further Reading:
- Why Do Tetras Twitch? (Causes, Exceptions, And Cure)
- Do Tetras Eat Algae? (Neon, Ember, Cardinal, Etc.)
- Can Tetras Live In Brackish Water? (Is It Safe For Tetras?)
- Why Do Tetras Glow? (Do They Glow All The Time?)
Are Rummy Nose Tetras Schooling Fish?
The rummy nose tetra is a very small fish. Hence, it is also a kind of fish that lives best with more of its kind.
They prefer to be in schools of seven or more fish.
When there are fewer than six fish, the rummy nose tetras can become stressed and lose their beautiful coloring.
Rummy nose tetras are very tight schooling fish.
All the fish in a school will always face the same direction when they are on the go.
They tend to explore the entire area of the tank as a group.
This species is very active and can liven up an aquarium with its non-stop activity.
Are Serape Tetras Schooling Fish?
Like most other varieties of tetras, serpaes are also schooling fish. This variety of tetra is comparatively mischievous.
It is a fin-nipper and will incessantly trouble long-finned fish like angelfish and bettas.
One of the most effective ways to tone down the aggression of serpae tetras is to keep them in groups.
By doing so, their aggression will be restricted to their school.
When they are in a group of six to eight fish, they will establish a pecking order and remain peaceful.
Are All Tetras Schooling Fish?
Tetras, by nature, are schooling fish. Most varieties prefer to live together in groups of six or more.
They are accustomed to forming schools in the wild, where they are vulnerable to attacks from natural predators.
In their natural habitats, they will not usually stray too far from their school.
Tetras have the same instinct even when they are kept in captivity.
In a home aquarium, tetras will usually form groups. However, it is not unusual for some tetras to be on their own.
It is because this fish will usually form tight groups only if there is imminent danger. They will also come together at feeding time.
Most of the time, tetras swim together in a loose group.
When they feel safe, they may tend to wander around on their own, at least occasionally.
Interesting Further Reading:
- Why Do Tetras Hide? (12 Main Reasons Explained)
- Do Tetras Eat Other Fish? (Neon, Black Skirt, Redeye, Etc.)
- Do Tetras Sleep? (How And Why They Sleep?)
How To Get Tetras To School?
Although tetras usually show schooling tendencies, they may occasionally hang out on their own.
This usually happens when the fish is very comfortable and does not feel vulnerable.
It could also be because the fish is kept in a small tank.
Their natural schooling tendency will kick in when they sense the presence of a predator.
However, it can also stress out the fish. So, deliberately inducing fear may not be the best way to get your tetras to school.
Tetras may also temporarily school when you make drastic changes to the tank décor.
The other option is to introduce more of their kind into the tank.
When there are enough fish for the tetras to feel like a group, they are more likely to swim together.
