boraras tankmate for schooling potential

[moogoo]

Ok. So i've got a whole bunch of boraras fish (~56 of two diff species). Well, they sort of school, but not all the time. I was wondering if there was a fish I could add that would kind of intimidate them into schooling.

Yes, I am aware that schooling is a sign of nervousness, but I just want them to school more. I would assume a larger fish and was thinking GBR, but they are from different waters and wouldn't go too well together.

So does anybody know a larger fish native to the same waters as the boraras fish that wouldn't be aggressive but is intimidating enough just in its size to make the lil guys school? Any input would be great. THanks!!

[lauraleellbp]

Female betta?

[leviathan0]

That'd depend on which species of Boraras, wouldn't it?

[moogoo]

I have boraras brigittae and boraras micros. They do school as they do it readily when I'm doing a water change. However, once I'm done and things have calmed down in the tank, they go back to their separate, independent business.

I'd like to keep them schooling, but don't want to completely stress them out. They don't have to school 24/7, but it would be nice if they'd school here and there just out of the occasional intimidation.

@ laura

I would consider a female betta, but they're pretty drab looking imo. Any other ideas?

[lauraleellbp]

Female bettas USED to be drab looking- have you checked out fancy ones on AquaBid recently? You can find local breeders, as well. My local PetCo actually carries some pretty females...

Or a plakat betta (short-tailed male or female), or a wild type (Betta coccina is one of my new favorites, beautiful red color!) www.FishBase.org and you should be able to find some info...

[moogoo]

hmm. Ok laura. I will look into it. Behavior wise, female bettas are pretty docile i'm guessing? I'm not too informed about bettas...

[lauraleellbp]

Yes females are usually less aggressive than males.

I've only rarely had aggression issues with males in community tanks, personally - usually the issue is more the other fish can't resist a fancy male's long flowing fins...

[moogoo]

Thanks laura. I'll keep my eye out for female bettas next time I stop in to a pet store to pick up stuff for my dogs.

[Gar]

You need either a single female or three+ females for bettas. Get one and they'll nip on your other fish' fins, three will spread the aggression out among the other females so as to not make them stressed.

As for less aggressive... yes, but only slightly so, in my opinion. They can be pretty crazy!

I love them, though. I have a few in one of my tanks and they add great color. Female crowntails. Beautiful :3

[lauraleellbp]

I personally would either stock one or 10+ females- they can be aggressive with each other, but I've never had them bother other fish. I bred them some years ago so had about 300 at one point... Different stock certainly can display very different aggression levels, though.