Best Schooling & Shoaling Fish
Species that look — and behave — their best in a tight group.
How to choose a schooling fish
Schooling fish evolved to move as one for safety, so a lone individual is a stressed, washed-out, often nippy version of itself. Keep them in groups of at least six (more is better) and they reward you with colour, confidence and mesmerising coordinated movement.
A single large shoal of one species usually looks far better than a handful each of several — and it is calmer, too. Give them open water to swim and they become the beating heart of a planted tank.
Frequently asked questions
How many schooling fish should I keep together?
Six is the practical minimum; 8–12 or more looks and behaves much better. Below six, schooling fish lose their nerve and may turn to fin-nipping.
What is the difference between schooling and shoaling?
Shoaling fish gather together socially; schooling fish swim in coordinated, synchronised formation. In the hobby the terms are used interchangeably — either way, keep them in a group.