Mixed tetra school (kind, best, size, small)

[Mr. Zero]

When they say that you should keep a shoal of 8-10 tetras, does that mean that they all have to be 8 of the same species, or would it be OK to have a mix of neons, cardinals and green neons, totalling 8 -10 fish?

[BrianH]

Same species is best. Its hit an miss if mixed tetras will school together.

[foxywench]

same species school best,
but youll generally get good schooling as long as everyone is simimilar sized and temperment, ive found neons, glolight, cardinals, and green neons will school together...

black neons will kinda join the group but stick to the outskirts, their larger size tends to make the smaller species shy from them, I find they seem to do ok though with Buenos ares and other similar sized.

then theres the larger/more agressives (serpeas, black skirt ect) they tend to not interact well with others and do best in their own company or with more sgressive species like barbs.

also remember that schooling behavior is a defense mechanism so generaly if they feel secure in the tnk they would school as tightly.

[Mr. Zero]

Thanks. I currently have three surviving neons and wanted to add a couple of more fish, but increase the diversity in the tank. I'm specifically thinking about cardinals and/or green neons, so hopefully they'll play well together.

[foxywench]

id try and go with groups of 3 minimum of each of the ones your thinking, least that way if they don't cluster youll have enough of each to distribute any kind of territorial behavior and help fulfil the schooling instincts
(odd numbers always do better with fish

[Ben Edward]

I's suggest your have a mix of all three species. Be sure to have them in equal proportions though. It's good when the different species co-exist, instead of having just one species.