I have a 5 foot reef tank that I really want to get a "true" schooling fish for. Not really interested in stuff like green chromis or banggai cardinals, as those seem to school until they get old enough to hate each other.
Currently, I'm trying my hand at a group of Luzonicthys waitei or purple pygmy anthias (first group of four, three dead in two days so not a great start) for the second time. I really love the fish, but from my experiences with them shipping is quite brutal on them, and as a small anthias species they do better with multiple feedings a day, which I'm not always capable of doing (work, school, etc.).
The other two species I'm interested in, as the title states, are Vanderbilt's chromis or long-spine cardinals. Vanderbilt's chromis apparently stay much smaller than their blue and green cousins, but I don't know if they actually school as adults or break out into fighting as they mature.
The same goes for long-spine cardinals, and everything I've seen of their wild behavior appears like "true" schooling unlike their more common cousins. Also, they appear to be diurnal, unlike most cardinals.
Anyone with experience with large groups (probably going to try to do at least 8 of whichever) of these fish? Activity levels? Aggression with each other? Anything would be appreciated.
Currently, I'm trying my hand at a group of Luzonicthys waitei or purple pygmy anthias (first group of four, three dead in two days so not a great start) for the second time. I really love the fish, but from my experiences with them shipping is quite brutal on them, and as a small anthias species they do better with multiple feedings a day, which I'm not always capable of doing (work, school, etc.).
The other two species I'm interested in, as the title states, are Vanderbilt's chromis or long-spine cardinals. Vanderbilt's chromis apparently stay much smaller than their blue and green cousins, but I don't know if they actually school as adults or break out into fighting as they mature.
The same goes for long-spine cardinals, and everything I've seen of their wild behavior appears like "true" schooling unlike their more common cousins. Also, they appear to be diurnal, unlike most cardinals.
Anyone with experience with large groups (probably going to try to do at least 8 of whichever) of these fish? Activity levels? Aggression with each other? Anything would be appreciated.