7 replies to this topic

[Aquarist Fist]

Hi all,

 

I have a 60 gallon planted tank with a male Lepomis megalotis and two Lepomis marginatus, plus a lone diamon tetra who thinks he's a sunfish. I am thinking about adding some spotfin shiners (Cyprinella spiloptera), but I can't seem to find out whether those guys are schooling fish. Would a group of 3-4 be enough to keep them happy or do they need a larger school?

 

[Michael Wolfe]

In my experience most Cyprinella are fine in smaller numbers as you suggest. I havent kept spotfins but I am guessing they would fit the pattern.

[keepnatives]

Spotfins are great fish, I'd keep 5 or 6 though you might get away with less.  They like to spar and show off for the females. 

[Aquarist Fist]

Fantastic, thanks you two. I'll get 5-6 but won't sweat it if I lose one or two during the adjustment period. Hopefully that can be avoided, but I need to order them online, so that always comes with a risk. 

[Matt DeLaVega]

Jonah's surely has them, and Mark does a good job shipping, so I would expect a good outcome. Spotfins are a pretty hardy species to boot.

[Aquarist Fist]

Thanks! I was planning to get them from Zimmerman's. That's where I got my sunfish from, and they did a great job with the shipping as well. 

Edited by Aquarist Fist, 19 March 2018 - 09:17 PM.

[Michael Wolfe]

The proprietors of both those businesses are NANFA members and well known to many of us here, and they both do a great job.

[Matt DeLaVega]

Yes, Brian is great. I didn't realize he had spotfins on his list. Can't go wrong.