Cypriniforms-Cypriniformes

CYPRINIFORMS

General:
The 2,000-odd species are distributed worldwide, with the exceptions of South America and Australia.
Cypriniforms, or carp-fish types, are divided into outwardly diverse families that have little in common apart from their common ancestry. While the free-swimming barbs, danios, and rasboras belong to the family Cyprinidae, most bottom-dwelling species are placed in a group of various loachlike families:
River loaches (Balitoridae), loaches (Cobitidae), and algae eaters (Gyrinocheilidae).
The Chinese sucker belongs to the family Catostomidae (suckers), except for the danios and raboras, most Cypriniforms of importance in the hobby are bottom-oriented in their search for food and have a diet of plant and animal bottom organisms.
Danios and rasboras, however, catch small crustaceans and insects in open water.
Most species live gregariously or in a school and do not provide parental care.
A few species establish territories that they defend against competitors.

Ex: Pencilfish will draw close to one another when there is a disturbance.