Angels ?

[newshound]

Originally Posted by jaidexl

So basically what you're saying is if the OP plans on keeping the fish for only a few weeks and doesn't plan on growing them any larger than 2 inches then there should be no problem, in your experience. Sound advice.

Looks like it's a go there Jaxon. Disregard those of us who have angels that actually act and eat like cichlidae, and tetras that actually act like typical characins.

[Sponsors]

[DiscusIt'sWhats4DinneR]

i used to have 2 angels. if you keep their water clean and feed them good (i fed them frozen bloodworms, beefheart and brine shrimp all the time. and changed 25% every other day. kept temp at 84 degrees. they grew to 3" Body size (not even including their fins) in about 9 months from quarter size.

as soon as the bloodworms hit the water those angels would fly at the cube and dismantle it while it was still frozen. there would be no remnants after 30 seconds flat. i got them to munch beefheart and everything else from my hand.

i kept two and one was slightly smaller than the other. he would constantly nip and chase the bigger one every chance he could get. they also happily devoured any neons cardinals or ghost shrimp they could find. i kept them with harlequin raspboras and they managed to eat a few smaller ones of these too.

but i had a couple of fish that they certianly could have eaten in there also along with 4 dwarf frogs that they probably could have eaten. im convinced they left these alone because they were introduced early in their life.

the key with these guys is to introduce the smaller fish while the angels are small. if you put the angels in with cardinal tetras when they are baby's they will see them as friends. not be so inclined to view them as a snack when they are large enough to eat them. makes me think of finding nemo and the sharks

you will love the angels if you get them, but they probably need to be in a group of at least 4. they do form a pecking order. if you have 2 or 3 they could end up harrassing eachother.

how big are your serpae tetras?

if the tetras present a threat there is nothing wrong with growing 4 quarter size angels in a 10 gal tank for a couple months. change the water very often, keep the temp high and feed lots of bloodworms. they will get huge in no time. after a while you start to notice them seemingly growing larger every day.

[JAXON777]

Originally Posted by DiscusIt'sWhats4DinneR

How big are your serpae tetras?

Thats the problem I am thinking may be my downfall if I get the angels. The serpaes are probably full grown and the angels I am looking at are their (serpae) size or smaller. The last thing I want to do is get some of these guys and the serpaes shred them. The serpaes dont bother my GBR's but I dont know if that means anything.

[Jerseyfish]

Originally Posted by jaidexl

So basically what you're saying is if the OP plans on keeping the fish for only a few weeks and doesn't plan on growing them any larger than 2 inches then there should be no problem, in your experience. Sound advice.

I appreciate the hostility. I was unaware that when someone posts looking for others thoughts, that I should just give a textbook answer and not put any person experiance in.

What I was saying is that I've seen nearly full size tetras NOT pick on small angels, similair in size to the OP's and i've seen the medidum sized angels have no problem with ottos that were introduced before and after the angels into the tank. Thats my thoughts on the matter, based off what I have and have seen. I referenced my length of experience and size of fish so that I don't come off as misleading. I can't say weither serpea's and angels live in harmony for months and years, and I can't say if a 6" angel will bother ottos or not, since I don't have that kind of backround. At least I would think personal experience is better then stating all angels will kill all ottos and all serpea's will mangle all angels.

In the end, it's probally going to be a matter of personality. What kind of personalitys do you see on your serpeas (and yoyos) now? Do they chase and instigate anything else thats new and recently added to your tank? That might give you a clue as to the nature of those guys interacting with the angels. As for the angels + ottos, that's something only time will tell.

[fishsandwitch]

Originally Posted by jaidexl

Looks like it's a go there Jaxon. Disregard those of us who have angels that actually act and eat like cichlidae, and tetras that actually act like typical characins.

I have angels that dont bother male corydoras hasbrosus... because they dont really share the same swimming space. Same goes with otos.

Perhaps what you meant is disregard everyone who has good experience and listen to one with bad experience?

[jaidexl]

You guys can give any kind of advice you like. If the situation goes south he has you to blame, not me. The opportunity for it to go south is there, you think it depends on fish personality, well fish personality is directly tied into species and their health. If the OP wants to know if it can work, he can listen to you. If he wants to know if it can go wrong he can heed the rest of us. Gambling is fun until you lose.


Further more, I don't see how a person who's only kept juveniles for a few weeks has any business giving advice. But it's a free world, free forum, so all three of us are aloud to say whatever we want in an opinion based thread, un-bunch yourselves and deal with it.

Referring to fish behavior/ requirements etc at juvenile sizes is a form of denial, you should learn to accept them for what they truly are from the get go if you want to be deemed a responsible fish keeper.

Stating that an angelfish won't eat a small fish unless it's starved is ludicrous. The healthiest fish are always on a mission to eat unless they're stressed to the point of floating in one spot all day.

Cories; where did they come into this convo? Are they character witnesses are something? My angelfish don't care what niche their food occupies, if it fits they will gladly stalk it until dead. Never have I seen an angelfish that can fit a full grown cory in their mouth, so I don't understand what worth this point has either.

[CAN_chic]

Ive been reading this thread and I thought I would put my .02 cents in..

I have 4 angels....I had 5 serpaes at the same time as my angels. The angels were twice the size of the serpaes when they were introduced at the same time. They lived harmoniously together for a couple of months, but once the serpaes caught up in size, they turned right against my angels and harassed the crap out of them and almost killed them. All this was in a 46 gallon, and I know I should have expected some tension but I thought "well they will grow up together so it will be ok". Well I was wrong and I got rid of my serpaes because I love my angels.

All in all..in your tank size. I would say it might work with serpaes, and maybe 4-6 angels...however I would cut down the amount of serpaes to perhaps 7-8 in total and keep an eye on things. I would also maybe pick up some angels on the larger side if you are going to put them with your serpaes. I believe that small angels do just as well as larger ones, but with serpaes, id go larger.

As for other tetras, I have lemon and rummy nose tetras with mine, and they have lived happliy ever after for roughly 10 months, no fuss.

As for ottos and/or cories, I dont have those 2 species together so I cant comment on them lol.

Just my experience, but Im no expert, just something to take into consideration

ps- angels rock! I highly recommend them. Your tank would be perfect being a 100g.

[fishsandwitch]

Originally Posted by jaidexl

Never have I seen an angelfish that can fit a full grown cory in their mouth, so I don't understand what worth this point has either.

Then I guess you have never seen a male corydoras hasbrosus?

[JAXON777]

Well I went to the LFS yesterday and they were 5 for 20. So I got them. Only time will tell but so far so good. BTW my serpaes are scaredy cats they swim and hide when I go up to the tank. I will keep everyone posted on this topic. Once again thanks for all the input.

JAX

[JAXON777]

just an update. So far so good!!! I know its only been a week but the angels are doing fine and are pigs... We will see what happens but so far no nipping from the serpaes.

[CAN_chic]

Congrats! I love angels, and Im sure you can already tell that they have quite the personality

Keep us updated with any news!