Angels ?

[JAXON777]

I have a 100 gallon and the current stock list is

20 serpae tetras
6 yoyo loaches
3 german blue rams
2 flying foxes
11 otto cats

My LFS has quarter size or a little bigger black angels. Would these work ok with what I have in my tank. I was thinking 3 of them. I also have a 10 gallon if I need to grow them out before I put them in. What are you guys thoughts on this.

TIA for the help
JAXON

[Sponsors]

[lauraleellbp]

I think the angels would be fine, and no grow-out tank would be necessary.

As they get large the Oto cats could be at risk; angels have been known to eat small fish that will fit into their mouths. IMO the rest of the fish should be fine, though.

(I also read a report in TFH of an angel having to have an oto cat cut out of its mouth b/c the oto's spines got wedged when the angel tried to eat it. Probably not very likely but it has happened?)

[fishsandwitch]

Angels wont try and eat otos unless they are starved, and if you tryed to grow an angel out in a 10g it would be stunted. 7-9 angels max though I would say for a 100 gallon

[JAXON777]

cool thanks for the help I was kinda worried that the serapes would try and nip the angels

[lauraleellbp]

Actually as a whole adult angels are pretty known to be predatory towards smaller fish, especially at night. As always, individual experiences may vary...

[fishsandwitch]

Angels are predatory, but also venerable to nipping. And serape are not small fish. I would not do quarter size angels with serape they probably will die. Find a breeder and get some bigger ones.

[eden_angelfish]

I am an angel breeder, and I see no problem with quarter size angels in that tank. Angels sometimes get a bad reputation for dying easily, especially when they're nickel size or smaller. I've had all kinds of people see me looking at the angels in a pet store and then walk over and tell me not to ever waste my money on angelfish because they just die--then I find out they're trying to keep them in a 1 gallon tank lol--The key is keeping the water clean, feeding well, and not overstocking. I'd say you could do 4-6 comfortably in your tank for their whole lives. They can live several years (5+ if well cared for), and are very friendly and intelligent. They do sometimes get predatory towards small fish like neon tetras or guppies as they get bigger, but not always. Some people say that if you put the small angels in with the small fish they will grow up together and be less predatory. I haven't tried it. In the wild, angels eat small tetras, so I think it's probably instinctive. They're all different, some are super aggressive--The male in my avatar had to be kept isolated all the time, he killed anything we put in with him, including prospective mates--or they can be really mellow. I think angelfish are a necessity for a large planted tank, they just look right in there to me. But I'm biased...=)

[mgamer20o0]

well i wouldnt put them in the 10 gal to grow out i would to qt like any fish you get in.

angels are easy when you keep them in a good size tank and make sure to get healthy stock to start with.

[Bluebell]

I wouldn't be surprised if the serpaes and yoyos manage to shred the angelfish's fins. Yoyos are a lot more curious than most of us can anticipate and may try to nip the angels.

[Lotsofish]

I have a 100 gallon tank with 5 Angels, 6 Clown loaches, a single yo-yo loach and a single serpae tetra (only one of the batch I bought lived past the first few months)

I also have a 75 gallon tank with German Rams, zebra loaches, black & large neon tetras and a single angel.

The two problems I encountered:
I started with two yo-yo loaches and one (that later jumped from the tank and died) liked to put his feelers on the angels. This seemed to annoy them but they would just swim away.

I started with 7 angels in the 100 gallon and two formed such a pair bond that they would terrorized all the other fish. They are now in their own tank raising fry.

I don't see a problem with your stocking list as long as you realize that there are differences between fish of the same type and some just don't get along as well as others. Also, when breeding--fish become territorial.

[jaidexl]

Serpae + angelfish = mangled angelfish

Angelfish + oto = dead oto

[Jerseyfish]

My girlfriends father has 2 angels in a 55g, each just over quarter size and the 8 serpaes never give them trouble (at least not in the two weeks they have been there). I've got 2 angels in my 72, which are about 2-2.5" body and they haven't bothered the ottos in the tank at all. That's both the ottos that were there before AND the ones that came after the angels.

Just my experience, I'd go ahead and get yourself some. I'd guess four-six in your tank, as was already suggested.

[JAXON777]

If I get some and thats a big IF. I will probably get 4 of these little black boogers at my LFS. Its either that or about another 30 or so serpaes... I will keep you guys posted and will provide pics if I get the Black Angels

[Bugman]

Angels are one of my favorite fish. Mine are in with ottos and I have not had a problem at all. But I would agree that each angel is different in temperment. I put my ottos in after the angels were full grown.

[jaidexl]

Originally Posted by Jerseyfish

My girlfriends father has 2 angels in a 55g, each just over quarter size and the 8 serpaes never give them trouble (at least not in the two weeks they have been there). I've got 2 angels in my 72, which are about 2-2.5" body and they haven't bothered the ottos in the tank at all. That's both the ottos that were there before AND the ones that came after the angels.

Just my experience, I'd go ahead and get yourself some. I'd guess four-six in your tank, as was already suggested.

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.