Angelfish Killer?

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Dego510

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Apr 26, 2009
93
7
38
Addison, IL
I have a 125G tank with 5 WC Geophagus Red Head Tapajos, 4 Electric Blue Acara, and 8 Roseline Sharks. 3 weeks ago I added 4 Koi Angelfish. First 3 days were fine, but then lost one Angelfish and the other 3 had damaged fins. I took the remaining 3 and put them in a hospital tank for 2 weeks in which they healed up nicely. Put them back in the main tank yesterday and then were fine during the day. No one showed any aggression during the day. Wake up this morning and all 3 are dead. Fins were torn up but I don't know if it happened after they were already dead.

My question is who do you think would have killed them overnight?
 
I forgot to add . . . there's also a 1" bristlenose pleco. Since that's the only fish awake at night, could that be the aggressor?
 
I'm pretty sure one tiny pleco couldn't bully three fish to death in the space of a few hours....

Sounds to me like a water parameter issue.
 
I don't think water parameters would cause the angel's fins to be torn up like the first time (before I put them in the hospital tank).
 
Dego510 said:
I have a 125G tank with 5 WC Geophagus Red Head Tapajos, 4 Electric Blue Acara, and 8 Roseline Sharks. 3 weeks ago I added 4 Koi Angelfish. First 3 days were fine, but then lost one Angelfish and the other 3 had damaged fins. I took the remaining 3 and put them in a hospital tank for 2 weeks in which they healed up nicely. Put them back in the main tank yesterday and then were fine during the day. No one showed any aggression during the day. Wake up this morning and all 3 are dead. Fins were torn up but I don't know if it happened after they were already dead.

My question is who do you think would have killed them overnight?
Click to expand...

I personally think it was the EBA OR Redhead Tapojos.
 
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ryansmith83 said:
It's the acaras. Mine ate and killed an adult pair of angels.
Click to expand...

Did you witness your EBA's attack or bother the Angelfish? I kept a close eye on the EBA while the lights were on and they didn't seem to even go near the Angels. Maybe they did their damage in the dark or around sunrise . . . before the Angels were fully awake.
 
Like ryan said it is most likely the acaras. The nipped fins could have been any of your fish species, but it's unlikely the shark and geo would bully them to death. Also if you have some structure in the tank, and still want to add angelfish, try moving the stuff around right after a WC and then put the angels in ASAP.

Never had EBAs but I heard they tend to be too overly aggressive towards Discus and Angel fish, although they can be kept with adult Discus and Angels.
 
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The Acara's are always a gamble, they are usually more laid back then your classic Blue Avatar. But as mentioned above I've seen them get pretty nasty and nippy. All your fish are fairly laid back, however besides the pleco. They are all Cichlids and with any cichlid, and I mean any. It's always a gamble throwing them together just gotta try to keep an eye on them and see what happens. I'd also check water parameters with the extra stress your water could get jacked.
 
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