Angel in the community - please help

[Doozie]

Hello guys,

I have never kept angelfish before but would like to get one for my community tank. The tank is 4 foot (48x18x15) with an external filter and currently stocks:

10 x neon tetra
7 x rummy nose
5 x guppies
4 x albino corys
1 x rainbow shark

Now I am aware that my stocking limit has been reached. However, in the future, if I decided to keep an angelfish - which of these current tankmates could I keep and which would have to go?

Would the rainbow shark become a problem?

any advice would be welcome, thanks.

 

[The Ippster]

angelfish get big, and are aggresive, would probably actually end up killing your current stock, rb shark and corys would be ok though

 

[Knowdafish]

Neons, guppies, and rummy nose would be food for a full size angelfish.

 

[Doozie]

Do you guys subscribe to the idea that a young angel will "grow up" alongside adult neons, and become pals over time?

Or is it just not worth taking the risk?

 

[benzjamin13]

Do you guys subscribe to the idea that a young angel will "grow up" alongside adult neons, and become pals over time?

Or is it just not worth taking the risk?

It usually doesn't work that way. It'll grow up until it's big enough to eat it 98% of the time.

 

[Knowdafish]

Do you guys subscribe to the idea that a young angel will "grow up" alongside adult neons, and become pals over time?

Or is it just not worth taking the risk?

Angelfish eat small, mouth size, "pals"!

 

[Doozie]

If I bought a young small angelfish now, with a view to phasing out my smaller fish over time (say 4-6 months) - do you think this would be ok ?

Would the shark pester the angel?

 

[samk43]

I have angel fish and neon tetra in the same tank my big angel fish that has finished breeding and babies all live together .planted 1mt tank

 

[Doozie]

As I understand it, angels get more protective/aggressive once paired up.

With this in mind, is it ok just to have one angel on its own? Or will it do better in a group?

 

[ryverrat]

The small fish could certainly wind up on the menu for the full size angel. Also my breeding pair reached a 4" body size in just under 6 months, so if you plan to phase out the smaller fish, be prepared to remove them near the 4 month mark (you could get another tank just for them). My breeding pair is aggressive with the female being very aggressive (they have their own 29g). But I do have 2 adult males in a 55g with some smaller catfish and a south american puffer. They don't bother anyone including each other. What type of filter are you using? With more fish or larger fish you will need to think about water quality issues due to overstocking (I overfilter all my tanks, don't always trust the rating on the filter).