Angelfish And Tetra's...

[PaulEbs]

hey,

i've just been browsing the different topics, and the beginners do's and don't section, and came across a Don't that says..

Don't put neons with angelfish, as they are their prey in the wild??

i think this is a little far fetched isn't it? seeing as the angelfish we have in our aquariums and all they're parents before them have lived on flakes and frozen food etc. Surely this has been weened out centuries ago?

i have 7 neons in a tank with an angelfish pair.. the funny thing is that when ready to spawn, they angelfish chase pretty much every fish in thetank, except the neons.. who are allowed [as they are small] to carry on with their daily tasks.

I think this bit of advice should be revised...?

 

[Bloo]

There are exceptions - and your pair seems to be one of them In general, it's not a good mix.

 

[Ginge]

Bloo is right there are expectations also i think it can very with the type of tetras.

 

[KathyM]

Tetras are a diverse family of fish ranging from tiny neons to much larger fish, so I don't see keeping angels and tetras together as a problem dependant on size etc. Mine are young but live in with BWs and penguins, and to be honest, the tetras are more likely to bully our angels than the other way round.

Edited to add: I've seen a pic of a lovely setup on another board with large angels and neons living very happily together.

 

[Bloo]

I think there's a slight misunderstanding. Though neons are tetras, the tetra family is huge - and that "guideline" (about neons) does not apply to tetras in general. It applies specifically to neon tetras and cardinals.

And though Paul's title says "tetras" he then goes on to speak about neons specifically.

 

[PaulEbs]

yup, bloo's right, should have put neons on the title doh.

 

[KathyM]

I get the neons bit because of size, but why cardinals and not other similar sized species then?

I realise the article says specifically neons and cardinals, but the title said tetras and others had replied about tetras in general too, so I gave my two penneth *lol*.

 

[PaulEbs]

heh heh.

usually angels in the wild live in murky, cloudy waters don't they? so maybe they eat the neons because they're bright and easy to spot? just an idea...

 

[TwoTankAmin]

It is a size issue when they get eaten. If you start with big angels and small neons (or any other smaller fish including fry), then the angels will dine. However, neon and cards, when grown, are too big for angels to eat. If you wish to keep them together simply be sure to start them at relative sizes that prevent this.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yeah I had angels and neon tetra's in together, but the tetra's were fully grown by the time the angel moved there (had nowhere else for him to go, but he's been re-homed now) so maybe that stopped him eating them

 

[Tolak]

If it fits in an angel's mouth, it will be looked at as food. Angels can open their mouths larger than you think. Being New World cichlids, they may try to eat it even if it is a little too big for their mouth.

Angels weren't being captivly kept until the early 1900's; http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/breedi...sh_History.html

The only ones being bred until the 50's were silvers; http/theangelfishsociety.org/articles/no...r_norton(1).htm

Many larger breeders will outbreed a strain to the F1s of wild caught angels. This strengthens the genetics, making for a better fish. There may be more wild blood in your angels than you think.

 

[Marcos]

Mine are another exception. My two angels live very happily with eight neon tetras and baby platty's (smaller than the tetras) and haven't touched either.

 

[BigIan]

i had a pregnant molly who gave birth in the tank with angels, the babys were all eaten by the time i woke up.

angels have wide and varied temraments from peacefull fish that won`t hurt a fly to vicious barstewards who beat the livingf poo out of anything that annoys them, it all depends on the individual fish