Angelfish

[cuticom]

I'm looking at stocking my 55g, as much as I love oscars they don't seem to like me, one choked to death on a piece of gravel, the second jumped out of a miniscule hole.

Anyway I'm left with a baby blue acara and a rainbow shark. I can move both from the tank if needed, though I'd rather not. I've been looking at Angels, there gorgeous fish, but it seems they'll breed pretty relentlessly? I definitely don't want fry, I have nowhere to put them and no where to sell them, and I highly doubt even my fatso eels could eat that many fry, besides I already breed guppies for feeders. But if I got 4-5 angels, if I got a pair whats likely to happen? will they beat everything in the tank up? and then proceed to overstock my tank?

LOl thanks
Emma

 

[Tolak]

Angels that parent raise the fry aren't that common, and almost unheard of in a community tank. If you get a pair & they spawn, pull out the object they spawned on, and rinse the eggs off in the sink. Angels are unpredictable as far as aggression goes, you could get one really aggressive one out of the group who tears up other fish without being part of a pair. You could also have a couple of pairs who are more peaceful, and spawn at one end of the tank, and only act aggressive towards fish who enter the far end. Keep a divider handy, this is something anyone keeping more than one cichlid in a tank should have.

I've experienced both, have kept multiple pairs in a 55 who are compatable, had individuals who are just terrors to anything resembling an angel in the tank, and sometimes to angels in tanks next to its own. Most seem happy to take up about 1/3 of a 55 when spawning, and are only aggressive when another fish enters their territory. Many only defend that territory when actually spawning or hatching a spawn, so removing the spawn gives them no reason to defend their territory. It helps to arrange the decorations as a sort of natural divider, angels key their territory off of objects in the tank. When I'm working on getting a pair I'll arrange decorations with 1/3 at either end, this gives them a spawning area, and the last 1/3 in the middle as a divider.

 

[cuticom]

Okay, so would this be possible? in the 55

1 x acara
1 x rainbow shark
2 x angelfish
1 x convict

I can go down to one angel and find something else probably. I know most people say acaras get to 8 inch, but I've only found one instance of that happening, it seems they usually stay around 6 inch, so that would be 4-5 6 inch fish, then maybe another sort of bottom dweller too.

I don't really know that much about angels temperaments, or cons when their not in a breeding pair, but I was thinking of doing the above, adding another 6 inch cichlid (not sure what) and maybe a small bottom dweller

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Okay, so would this be possible? in the 55

1 x acara
1 x rainbow shark
2 x angelfish
1 x convict

I can go down to one angel and find something else probably. I know most people say acaras get to 8 inch, but I've only found one instance of that happening, it seems they usually stay around 6 inch, so that would be 4-5 6 inch fish, then maybe another sort of bottom dweller too.

I don't really know that much about angels temperaments, or cons when their not in a breeding pair, but I was thinking of doing the above, adding another 6 inch cichlid (not sure what) and maybe a small bottom dweller

As I stated earlier it really isn't an acara, it's some type of hybrid. The shark may also get a little nippy with the angel, so it may not be a good mix...

 

[cuticom]

As I said, I'm certain it is an acara, I doubt there are any absolutely pure strains existing, but it isn't a hybrid either. I spent a lot of time making absolutely sure she was an acara, because the store also sold green terrors, and yes she is.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

As I said, I'm certain it is an acara, I doubt there are any absolutely pure strains existing, but it isn't a hybrid either. I spent a lot of time making absolutely sure she was an acara, because the store also sold green terrors, and yes she is.

Okay, lets get some more experinced members to take a look, I am 100 percent sure it's a hybrid. Anyways, even if it was, my small Acara shreaded both my angels... http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=204890

As I said, I'm certain it is an acara, I doubt there are any absolutely pure strains existing, but it isn't a hybrid either. I spent a lot of time making absolutely sure she was an acara, because the store also sold green terrors, and yes she is.

Also, the pointed Dorsal fin of the fish makes me believe it is a male. Have you seen a female breeding tube come out of her?

 

[cuticom]

I don't know if its a him/her I call her a she since I named her Morgan Le Fey.

Oh and she does have orange on her dorsal fin, quite a broad line actually, you cant see it because of the orange wall behind.

Those pictures were just snaps, they don't show her true colours, I'm no good with cameras and since her tank is in a dark corner its really hard to get anything close to the right colours, She's only 4.5cm long (less then 2 inch).

Look I know your just trying to help, but I'm 100% certain shes a blue acara.

Looks like Angels are scratched, then ah well, will keep looking for other cichlids

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Well, with all Cichlids the temperament vary upon fish. I have been told from someone before that Blue Acaras can mix well with Discus (which I highly disagreed on anyways) But hey if you have a divider, and can bare with re-homing (either Acara or Angelfish) if things get bad, then I would say try it.

 

[cuticom]

Sadly rehomings not an option, I live too far out from petstores and they rarely if ever take fish back, unless its worth reselling (ie adult 12 inch cichlids)

So on my list so far I have
1 x convict
1 x blue acara
1 x firemouth
1 x rainbow shark

I'd like to add two more of something, I'm not brave enough to have more then one con LOL. Any ideas?

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Hmm... possibly a Severum although there is a chance he may get a little beaten up. Festivum, but he may also be at risk. Possibly a Parrot fish?

 

[cuticom]

Parrots aren't stocked around here, the LFS owners have their own standards and I'm sure they'd commit suicide before they stocked a hybrid or dyed fish LOL.

If I got a severum, wouldnt that mean I'd just have to have the sev and acara? I was under the impression they were rather big fish

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Parrots aren't stocked around here, the LFS owners have their own standards and I'm sure they'd commit suicide before they stocked a hybrid or dyed fish LOL.

If I got a severum, wouldnt that mean I'd just have to have the sev and acara? I was under the impression they were rather big fish

I think they max out at around 8 inches (smaller then an Oscar, and same as an Acara)

 

[cuticom]

Just talking to a guy on another forum and heres the list I have so far

2 x female convicts (might drop that to one) max at 5-6"
1 x blue acara max at 8", generally 6"
1 x rainbow shark 5"
1 x Yellow lab 6"

Bit iffy on the yellow lab, though it seems it might work. Before people start screaming about water parameters, the LFS keeps them in the same water as other fish, and they were born in the same water as all the other fish, so I can't see how changing it would do anything. I might get a firemouth instead of the yellow lab though, not too sure, the yellow lab would definitely add colour.

 

[cuticom]

Soooo yellow labs are out, too expensive and my LFS doesnt stock the convicts I want, nor do they stock firemouths. But I just found a listing from a guy in Maitland with fish,
http/www.petlink.com.au/Classifieds/sale/625573.html

I was thinking I'd get the keyhole, 2 firemouths and 1 or both convicts (depends on whether or not their a mated pair, if they are, I'll only take one) I know that would mean the tank may end up overstocked, but I have spare tanks the Keyhole and/or convicts could move to

I found a link, second post down, listing them as being compatible
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=81317

Just wanted to double check that?

Thanks
Emma

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Thats sounds okay. Oh and BTW Yellow Labs are not to be mixed with the Cichlids you mentioned, who ever told you that was feeding you garbage.