Angels With Shoaling Fish

[gforce17]

I'm close to completing the cycling of my new 260L tank and I would appreciate some advice about whether I can have some angel fish with large groups of smaller shoaling fish eg. cardinals. I imagine it wold depend on the species of angel fish but any advice would be really appreciated.

 

[ZoddyZod]

it's feasible, even with neon sized fish.

I keep 6 adult angels with 20+ neon with no bother. The theory goes that if you introduce the small fish first, then introduce the angels as juveniles, then they will grow up with the smaller fish and never see them as food.

HOWEVER - this is not a guarentee of preventing the smaller fish from becoming a snack, just a theory. A theory that is working in practice for me and many others.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Unless you get a bonded pair, you want either one or six Angelfish, perhaps then moving on all but a bonded pair as they mature.

Cardinals do grow a bit bigger and chunkier (plus handle warmer temps better) than Neons (which are prey for Angels in the wild), so if you buy the Angels nice and small having already bought say 40 Cardinals, the tetras should be too big to be eaten as the Angels grow.

 

[Twinklecaz]

and also.... post photos!

 

[Aqua Tom]

They should be fine.

Tom

 

[OldMan47]

Cardinals are about as small as you can go. Adult angels are notorious for eating adult neons.

 

[Squidward]

There is a chance that Neons or Cardinals might get eaten.
I had Bleeding Heart Tetras with my Angels.

 

[gforce17]

Thanks for the advice. Bleeding Hearts are lovely. Typically the advice you get from different sources always conflict. The profile of Bleeding Hearts on Fishlore says to avoid having them with angels because of fin nipping. You'd never keep any fish if you believed everything you read!

 

[deftuch]

Neons and cardinals ate not recomende with angels. I would suggest adult harlequin rasboras and other rasboras. Perhaps rainbow fish too!

Unless you get a bonded pair, you want either one or six Angelfish, perhaps then moving on all but a bonded pair as they mature.

Cardinals do grow a bit bigger and chunkier (plus handle warmer temps better) than Neons (which are prey for Angels in the wild), so if you buy the Angels nice and small having already bought say 40 Cardinals, the tetras should be too big to be eaten as the Angels grow.

good advice apart from angels should never be kept alone. Eventually all angels like to bond. Even sometimes if they have no choice it will be with tha same sex. Which i call mock bonding. Naturally they prefer company.

it's feasible, even with neon sized fish.

I keep 6 adult angels with 20+ neon with no bother. The theory goes that if you introduce the small fish first, then introduce the angels as juveniles, then they will grow up with the smaller fish and never see them as food.

HOWEVER - this is not a guarentee of preventing the smaller fish from becoming a snack, just a theory. A theory that is working in practice for me and many others.

just keep the angels happy and fish well fed works lol