Decisions

[Covert]

Basically i'm going to get a 125 liter (33 us gallon, 27 UK gallon) tank.

At the moment i have 6 neon tetra and 1 guppy.

I have 3 ideas on how to stock the new tank and id like your opinions on them.

Stocking idea 1: Small fish- i think this is a cool idea

The guppy
Neon tetra
Glowlight/bloodfin tetra
Something like dwarf neon rainbowfish/congo tetra
Corydoras

Stocking idea 2: Angelfish- angels are cool

Return the neon tetra and guppy after letting them live in the new tank to mature it a bit (cycled by putting the old filter in new tank), either on the day i buy the angels, or when they start to get big enough to eat them.
1-2 Angelfish
Dwarf neon rainbowfish/congo tetra/some other medium sized fish that wont get eaten
4-6 Corydoras

Stocking idea 3: Hope the Angels dont massicre the neons- that wouldnt be cool
I posted a topic earlier about this, my neons are quite large, and the replies led me to believe this stocking idea MAY work, or i could evacuate the neons if things go wrong.

1-2 Angels
6 Neon tetra
4-6 Corydoras

What do you think of these 3? obviously id have to watch out for overstocking but i am pretty confident i know how to stock. The tank will be quite well planted.

 

[Rex740]

Angels eat neons.

 

[parker313]

I would go with stocking idea 3. If your neons are large and you get young angels, you will be able to keep them together for quite some time before there's really even a potential of a problem. Then, if it starts to be a problem, return the neons and go with stocking idea 2.

 

[dthoffsett]

For what it's worth, I like option 2.

 

[fishwatcher]

Yep, I agree with number 2 the most, but number 3 is a possibility. Just keep a close eye on the neons as the angels grow.

 

[Covert]

Thanks for the replies, i'll talk to my LFS and explain the situation, the guy may be willing to trade the neons for a discount on the angels.

 

[Covert]

My other question: 1 or 2 angels? i know if im unlucky ill get a bully that could kill the other one but with my size tank its awkward because i wouldnt really want to put more than 2.

 

[orange shark]

id go for 2 if you get cool corys!

 

[parker313]

I'd go with 2 angels. Angels, being cichlids, can be a bit unpredictable. Some are peaceful, some are more aggressive and there's just a bit of trial and error sometimes. If your lfs will let you return fish if it's not working out, then go with 2. Aggression to the point of death is very unlikely to happen overnight and you can step in and intervene if the two seem to not be working out.

 

[Covert]

Thanks, i'm still not sure if im willing to part with the neons and go for the larger fish...

The neons look great and i can picture the small peaceful community of neons, glowlights, dwarf rainbowfish, cories. This is probably because i already have neons.

I'm sure a tank with 2 angels, dwarf neon rainbowfish and cories will also look good, but might not be worth the hassle that comes with the larger more aggressive fish.

 

[parker313]

It's really no hassle Just keeping an eye on things, which I know most of us do a lot of anyway

 

[Covert]

When i upgrade the tank i'll see what its like having the neons and guppy in there. Ive noticed my neons dont move all that much probably because of my hard alkaline water, so i may move on to the new species.

If i went for angels how does this sound:

2 Angels
6 Neon rainbowfish
6 Peppered corydoras

 

[parker313]

Sounds good!