Help with my 46g

[parker313]

I have 6 rainbowfish and 2 angels (and 10 cories, but they don't bother anyone). At first, everything was just fine - the angels were a bit shy for the first 24 hrs or so but then came out and were real characters. However, the past couple of days, they've been hiding almost non stop but they do come out for food. This morning I noticed that when one of the angels was out, a couple of the rainbows kinda chased it around. I don't think they mean anything bad by it, but are just playing chase, like they do with each other. BUT, I also noticed that one of my angels has much shorter "feelers" and ventral fin. They aren't ragged, but are definitely shorter than the other angel.

I really love my rainbowfish and my angels and would like to keep them if possible. I was thinking that a solution might be to add a school of smaller fish - I know neons and other shaped/sized fish would be out b/c they could be dinner for the angels. I was thinking maybe harlequin rasboras, serpae tetras or even zebra danios.

Do you think adding a school of dither fish would help distract the rainbows from the angels?

Thanks!
--Kristin

 

[parker313]

Hmmm.... I just realized the zebra danios would probably be too nippy....

 

[David]

It is normal for some angels to have smaller ventral fins than others: in my old breeding pair (that I gave away) the male's ventrals where about 50% longer than the female's.

 

[parker313]

Thanks David, but I am sure that unless they shrank spontaneously, something happened to the ventral fin and "feelers" b/c when I first got them, they both had long ventral fins.....

It's just making me sick, these angels are so gorgeous and I hate seeing them so timid when they weren't before

ETA - You can see in my avatar pic that they had ventral fins and "feelers" the same length previously...

 

[David]

Ah... in that case there's something wrong. My angels were like that from the start. I find it strange that the angels let themselves be bullied... they can usually hold their own against almost anything. I would suggest dividing the tank for a while and treating with melafix, at least until they get their strength back.

 

[parker313]

Thanks David, I'll see what I can do about getting my hands on a divider

Does anyone have any input as to whether some dither fish would work as a long term solution? I'm leaning towards the serpae tetra since I love their markings, they only get to 2" and are "round" enough not to be an angel snack.

 

[David]

Hmm. I don't think a dither fish would be the best solution in this situation, as rainbows are not naturally aggressive fish. I think they target the angels because they are slower. They would completely ignore the tetras, IMO. Dithers are used for large aggressive cichlids usually. However, if the tetras are part of your final plan? why not try a few, it could work. Good luck.

 

[parker313]

Thanks David