Kinda Rethinking...

[Bebobb]

Hey, as some of you guys know, I have a 40 gallon that I just picked up last night. The dimensions of it are 36"x17"x18". I just kind of got to thinking about some things... I know that I want 1 angelfish. The person I got the tank from is a breeder of angelfish, and they offered to give me a platinum for free. So what are some generally peaceful cichlids that could go with an angel in my tank? I don't want anything super small. Something preferably avove 4". Thanks!

 

[fish_tank0311]

Not sure if you wanted to know, but you dont HAVE to have cichlids as tankmates for angels. I have 3 dwarf gouramis, and a scissor tail with my 4 angels. Dont have ANY knowledge about tankmates cichlid wise though. Sorry. I just to be honest prefer planted tanks, and with 99% of cichlids, well planted aquariums, soon become a mess.

 

[VaegaVic]

Ideally, dwarf cichlids.
In my personal experience, angels very rarely get on with other fish unless they have masses of space.
Since angels spend majority of their time in the middle levels of the tank, anything above, e.g. small tetras, are seen as food (unless the angel is bought really small).

I would consider going for some dwarf cichlids, or gouramis (to a certain extent), anything that can match the angel for aggressiveness when the time comes.

E.g. Agassizi's, Cockatoo or Kribs.

I've always found that having an angel really limits you to what you can have, so I tend not to have them.

However, I could just be having unusually aggressive angels, some I hear, are blissfully peaceful.

 

[Bebobb]

I use fake plants, so I'm not that worried about it. And I know that I don't have to have cichlids as tank mates. But I kind of prefer larger fish. I have been looking into some Gymnogeophagus. I think that they are called earth eaters... But I read that they need a "cool-down" period, and I don't think that I would be too well at mimicing that, so I think that I should stay away from them.

 

[fish_tank0311]

Ideally, dwarf cichlids.
In my personal experience, angels very rarely get on with other fish unless they have masses of space.
Since angels spend majority of their time in the middle levels of the tank, anything above, e.g. small tetras, are seen as food (unless the angel is bought really small).

I would consider going for some dwarf cichlids, or gouramis (to a certain extent), anything that can match the angel for aggressiveness when the time comes.

E.g. Agassizi's, Cockatoo or Kribs.

I've always found that having an angel really limits you to what you can have, so I tend not to have them.

However, I could just be having unusually aggressive angels, some I hear, are blissfully peaceful.

Well, I have 4 angels, and they are probably at the teenager type age right now, and usually they are fine, and their only in a 20gallon so they are a liiiitle bit cooped up, i guess, but im moving them soonish. I also have heard that some are very nice, and keep their mouths to themselves, i spose mine are in between. They are sometimes chasing each other, just saying "go away!" i guess, but they never have an actual fight with each other or any other fish.

 

[VaegaVic]

Ideally, dwarf cichlids.
In my personal experience, angels very rarely get on with other fish unless they have masses of space.
Since angels spend majority of their time in the middle levels of the tank, anything above, e.g. small tetras, are seen as food (unless the angel is bought really small).

I would consider going for some dwarf cichlids, or gouramis (to a certain extent), anything that can match the angel for aggressiveness when the time comes.

E.g. Agassizi's, Cockatoo or Kribs.

I've always found that having an angel really limits you to what you can have, so I tend not to have them.

However, I could just be having unusually aggressive angels, some I hear, are blissfully peaceful.

Well, I have 4 angels, and they are probably at the teenager type age right now, and usually they are fine, and their only in a 20gallon so they are a liiiitle bit cooped up, i guess, but im moving them soonish. I also have heard that some are very nice, and keep their mouths to themselves, i spose mine are in between. They are sometimes chasing each other, just saying "go away!" i guess, but they never have an actual fight with each other or any other fish.

I'd watch out for that, angels can easily pair and then at a sudden twitch, unpair again and attack each other.
In my opinion, angels are more trouble than they are actually worth. Sure they're pretty, but I just don't like them.

 

[Bebobb]

I think i will stick with my original stocking plans, then. It would be a lot eaiser!

 

[minxfishy]

In a 40g, you could have some bolivian or german blue rams with them, they often do well together, bolivian being the hardier species or a trio of apistogramma. Another that could work would be keyhole's

 

[Bebobb]

My original plan is to have 2 keyholes in with the angel.

 

[Bebobb]

What about a pike cichlid? Is there any type of pike cichlid that might be able to go with an angel?

 

[minxfishy]

Dwarf pike possibly, but most are too aggressive and grow too large for a 40g.

 

[Wills]

Dwarf Pikes could work C.Regini only gets to 3 inches but it would limit which non cichlids you could have as they are pretty predatory. Ive seen them mixed a few times though. There are 3 dwarf pikes that are commonly seen and put in carefully selected community tanks, C.Regini C.Compreciseps and one I cant remember that starts with an N I want to say something like nostroheros? But I think its wrong.

If you want a really natural biotope though you could go for pikes and apistos. In the wild a lot of dwarf pikes diet is Apisto fry! I really want to say for for 1 Angel, 3 Apisto (1m 2f) and 1 Pike but I think it might be over load.

I think if it were me I would get 5 Angels from the breeder let them pair off take away the other 3 and get a dwarf pike. Mix it with some larger cories and some round tetras like flame or black widow or maybe pencil fish.

Wills

 

[Bebobb]

I don't think I will go with the pikes... I'm thinking about removing the keyholes, and adding 3 apistogramma instead, I think that it would be better. How does this stocking sound?

1 Angelfish
3 Apistogramma
8 Sterbai Cory
3 Guppys

Would I encounter any problems with them? One of the reasons I chose the guppys is so that when they breed, my Apistogramma and Angel will have a bit of a snack.

 

[Wills]

Guppies and Angels sometimes a bit hit and miss. I would think if your angel wants a snack the apisto fry will be on the menu also just get live food instead of guppy fry. Personally I would swap the guppies for a school of some tetras.

 

[Bebobb]

I would kind of like to have a livebearer in the tank. How about sword tails and angels? Oh, and would danios nip on the angels fins?