hvhoward

I bought a 55 gallon tank and stand from a woman on Craiglist at the beginning of February that came with the following fish (I'm not 100% on all but the Angels and plecos, but looked at quite a few websites and this is what I think they are)

2 Angelfish who are said to have spawned before
2 plecos one is rather large and the other is smaller
1 red/black platy
1 golden sailfin molly
1 glowlight tetra
1 zebra danio
3 gold skirt tetras
1 long finned black tetra
1 white finned tetra
1 black neon tetra

I'm running into a few problems.
The zebra danio and the glowlight tetra are really nippy.

The male angelfish also is really nippy at the female and always keeps her in the corner in the plants. He usually only lets her out when its darker in the room or when its food time. I don't know if this is because he wants to breed with her or if he feels threatened by the other fish.

I'm thinking about thinning out the crowd and am looking for suggestions. I realize that most of the smaller fish are community fish and should have a couple buddies around and that might be why they're freaking out.

I'm definitely going to get rid of the zebra danio and the glowlight tetra and one, if not both of the plecos. If I get rid of both plecos I was thinking about getting a couple small catfish.

What else should I get rid of? Do the black/gold skirt tetras typically get along with Angelfish? Should I get rid of all of the little fish and just keep it an Angelfish tank?

I do have pictures, but I am at work and don' t have access to a computer with a card reader.


I also have a question about Bloodworms...I bought a package of frozen bloodworms and gave them one capsule/packet worth last night but then read about canallanus (sp?) worms. Should I worry about this? Should I stop feeding them this and just continue feeding them flake?

I'm sorry I'm such a n00b about some of this stuff.

AlyeskaGirl

Welcome to FishLore!

Don't use Stress Zyme because it has the wrong kind of bacteria....it eats up the ammonia....and you have to use it for the life of the tank. Do you know your readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

Both the Zebra and Glowlight are schooling fish. You need at least 5 more of each for them to be happy and they will stop nipping. ALL Tetras and Danios are schooling fish.

I have Angels but not sure on what to tell you what to do. As long as the one that is getting bullied is getting food then don't worry too much...just keep an eye on them....that it's not getting too bad with the bullying.

Yup, you got it! At least 5 to make 6 Danios and 6 Glowlights.

School of Cory catfish or 3 Pictus catfish.

Again, they are schooling fish.....I don't care for Black Skirt Tetras because they are a nippy Tetra...and so active....especially with Angelfish in there with long flowing fins. How big are the Angels? Angels food in the wild are Neon Tetras. If you raise the Angels from babys with the smaller Tetras they wont bother them when the growup. Angles get up to 6".

I deff get rid of the plecos if they are the common plecos that get huge....up to 18" and a 55gal is too small for them and they are huge waste producers.

No they are fine. You need to feed your fish a variety of foods for good color and health...such as flake food, frozen brine shrimp, frozen bloodworms, freeze/dried bloodworms for a treat...sinking algae wafers for your bottom dwellers like Corys and Plecos. After feeding them a good diet you will notice more color especially on your Tetras.

I don't know anything about platys or mollys.

Don't worry about it....just research and ask questions.

Bad Wolf

well the skirt tetras are ussually hosed together at the two petshops i go to and i have had skirt tetras with angels before. they should be fine if kept in a school of at least 4 (but more is better), but if there is only a single specimen they will either fin nip other tank mates or get really stressed out and might not eat.

aquarist48

Welcome to Fish Lore.

agabr123

just wanted to say welcome! great advice from alyeskagirl!

hvhoward

Thanks for the responses and welcomes. I will check my nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia levels when I get home. I'll admit I haven't checked them in about a week However, I do change some of the water/vaccumm the gravel every weekend. I will also stop using Stress Zyme.

The angels are fairly large...my best estimate would be that they are about 4 inches...plus their loong fins. I will definitely get rid of the plecos and some of the little single fish. I added a few new plants over the weekend as well and the skirt tetras seem to be quite a bit happier than they were before.