Dark_Rider2k3

So I think most of you are familiar with my 55gal.. but if not for a while I was fighting a situation where my fish were either sick or disappearing.. well.. I figured out why.

I was always curious as to why my banjo catfish and Angelfish were never sick.. they were always strong and healthy..

well, I can't explain why my mollies got so sick 6 months ago.. but I can explain the others.. if you don't know, my other fish were:

6x White Cloud minnow
6x Cherry Barb
6x Guppies
6x Otocinclus
3x Mollies

Well.. I met a kid with an overstocked tank.. I told him and he immediately wanted to correct the problem.. so he kindly offered if I would take some neon tetras off him.. BAD IDEA..

the poor neons stood no chance against their predator which I did not know was their main predator until tonight.

But it made me realize none of my fish were getting sick.. they were being eaten!

I realized that my Angelfish grew to the point where he was eating all the smaller fish..


So, I come to you for advice. Right now my tank has the following:

1x Angelfish
1x Otocinclus
6x Spotted Corydoras

It is a 55 gallon, still a lightly plated tank (Eco Complete substrate, low level lighting, a piece of driftwood, some java moss, hornwort, and 2 sticks of bamboo)

Now, as you can see, it's VERY understocked.. mainly due to my now finding out about my angel fish eating the others (I was so busy with school, work, and my car that the time I have with my fish hasn't really let me see him eat them.. =( ).

So, any suggestions of compatible fish for an Angel fish?

I do want something similar to the tetras.. a schooling kind of fish.. but one that my angel cannot eat.

Thanks everyone!!!!

eiginh

Your angel fish ate cherry barbs, otos, and mollies? That's not possible! Is it? Those guys are at least 2 inches or more!

Here's a possibility list but you still need to do research!

Congo Tetra, Diamond Tetra, Serpae Tetra, Silver Dollar, Silver Tip Tetra. I got this matches from here http://www.tropicalfishandaquariums....ameResults.php. Though the list stated mollys so I really suggest you do research and make sure they are at least 3 inches or more.

Dark_Rider2k3

nono definitely NOT mollies..

and now that I think about it... the Cherry Barbs were pretty large too... but really this tank has had strange things happen to it.. like.. my 30gal has always been a strong tank.. but my 55 will have strange things happen..

but I do think that the Angel fish ate the guppies and white clouds..


I just honestly can't explain. I always check my water parameters, keep that log going.. and one time I thought it was my test kit.. but a friend's kit showed the same results =/.

So the only explanation I have is that they are either being picked on and dying, or being eaten..

edit:

And thanks for that site!! VERY useful! I am really liking the serpae tetra and think my LFS will have 'em.

Might go for them, get them acclimated.. then in 2 weeks stock a little more.

eiginh

Do you have any plants, decor? How often do you do w/cs

Dark_Rider2k3

Yeah I have some Java moss, Hornwort, Bamboo, and a large piece of driftwood.

and what's CS? lol

eiginh

Oh I forgot you put that LOL.

w/cs = water changes, not sure if they have WC in FL dictionary but I hope they add it!

Dark_Rider2k3

that's the first place i looked and I didn't see it. But I also didn't notice the w/.. I only read CS and now w/cs.

But I do weekly water changes.. 1 water change a week..

though I don't think I do 20% water.. i think i do slightly less (it's a pain to get all that water dumped and replaced haha)

edit:

and just noticed Elmer's is having a sale on Serpae Tetras! lucky me =)

eiginh

Good luck with them! Btw if you can get your hands on the Python gravel vac it would make your life way easier! That's if your tank is close to a faucet.

Dark_Rider2k3

lol my tank is 1 floor up from a faucet... so no

eiginh

They have 50 feet hose connectors, I'm sure that'll stretch it out. Trust me it beats using buckets unless you like the workout.

Dark_Rider2k3

I'll have to look into that for sure.

Btw, here is my current stock for my 55:

1x Angelfish
1x Banjo Catfish
4x Spotted Corydoras
6x Rosy Barb
6x Serpae Tetras

Any suggestions to compliment this? I must say I really love the rosy barbs They look amazing (not that my others don't haha)

eiginh

Plants!! They will make the fish pop out more

Jaysee

I'd add 3-5 more serpaes and 2-4 more corys.

As for what else.... another angel? Hatchets? Dwarf rainbows?

hazeymom

I have to agree with Jaysee's advice to add 3-5 more serpaes.

Serpaes are beautiful, but they can be fin nippers. I have only had mine for a short time, but I did lot of research before I got them, and read that if you don't have a large enough school they will nip other fish's fins. If the school is big enough they will most likely keep to themselves and not bother everyone else.

Blub

Hi

I've got to say you've had a lot of great advice so far! If you are really worried about angel guzzling Serpaes - I would go with something a bit bigger like Bleeding Heart Tetras or Congo Tetras. Rosy barbs might also eat the little serpaes when full grown - as they grow to around 6".

I would like to respectfully disagree with Jaysee asbout hatchets; in my experience they are fragile fish that can easily get knocked about, stressed out and out competed for food by large and boisterous tankmates like Angels and Rosy barbs.

I think that list sounds pretty good though. Whilst I would personally be very cautious with Serpaes and Rosys/Murderous Angels it might work if the rosys grow up with the Serpaes.

Good luck!