MrsM3197

Hey Everybody, hope you all are having a great day. I've been thinking, and asking a few questions at the LFS I like and a few friends I know that keep fish. Of course I keep getting differing opinions from everyone so I'd like to ask you all, my fishlorian friends, for a general consensus so I can make up my mind.
First of all, and most heavily on my mind is, what do I do about my poor William? I have heard that if I introduce a new female for him then he wouldn't accept her, then I've also heard that all would be well. I'd love to give him a lady friend, but I cried harder than what any grown woman ought to over a fish when I lost Belle. I don't want to deliberately set another female angelfish up for failure. William is still a young fish and I don't think they were tankmates long enough for them to become a mated pair, I am thinking that if I get him a friend about his same size, they'd be fine together. He's finally come out of his shy stage and is starting to develop quite a personality. His pic is on my avitar...finally learning how to use the digital camera.
Also, in another 10 days or so, my boy wants to start putting a few more fish in his tank. He loves the neon tetras, he wants some shrimp, he likes the dwarf gouramis. I really like the idea of adding just a few fish every 2 weeks or more (until capacity) because it seems like when you do it that way it really lets your tank catch up to the new bioload, and your water doesn't do the wierd spikes....and it gives you something to look forward to buying . So, what does he put in next with his cherry barbs? I'm thinking the gouramis last because of that virus they have been prone to. BTW, my son loves the color blue...so any other suggestions of pretty little peaceful fishies are more than welcome.

Barbrella

I'm sorry about your anglefish. I was very attached to mine too.

There's no 100% sure way to tell if angels are males or females without removing them from the water and examining their breeding tubes. Plus, you can't choose mates for them - they have to choose their own - but you might get really lucky and get an angel that is both female and compatible with your male.

Cherry barbs are fine with any other peaceful fish that aren't big enough to eat them.

jdhef

I have a Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami that is a beautiful blue. I believe they are also sometimes sold as Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami's/

Petco sells blue Platty's, at least they have a tank labled as having Blue Plattys but they have never had any the handful of times I went there.

pepetj

Hi MrsM3197:
I openly acknowledge crying over dead fish I felt attached to. I'm mourning the loss of three Red-Salmon Rainbowfish (four if I include one that died while at the LFS) I have had in the last two weeks. This is part of fishkeeping, and the same day the second Rainbow died, my two young Severums (one Green, one Gold) began engaging in mating rituals.

I truly believe that being sensitive and sensible is a strength rather than weakness. I know that Angelfish are difficult to pair-off, in fact, it takes more than being male and female for them, they need to pick their partner. Having said that, I guess that type of info, as much info we share here, are more guidelines than facts. It's true some facts are allready established (like the nitrogen cycle, or some tried-and-true compatibility issues.

Each fish is different, maybe you end up getting a pair, maybe long time friends, or maybe this won't work out at all. You may need several attempts of introducing others angelfish until this works out.

Fact is, you never know until you try. How old is William? How big is he? I'm glad that he has shown improvement in his well-being. Life goes on, give yourself, and William the chance to move on with a new female.

Pepe
Santo Domingo

MrsM3197

Thanks folks, I really appreciate the input.
Barb, I have a lady at my LFS that says she can sex the angels for me. Which is wonderful 'cause even if I knew what to look for, I'm not so sure how I'd go about doing it without damaging the fish.
John, a powder blue gourami sounds lovely! Got a pic so I can show my boy?
Pepe, I am so sorry you lost your rainbows, it truly hurts when we loose the very ones we are trying to create a forever home for. I don't know how old William is, he's about 2 inch minus his fins, so he's not one of the really big angels, yet.
What I've been thinking of doing, was suggested before I got William and Belle together (don't remember at this point who made the suggestion, and I'm way to hot and lazy to look it up). I have a 10 gal that I am wanting to set up as a Q tank/hospital tank. I could buy 3 females, put them in the Q tank and introduce William to them. It won't take me too long to get the Q tank cycled since I already have filter media seeding. William could pick his own friend and my lady at the LFS said that as long as the others are returned in good health she'd buy them back from me. Sound like a plan?

jdhef

I'll have to try to take a picture and post it for you. I just want to add, that the Blue DG is a lot more blue in my tank than he was in the stores tank. He seemed to really color up one he got into his new home.

Barbrella

One of the best pieces of advice on this board is to not trust petstore employees.

If this woman says she can sex immature angelfish, then she can do something no one else can!

Right. The best way people get compatible pairs is to buy 4 - 6 baby angels, then wait until a pair forms. Once that happens you can return the others or find them new homes.

MrsM3197

Thanks Barb. Phewy, back to square 1. I'll get it right sooner or later.