Help On Tankmate Compatability

[koinukun]

Hello everyone!
This is my first time posting on your forum! ^^
I have a few questions that I was wondering if anyone could help me with. I've just set up my first aquarium, a 155L tank and need some advice on what fish I should put in. I'm going for a fishless cycle and am pretty confident as to how to do that but once that is completed I'm not sure which fish to go for. I have quite a few plants in it from Java fern to Amazon sword and some others, with a dark natural substrate with driftwood and rocks. My pH is around 6.2-6.5.

I wanted easy beginner fish but ones that are attractive and/or fun to watch as well as a centerpiece fish.
After a lot of research, this is what I think I would like to have;
- about 6 Bronze Corydoras Catfish
- 6-7 Black Skirt or Black Phantom Tetra
- 1 Angelfish

Now I need some advise on whether or not having the Angelfish would pose any problems to the other fish?

Would either of the two different kinds of Tetras be nippy to the Angelfish fins? I really wanted a pretty centerpiece fish and thought of an Angel because my partner really loves them. I was also thinking of a M/F/F trio of Pearl Gourami, what do you think would be better for a newbie?

Also, how would Harlequin Rasboras go instead of the Tetras, I've heard mixed reviews on them saying they're either very hardy or quite water sensitive.

Thanks very much in advance for any input you guys can give!

koinukun~

 

[BigC]

Angelfish are nice fish but my restrict you as to what species you can add in the future. Buy them small to begin with (2")
For other inhabitants
Marbled Hatchets for the surface.
Black Phantom Tetras (much niceer than Black Widows/Skirts)
Large shoal of Cardinal Tetra (should be fine when brought up with the Angels) they look stunning in larger shoals.
Try a small group of barbs like the golden (Puntius sachsii) to add a different colour.
and as you suggest a group of Corydoras on the substrate, there are more interesting ones than the Common Bronze.
Regards
BigC

 

[jennybugs]

Some nice suggestions from BigC

You'll gets lots of differences in opinion, but here's my thoughts for you...

Bronze corys are great starter corys and hardy characters for a newly cycled set up.
Black Phantom tetra are great display tetra but you must get more females than males for less aggression in the group. I found that one out the hard way and a fair few of my boys ended up with shredded finnage. Phantoms are also reknowned fin nippers so that could be an issue with an angel fish which can also be aggressive.
Rummy nose tetra are stunning in a shoal and very colourful as are lemon tetra. Cardinals are superb too but like a bit of a mature tank of say 3 months old plus.
Harlequin rasbora are nice but make a point to look at the Hengels Rasbora too...just a touch more orange in them to make them more colourful.
Marbled Hatchetfish are nice fish for the upper surface as long as you have a good tight lid...they really can fly you know!
Gourami are great as a centrepiece but I don't know how compatible they are with angelfish.

Hope that helps a bit

 

[bike_riding_cichlid]

I f you keep angels Bolivian rams could go with them all they need is soft water. Also intead of phantoms or skirts you could put serpae tetras in. They left my angels alone.

 

[koinukun]

Yay! Thanks for the great advice guys!

I'll certainly look into the suggestions you made! Also, I went to the LFS the other day and saw some Yoyo Loaches that looked fantastic! I did some research on the but didn't come up with much, anyone ever had them or know anything about them? Do you think they'd be okay for a beginner and a community tank?

Thanks again for the help!

koinukun~

 

[Hollymolly4]

Hi! I have a polkadot loach and they are similar. I've had no problems with him and I really enjoy watching him swim around. Doesn't bother any of the other fish. But they do best in groups of 3 or more.
Good luck with the Angel, I'm planning to get one also.

 

[Matt_northants]

If you like corys check out C. Sterbai, they look amazing and they can be kept with Angels or Discus as they can take the higher temp.

 

[mariac1973]

Hi, we were told not to get angel fish cos we had black neon and flame tetras, and the angel fish might eat them when they get bigger. Also we have 2 Bolivian rams in a hard water tank and they are perfectly happy.

 

[Matt_northants]

Hi, we were told not to get angel fish cos we had black neon and flame tetras, and the angel fish might eat them when they get bigger. Also we have 2 Bolivian rams in a hard water tank and they are perfectly happy.

The only time my Angels become aggresive is when they have a brood, and then only when other fish get too close. As long as you put smaller fish in the tank before them, then they're fine.

 

[Topazlizz]

Hi, we were told not to get angel fish cos we had black neon and flame tetras, and the angel fish might eat them when they get bigger. Also we have 2 Bolivian rams in a hard water tank and they are perfectly happy.

The only time my Angels become aggresive is when they have a brood, and then only when other fish get too close. As long as you put smaller fish in the tank before them, then they're fine.

I've kept neon tetras with Angels, but they're definitely a favourite food if they're small enough to swallow. Angel mouths aren't that big though, so if you get small Angels and bigger neons you'll be fine. Don't recommend the other tetras on your list, they nip fins. Golden or coral barbs are better, and yes - do get a yoyo loach! I've found them to be sensitive to water quality, but they should be no problem in the tank you're planning.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi koinukun

If you are thinking about setting up what is known as a "Peaceful Community" tank, why not give some thought to adding three Female gouramis. They show none of the aggression that the males often do and tend to swim close to each other.

A nice school of corydoras would make an excellent addition to your tank, and while they would add interest to the bottom, they are also active enough to provide lots of excitement with their often unexpected activity. C. aeneus are an excellent choice, but there are also many others to choose from. Be sure to match the temperature requirement of the ones you choose with that of the other fish you will put in, and use a sand bottom or fine gravel substrate.

I would suggest adding one of the smaller species of tetra to round out your community. I'm partial to the soft pink of the Glow Light Tetras:

<a href="http/www.badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile62.html" target="_blank">http/www.badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile62.html</a>

 

[koinukun]

Thank you so much for all your input guys! ^o^

I never really considered Bolivian Rams before but since so may have suggested them to me here and else where I'm really keen on getting some! I actually saw some in my LFS the other day too and found them so pretty to watch!

As for Corys I do really like the Sterbai ones but I have never actually seen them or any other different kinds for sale other than the bronze and peppered. I'll have to call around and see if any of the stores can get any in for me! If not I still am very fond of the old bronze ones.

As for a schooling fish I'm getting too confused! I was wondering if I could just have Angels, Bolivians and Corys, do you think that could work? If so, what number of Bolivians and Angels would go or fit into the tank?

Thanks again!

koinukun~

 

[Matt_northants]

If you add a small shoaling species you'll see you rams more as dwarf cichlids use them as a signal of safety.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi koinukun

I would recommend against adding corys to a tank with cichlids. Rams and angles pick at them and can tear their fins and nip their eyes. This is not the way for a peace loving cory to have to live.

 

[koinukun]

I think I'll leave having any cichilids in my tank. Seeing as I'm only a beginner at the hobby, keeping a peaceful community tank seems to be less troublesome than dealing with grumpy unpredictable fish like angels. I still love them to bits but to me at this stage they're too restricting on my choices of other fish that I want. Some time in the future I'll get a nice big tank and keep Angels in a species only tank.

I'm more inclined now to go for a peaceful Asian type community instead.

3 Pearl Gourami (M/F/F) as the centerpiece beacuse they are my favourite gourami and I was going to get them initially anyway.
5-6 Corys
5-6 Rasboras
3 Cherry Barbs (M/F/F)

I am a little unsure of the cherry barbs and the gouramis long fins, would they be alright? I'm a bit picky when it comes to cypranids like barbs as the only ones I like are Cherrys and Tigers but Tigers are too agro for the gouramis.

Do you think it would be too overstocked if I scrapped the idea of barbs and got a couple of Yoyo loaches instead?

I never thought deciding on fish would be so time consuming! My tank will be cycled before I've even come to a decision!

koinukun~