46 Gallon Cube Stocking In Progress

[smilemadeofsun]

Hello all! It's been a while since my last post. Since then I have set up and cycled a 75 gallon tank, and moved the Serpae Tetras that I had in my 46 Gallon Cube that were nipping my Angelfish. They are doing well in there about a week after moving them over and my poor Angel is already regrowing their fins, so if my serpaes are still doing well and levels are checking out in one more week I'm going to move my Red Rainbowfish over there as well. Not that they were nipping my Angel or anything, I just figured they would appreciate more horizontal swimming space

That leaves my 46 Gallon tank with only one Angelfish, and 6 Sterbai Cories. I am looking for some good stocking ideas, something that will not nip my Angelfish. I am looking for a schooling fish and maybe a pair of dwarf cichlids, if the schooling fish has red and black coloration that would be awesome but it is more important that they are generally peaceful and active. I have Serpaes and am also adding Black Phantoms to the 75 so I would like to avoid those two if possible. Also does anyone know if a pair of Apistogramma Viejita would be ok in there? Any and all advice is greatly appreciated as always! Thanks!!!

[FWFishTanks]

Black phantoms and German blue rams would look sick!

[TheresaM]

I would put in a huge group of micro rasboras (chili, phoenix, pygmy, etc)! In that size tank a group of cherry barbs would work. They're peaceful compared to other barbs.

Not sure about the cichlids, I never kept them in community tanks.

[smilemadeofsun]

I wouldn't mind trying some cherry barbs as long as they won't nip my angel. I had heard that they were supposed to be more peaceful than other barbs so that's good to hear another source confirm that!

[TheresaM]

Originally Posted by smilemadeofsun

I wouldn't mind trying some cherry barbs as long as they won't nip my angel. I had heard that they were supposed to be more peaceful than other barbs so that's good to hear another source confirm that!

Definitely nice, peaceful fish but not shy either. Years ago I kept them in an 20l Asian biotope with sparkling gouramis and a B. coccina, no issues. I now have a trio in my community tank.

You could get a 1M/3F trio as well as some other schooling fish, that would look nice with the angel.

[ImACoolguy]

Originally Posted by TheresaM

I would put in a huge group of micro rasboras (chili, phoenix, pygmy, etc)! In that size tank a group of cherry barbs would work. They're peaceful compared to other barbs.



Not sure about the cichlids, I never kept them in community tanks.

You and all your micro fish :P

Cherry barbs are very peaceful. I have 5 and an angel in a tank together and neither messes with the other. I would shoot for 6+ of them. And have a good M/F ratio of you can.

A bolivian or golden ram pair would be cool.

Some people say dwarf gourami will nip Angels but I've never had problems. My angel and gourami are best buddies and swim around together.

Giant danios are pretty nice.
A large school of Zebra/leopard danios would definitely be awesome. My suggestion for micro fish to satisfy Theresa :p


Caleb

Sent via TARDIS

[smilemadeofsun]

Thanks for the suggestions! I always wanted to try a Dwarf Gourami in there too but I was afraid that the Angel might beat them up. It's good to know that is an option.

I was checking around at a few LFS and stuff and came across Flame Tetra, they seem like they don't get much bigger than 2 inches, and none of them in the tank had nipped fins so I think it would be ok with my Angel as long as Angel doesn't decide they are too small and consider them food.

Does anyone have any experience keeping Flame Tetra with an Angelfish? I would love to hear any advice or stories.

[FWFishTanks]

Flame tetras can be kept with angels due to their broad shape

[TheresaM]

Originally Posted by ImACoolguy

You and all your micro fish :P

Cherry barbs are very peaceful. I have 5 and an angel in a tank together and neither messes with the other. I would shoot for 6+ of them. And have a good M/F ratio of you can.

A bolivian or golden ram pair would be cool.

Some people say dwarf gourami will nip Angels but I've never had problems. My angel and gourami are best buddies and swim around together.

Giant danios are pretty nice.
A large school of Zebra/leopard danios would definitely be awesome. My suggestion for micro fish to satisfy Theresa :p

Yes, I admit I'm a big supporter of small fish

Would danios be a problem with the angel? I haven't kept them in years.

[ImACoolguy]

Originally Posted by TheresaM

Yes, I admit I'm a big supporter of small fish



Would danios be a problem with the angel? I haven't kept them in years.

I neglected to think of that. It really depends. There was a thread on here about Angels with neons. It really is a hit or miss. If it's a mature angel and they are introduced expect them food but if they grow and mature together that's where it's debatable because sometimes it does work. You want broad fish usually so the angel can't eat them. Small slender fish like neons can hit in their mouth. Hence why it's debatable.


Caleb

Sent via TARDIS

[smilemadeofsun]

That's the only thing I was worried about with anything like danios/neons/cardinals, etc. I am afraid my Angel is a little too big at this point to introduce them and they would probably end up becoming expensive feeder fish

[TheresaM]

Originally Posted by smilemadeofsun

That's the only thing I was worried about with anything like danios/neons/cardinals, etc. I am afraid my Angel is a little too big at this point to introduce them and they would probably end up becoming expensive feeder fish

Very good point! For color, size, and safety of both fish I'd go with the cherry barbs.

[smilemadeofsun]

Well I tried adding the Flame Tetra, and my Angel unfortunately killed and ate the two smallest ones almost immediately! It was totally my fault for introducing them so close to my fish's feeding time. I'm sure my Angel thought I was pouring some Brine Shrimp in there or something and just went off of instinct. The two who were eaten were the smallest and hadn't started to broaden out yet, the rest of them are broader bodied ones, and are doing well in there as of now, no signs of nipping and my Angel isn't chasing them around. I am not going to try to add any more until I know that the larger ones will be ok in there long term. Maybe if the larger ones are still alive in a week or two then I will look for more full grown ones to beef up their school. I like the way they look and they definitely stay out of my Angel's way which is great, I just have to make sure they are old enough before I put them in. Good thing I didn't try danios/smaller tetras after all!

[TheresaM]

That's too bad about the two but you're right, getting anything small wouldn't have ended well. Are there a lot of hiding places or plants in the tank?

[smilemadeofsun]

Yeah, I have two big tree root decorations that provide a lot of cover and hiding spots and also a fair amount of artificial plants to provide cover. The remaining 6 are still doing well and are actually swimming around the Angel without him chasing them or anything. It must have been a combination of them being just a bit too small and me introducing them too close to feeding time. That part was totally my fault, but you live and you learn!

I do love the look of micro fish, so once I get my mother in law's fancy goldfish over to her 50 gallon tank maybe I will use my 10 gal quarantine tank for some danios or something!

[FWFishTanks]

they should be fine if they cannot fit in the angels' mouth. If they get attacked, I would remove them.

[smilemadeofsun]

The ones that are left definitely can't fit in the Angel's mouth because they've started to broaden out and are at about 1 1/2 inches at this point. The other two were just still too slender bodied. Of course I will continue to monitor and I have a backup plan tank in case my Angel decides that they look tasty again. For now they are swimming alongside him without any problems though!

[Finntastic]

Black Skirt tetras would be nice or maybe some giant danios. In my opinion albino giant danios are awesome.

[smilemadeofsun]

Black skirts are sure pretty, and would kind of match my Angelfish. I will have to look into that as an option! I like those Albino Giant Danios you mentioned too. Thanks for the ideas!

[Finntastic]

Your welcome.