Angels and Guppies.

[Hebily]

I recently got a pair of angels, and I was thinking that after they are out of QT, I might pick up ten or so feeder guppies in hopes that they would breed. I was thinking I would grow them out in QT and then transfer them to the main tank. The idea here is that they would provide a fairly constant supply of live food for the angels, by breeding in the tank. This would NOT be the only food source for the angels, just a supplement (unless they breed that fast - in which case, the angels would be fed supplements to the guppies [did that make sense?]).

My questions are:
Would the adult guppies get eaten?
Do you think this is a good idea, or a bad idea, and why?

[ctbestfisherman]

I don't think the angels will eat the adult guppies but definitely the fry unless they can hide. Feeder guppies grow too big to fit in their mouths unless the angels rip them apart. I'm not sure you want to get them conditioned to eating small fry if you plan to breed them.

[june2000]

Angels are not going to eat adult guppies.

It depends on your tank setup such as plants and hiding place and so on...
More fries going to be eated by adult guppies than angels. (Angels are too slow.)
And eventually, your tank will be filled with guppies soon or later. :)

[Star_Rider]

angels are too slow???

they are ambush predators.

if you think adult angels will not eat adult guppies.. put them in my tanks.

I find angels will attempt to eat anything they can fit in their mouths and even somethings that won't fit.

slow moving fish like guppies are targets for my angels.
some tetras(cardinals and black neons ) are fast enough to avoid the angels.
but still may be prone to becoming food.
in the past I raised guppies just as you have planned..in a 20 gallon and moved the fry to the angel tanks.. they will make quick work of the fry.

[Hebily]

My actual plan was to grow out guppies, and then move the adults into the angel tank to breed... but from what you said, I would need a guppy tank...

[PopPopsfish]

angels are too slow???

they are ambush predators.

if you think adult angels will not eat adult guppies.. put them in my tanks.

I find angels will attempt to eat anything they can fit in their mouths and even somethings that won't fit.

slow moving fish like guppies are targets for my angels.
some tetras(cardinals and black neons ) are fast enough to avoid the angels.
but still may be prone to becoming food.
in the past I raised guppies just as you have planned..in a 20 gallon and moved the fry to the angel tanks.. they will make quick work of the fry.


As always Star you are spot on !!!

We raise feeder guppies as a source of live food for our Angels and some Discus . You must be careful with feeder fish , they tend to carry some diseases . We purchased a few hundred and QT 'd them after everything was taken care of we used some tester Angels and Discus to see what would happen. All was well and we continue to use the guppies as a food source.

Good Luck.

[Star_Rider]

Good advice Pop..
always make sure your stock ,if using feeders, is healthy.

you do not want to supply sick guppies to angels.

if the guppy tank is healthy and you feed the guppies good food.. they will in turn supply angels and Discus with healthy , fun snacks.


angels and Discus love to hunt small fish.

[Hebily]

that is why I will for sure either have a guppy tank, or guppies (post QT) in the main tank. Although, I was thinking of some other livebearers instead... would mollies, platies, or endlers work as well?

[Star_Rider]

that is why I will for sure either have a guppy tank, or guppies (post QT) in the main tank. Although, I was thinking of some other livebearers instead... would mollies, platies, or endlers work as well?


not sure about endlers but the mollies and platies would work.

personally tho I would raise the guppies in a separate tank and use as feeders.

[meili.harrison]

I agree with Star and Pops, use a separate guppy tank. My angels would stalk and eat small fish too, eventhough they are slower, they are pretty vicious!! But in a loving sort of way... haha!!

[Star_Rider]

I agree with Star and Pops, use a separate guppy tank. My angels would stalk and eat small fish too, eventhough they are slower, they are pretty vicious!! But in a loving sort of way... haha!!



lol

I agree.. as in..'they love their food' lol

[mrbigmuscles]

To avoid disease would one be better off buying "show" or fancy guppies as opposed to "feeders" and breeding them?

[excuzzzeme]

You could also breed neon tetras and your only problem would be keeping enough on hand to sate the angels appetites for them.

[theemon]

i know this is old. but i was searching for this exact answer.

my question for all you angel people out there, at what size would a angel be able to eat a adult guppy?
i was hoping to stock a 55gal with guppies and juvie angels. but from this thread im assuming my guppies wont last long

[XanAvaloni]

theemon, I would agree with the poster(s) upthread who said to keep the gups and angels in separate tanks and feed fry as desired and on a rationed basis. My concern is more that livebearers drop such large numbers of fry with each birthing that the angels would eat themselves sick slurping them up all at once.

Angels are, let's face it, pigs. I love them, mind you, and am greatly looking forward to getting some more bitty ones soon (I have only 10g tanks so can only keep them for growout purposes). But they are indeed lightning predators and have no brains at all where food is concerned.

And the guppy tank could be attractive its own right. They don't have to know that they are essentially in a stockyard. :)

Oh, and to answer your question: I don't think even a full-grown angel would be likely to eat a grown guppy. Size-of-mouth issues. Fry or juvies are another matter entirely.

[J double R]

Angels and Guppies.. is that the sequel to Da Fishy Code?