Angelfish with neon tetras?

[funkman262]

Based on what I've read, neon tetras are a natural food item for angelfish so you shouldn't keep them together, but I see a lot of videos of the two species combined in community tanks. Is this maybe because tank raised angels no longer think of them as food? Or maybe those who posted the videos just didn't know any better? I'm asking because I have a 90g with just a few fish (neon tetras, harlequin rasboras and livebearers) and I'm wanting to get some angelfish, but I ALSO want to build up a large neon tetra school. Will I just have to do one or the other? Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

[aquanurse]

Once they are big enough to get the tetras in their mouth.....they will be dinner:22_yikes:

[abcdefghi]

Once they are big enough to get the tetras in their mouth.....they will be dinner:22_yikes:

Not always.

I had a large male angel in with a bunch of neon tetra's for well over 6 months, the angel never once bothered them. A power outage killed the neons in the end.

I now have a pair of angels in the tank, both are pretty large, at least 5" at a guess. I recently moved 10 neons into the tank with them (moved them out of another tank) and the neons are fine, I also keep black neons with the angels. I think the fact my tank is fairly heavily planted helps, but as with most things you might get lucky, you might not.

[ryukin_5]

well from experience it leans more to a dont do but there are some positives
1: if you have a large enough tank.
2:should be planted perferably on the medium to heavy side.
3:the size of the neons, if they are big enough the angel just might leave them alone.
4: the temperament of the angel/s

all that said there are going to be diferent results from most everyone on this or any forum in my most humble of opinion.
someone else might chime in with more specifics though.

[Star_Rider]

In general. angels will try to eat anything they think they can fit in their mouths.
but, some folks have been able to keep neons with angels.

IME, it depends on the Angels.

I have some that won't bother the neons(black) much but over time some have 'disappeared'.

I also have some that will eat the neons as soon as they can. they don't chase them but if one gets close enough..it's FOOD.

in essence..if you want to try the mix..be prepared for the possibility that the neons may become food.

[funkman262]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I've decided that I don't want to risk my neons becoming angelfish food so I'm just going to make the tank a peaceful community tank with plenty of schooling fish varieties.

[abcdefghi]

IME, it depends on the Angels.

I have some that won't bother the neons(black) much but over time some have 'disappeared'.


I have been lucky so far with my angels, I have had 3 now (still have 2) that have all never really bothered any of the fish that typically they eat. I have (and still do) keep them with regular and black neons, and otos. The closest I have seen was my largest angel (sadly now passed) chasing some black neons.

[Star_Rider]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I've decided that I don't want to risk my neons becoming angelfish food so I'm just going to make the tank a peaceful community tank with plenty of schooling fish varieties.
a safe move.
over the years I have had dozens of angels..
I currently have a dozen scattered in 6 tanks..only 1 tank has any neon/cardinals that originally had12 neons mixed bag of black and regular..there are only 2 left and this is the 'safe' tank

[funkman262]

Yea I finally have a tank large enough to have some decent sized fish in it and I'm going to fill it with small peaceful community fish lol. I was hoping I'd be ok with some angels but my girlfriend loves the neon tetras so I need to make sure I keep her happy.

[funkman262]

I've convinced my gf that we should get some angels so we're backing away from the neons. I've heard that cardinals are safer to keep with angels. Is that true? Are there any other small community fish I shouldn't house with angels? Thanks.

[FallenAngel]

I know that cardinals grow bigger, so thats why they probably have a higher chance..
I have 3 angels at the moment and they pretty much keep to themselves. I've had 5 neons in the same tank as all 3 before, but I sold the neons.