Tankmates ideas for BPs and angels

[lawdawg18]

I have a empty 55 that I'm going to start putting some fish into this weekend. I want to have 2 blood parrots3 clown loaches, and 2 or 3 angel fish in it. I'm looking for a small fish that I could add in with these. I would like to add neon tetras or guppies but from what I have read they could possibly be eaten one day by the angels. Any ideas on some group of fish I could add?? The tank is planted if that makes any difference.

Thanks
Jason

[Shekoi]

a large shoal od H. Rasbora would be nice, i have these with my angel and it'd fine. swordsatils or platies also fine and the fry will be good live food for your angels

i've heard BPs can be aggresive towards other fish, only like there own kind.
Clown loaches also like to be in large groups, and they grow very large, will out grow a 55.

[N8DOGG]

BP' s are sometimes aggressive to others may not work with angels. True the clown loaches will out grow a 55 but it will take years and years to hit 12". You need at least 3 if not more of them. I'd forget about the BP's and get a few more angels(another thing don't get 2 angels it won't work, 1 or 3 or more works best) and like Shekoi said some live bearers will give the angels something to eat.

[lawdawg18]

Seems like I had read on this and some other forums about people keeping the Blood parrots together with the angel fish.

[N8DOGG]

If you want BP's and angels try it out....its going to depend on the BP's. The angels are only aggressive when breeding well so are BP's. Your going to need to see how the personalities of the BP's are. I had one for 4 or so years till I gave it away when I moved but it lived with a midas and green terror and Jaguar and it was just as aggressive as those fish, it ate feeders too. I guess it had to be aggressive or it wouldn't have got any food. But In a 55 I think it may have to be either BP's or angels........they both get large

[Cat]

Just one thing to say.
CLOWN LOACHES CAN GROW TO 12" FAR TO BIG!

[N8DOGG]

Just one thing to say.
CLOWN LOACHES CAN GROW TO 12" FAR TO BIG!
Very true but its going to take like 10 years

[PumaWard]

It may take them a while to reach 12'', but, regaurdless...thee 8'' clown loaches are probably too much for a 55g. They seem rather high-bodied and thick, not to mention active. I would, personally, ditch the clown-loches and the BPs and go with smaller loaches (such as yo-yos) or cories and get your shoaling fish... the rasboras mentioned earlier would look great.

IMHO, the amount of fish you want to put in there is too much for your bioload...

edits:typos

[N8DOGG]

It may take them a while to reach 12'', but, regaurdless... 3 8'' clown fish are probably too much for a 55g. They seem rather high-bodied and thick, not to mention active. I
IMHO, the amount of fish you want to put in there is too much for your bioload...
I fully agree but are the clown loaches like 2" or are they a few years old? I would grow out a few in a 55 to put in a larger tank but its still going to take a few years to get them large. If you can't or don't want to get another tank or don't want to give them up when they get larger. go with a smaller loach.

[PumaWard]

If you have solid plans for a larger tank, than growing them out in a 55g is fine, IMO. But, if you don't have those plans, you shouldn't get the fish. It doesn't sound like Law plans on another tank, so the clowns would be innopropriate.

Correct me if I'm wrong, Law :)

[lawdawg18]

nahh I dont really have plans for a larger tank at this time. I hope to have a large tank one day, but who knows when. I think I'll just stick with the parrots the angels, and some type of smallish colorful fish. One more question my tank was fishless for about 2 weeks is it ok to put fish in it or will it cycle again? It does have some plants and snails in it if that matters.

[PumaWard]

It'll go through another cycle. I would try to get some filter material from an established tank.