dorris
Replicator of Amazon streams
Hi. I raised a pair of angels(normal wildtype) from the tiny size of about 2cm, which included their fins. So they were tiny bubs. They began in a very small 10G tank by themselves. I wished for a pair but what are the odds right. I chose two, one larger than the other. After a few weeks cycling, with a large piece of driftwood I collected from a local river in the tank. I had no light on the tank and the driftwood wasn't entirely cured so brown algae sprouted covering the wood. When the angels were introduced all by themselves, at such a tiny age, they were rather scared for their lives. Fortunately the driftwood was positioned so they could go beneath it and take cover from "birds", which aren't in my room. When they noticed the algae they fell in love with life, their colours and bars came out and they happily ate algae all day long, which also helped them grow rather quickly.
After a week I added some half grown peppered coris to clean up the food the timid angels weren't getting. The coris were larger than the angels and baffled the little sods. The next week I added 5 Cardinals, who were also young but still a bit large than the angels. The cardinals made them feel more comfortable in their little home.
I must remind you that this tank was heavily planted. Without plants these poor little fish would have not gone too well I predict. But plants are a necessity I think for new and young fish to feel at home.
Of coarse the Angels grew too large for this tank and were moved to a 30G along with some more Cardinals and the coris. Added was a small school of Kerri(or King) Tetras as well as some common blue/gold rams(love these fish). The Angels have grown as large as they can in this tank now, and turned out that I had chosen a pair who have now spawned in the community tank 3 times.(The Rams have spawned countless times)
I have a HEAVILY planted tank with lots of rocky caves, driftwood, and immense vegetation. This, along with the fact that my Angels grew up with Cardinals I think has granted the tetras a safe life. My Angels can't exactly catch them amongst the plants etc. and they probably haven't grown large enough to actually eat them anyway. Besides this I feed my fish 2-3 times a day so they are well fed. I don't over-feed, just well feed. A small brecky snack consisting of a little bit of dried food, lunch is usually a block of frozen bloodworms, and occasionally a small dinner at night of some other dried food. I feed them as many different foods as I can stock and give them live food instead of frozen when ever possible. And if Im not home then they dont mind missing a feed. They are just really stoked to see me when I get home.
My Angels seem to like the tetras, making them feel safe and at home. They never give chase to them or anything. Very occasionally they enjoy charging through the middle of the school of Cardinals to watch them scatter and stand proud where they once stood. But they dont wish to eat them. I think they are too well fed to bother really.
However... I am just about to start cycling a 60G tank for my fish and plan on adding a few more tetras and dwarf cichlids as well as more plants of course for them to hide in. I just hope the Angels don't become vicious killers as they have never displayed such tendencies in their lives.
I shall report back for you and tell you how they progress in the future. But personally I believe it can be done. And with only a 40G tank the Angels shouldn’t grow so big that they can eat them, as long as they are fed enough, and the tetras can easily escape and hide, they shouldn't bother trying. Just be sure that there are many places the Angels can't go, but the Tetras can, and you should be right. People who have this problem I think the tetras have no place to hide so make easy targets.
Of course, Marbled Angels and Altums do grow larger than the type I have, which is the smallest type you can get. I have seen people manage fine with larger tetras such as the Sarpae(spelling?) Tetras with Marbled Angels.
Personally, vegetation, caves, should work fine. But if angels were introduced who have not been raised with tetras, I would bet the Angels would be hungry for them.
I would be scared to have Kribs with Loaches though. Best to keep fish from the same region in my mind. Otherwise it can get difficult to keep the peace.
Apologies for rambling. Just thought Id give my 2 cents. I love my Amazon aquariums incase no one noticed.
I have to recommend using the best water possible. I use mostly rainwater, mixed with underground spring water. You can't use 100% rainwater, its too soft. 10% springwater, at least. you can go 100% spring water, but when I add rainwater they spawn like crazy. Water changes once a week or two weeks at the most. Also, CO2 and fertilisers for your plants.
I will own a digital camera by the time my new tank is settled so I can shoot some photos of my pride and joy.
Hope I have helped someone. Thanks for listening.
After a week I added some half grown peppered coris to clean up the food the timid angels weren't getting. The coris were larger than the angels and baffled the little sods. The next week I added 5 Cardinals, who were also young but still a bit large than the angels. The cardinals made them feel more comfortable in their little home.
I must remind you that this tank was heavily planted. Without plants these poor little fish would have not gone too well I predict. But plants are a necessity I think for new and young fish to feel at home.
Of coarse the Angels grew too large for this tank and were moved to a 30G along with some more Cardinals and the coris. Added was a small school of Kerri(or King) Tetras as well as some common blue/gold rams(love these fish). The Angels have grown as large as they can in this tank now, and turned out that I had chosen a pair who have now spawned in the community tank 3 times.(The Rams have spawned countless times)
I have a HEAVILY planted tank with lots of rocky caves, driftwood, and immense vegetation. This, along with the fact that my Angels grew up with Cardinals I think has granted the tetras a safe life. My Angels can't exactly catch them amongst the plants etc. and they probably haven't grown large enough to actually eat them anyway. Besides this I feed my fish 2-3 times a day so they are well fed. I don't over-feed, just well feed. A small brecky snack consisting of a little bit of dried food, lunch is usually a block of frozen bloodworms, and occasionally a small dinner at night of some other dried food. I feed them as many different foods as I can stock and give them live food instead of frozen when ever possible. And if Im not home then they dont mind missing a feed. They are just really stoked to see me when I get home.
My Angels seem to like the tetras, making them feel safe and at home. They never give chase to them or anything. Very occasionally they enjoy charging through the middle of the school of Cardinals to watch them scatter and stand proud where they once stood. But they dont wish to eat them. I think they are too well fed to bother really.
However... I am just about to start cycling a 60G tank for my fish and plan on adding a few more tetras and dwarf cichlids as well as more plants of course for them to hide in. I just hope the Angels don't become vicious killers as they have never displayed such tendencies in their lives.
I shall report back for you and tell you how they progress in the future. But personally I believe it can be done. And with only a 40G tank the Angels shouldn’t grow so big that they can eat them, as long as they are fed enough, and the tetras can easily escape and hide, they shouldn't bother trying. Just be sure that there are many places the Angels can't go, but the Tetras can, and you should be right. People who have this problem I think the tetras have no place to hide so make easy targets.
Of course, Marbled Angels and Altums do grow larger than the type I have, which is the smallest type you can get. I have seen people manage fine with larger tetras such as the Sarpae(spelling?) Tetras with Marbled Angels.
Personally, vegetation, caves, should work fine. But if angels were introduced who have not been raised with tetras, I would bet the Angels would be hungry for them.
I would be scared to have Kribs with Loaches though. Best to keep fish from the same region in my mind. Otherwise it can get difficult to keep the peace.
Apologies for rambling. Just thought Id give my 2 cents. I love my Amazon aquariums incase no one noticed.
I have to recommend using the best water possible. I use mostly rainwater, mixed with underground spring water. You can't use 100% rainwater, its too soft. 10% springwater, at least. you can go 100% spring water, but when I add rainwater they spawn like crazy. Water changes once a week or two weeks at the most. Also, CO2 and fertilisers for your plants.
I will own a digital camera by the time my new tank is settled so I can shoot some photos of my pride and joy.
Hope I have helped someone. Thanks for listening.
