best predator for beginner???

Angelfish are cichlids, and even though they are generally docile they will behave as so when the circumstances dictates. Try raising guppy fry, or tiny neons with a fully grown angelfish, and pretty soon you won't see them. They do, and will eat any kind of food that will fit in their mouths. However, they will not actively go out and hunt, since its probably easier for them to beg at the aquarium glass and they aren't exactly built for speed.

My father stuck some tiny white cloud minnows in my planted tank once (from then on, I banned him from feeding my tanks), and I actually saw the wiggling tail end of one of the unlucky minnows sticking out of the mouth of my angelfish.

-Richer
 
I've had a half-grown angelfish (raised with neons and guppies) spend two days trying to hunt down and catch a half grown guppy.

To say angelfish aren't carnivores is not telling the scientific truth. Anything that eat's another animal is a predator/carnivor (I use the slash because some animals, like vultures eat mainly things already dead), and angelfish simply do just that in the aquarium and in nature.

As already mentioned, an angelfish's behavior towards smaller tank mates depends on how it was raised.

I like OrionGirls idea of the African Butterfly fish, pretty cool looking and stay small.
 
I agree with the butterfly fish. I watched one easily consume a small barb that swam nearby in my LFS. They moved that fish quickly. Although the Cuvier's Bircher gets large (~12-14 inches), it would be set in a 30 gal for a long time before it needed an upgrade. They eat anything that fits in their mouth. Also eat pellets or anything prepared; they just like to eat.

It's like owning a snake; they just sit around waiting for meals too, but people keep buying them.
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I own plenty of snakes and they don't all just sit around. They're like fish, some are very active, while others just sit on the bottom. My rat snakes and false water cobras are constantly moving and exploring. The best meal for any snake is frozen/thawed rodents, so any serious keeper wouldn't be popping in live rodents that can bite your snake. Feeding is just part of the game. Most people buy them for the beauty and fascination.
 
Regarding the butterfly fish..


They are quite possibly one of the most "lazy" fish on earth. They are awesome, beautiful creatures and I adore mine, but they simply don't do that much. If you're looking for a fish to watch, I don't think this is it. They only hang out at the surface. They don't "swim" per se. They're more like a buoy. When they eat, they'll wait till the fish comes close, then snatch it up in one fell swoop with their trapdoor mouth. Then, it's over just like that. They don't eat all that much so it's not that much to see.

Beautiful, "ancient" creature. But not active by the standards that are seemingly wanted here....
 
Agreed--the butterfly isn't an active fish. Nor is a leaf fish--they spend most of thier time floating around, looking like a leaf. There really are not too many predators that will fit in a small tank that are active fish. Puffers come closest, but they are not piscivores, and most are high maintenance.
 
Were thinking of a pictus catfish or two.Hopefully they will be as interesting as the channel only smaller.What do you think?
 
More active, prettier--but they won't do much hunting during the day, and won't be highly active--they are nocturnal predators. Small fish will just disappear in the night.
 
Pictus would be good in many respects, as OG said they tend to hunt more in the dark. They are a fascinating fish. I have had some that would hunt in the daytime, but it takes them a long time to get used to people, and mine would only hunt when I was alone in the room. If the kids came in they got very shy. I think your son would thouroughly enjoy the pictus cats though, and they would probably be as much if not moe fun than a channel cat at a fraction of the size.
 
If your son is like I was when I was a kid, wanting to see a big fish zip around and eat all the little fish then I would say an oscar. You'll have to upgrade your tank fairly quickly, but they are fun to watch have a personality like no other fish and will eat any small fish you put in their tank. Just so no one yells at me, I want to remind you that feeders are a treat and not a staple diet.
 
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