Paradise Fish?

[Erynn]

I am considering a pair of paradise fish in one of my tanks. I know they aren't entirely peacful fish, but how aggressive are they? I have never kept these fish before.

 

[livewyr25]

i have 2 blue paradise fish in my tank with angels and clown loaches. they are very active fish and havent given me a problem, on occasion the bigger one chases the samller one, but there has been no damage to either of them. The guy at my LFS who i find very knowledgeable, says that to lower aggression with the paradise fish, every time you do a water change, to move your ornaments/decorations around a little bit so they have to find new territories to claim and what not. seems to work. all i do is move my plastic plants around, swap them out with other colors/styles. have never had a problem. good luck

 

[OrionGirl]

It will depend on which paradise you get. The red and blue varieties (including the albinos) are not too bad. They'll mostly chase each other, but I wouldn't mix them with gouramies or bettas. The black paradise is a different story--total brutes. They shouldn't be mixed with fish other than bottom dwellers--they rule the tank, and will kill other fish.

 

[Erynn]

I was looking at getting the red/blue paradise fish. Funny you say that they don't bother your angels, because I just read on a website that they will tear the fins off angelfish! I'm not planning on having any angels, but it's good to know that they aren't AS aggressive as they are made out to be. Thanks!

 

[Leopardess]

I personally think it depends. I have heard many horror stories of paradise fish raging against any and all tankmates and indeed nipping angelfish fins.

As with bettas and other anabantoids - I believe a large portion of temperment is completely individual based. Some are fine, some are definitely not. Some can be around other paradise fish, others won't be. *shrug*

Try it on a day when you can be home all day to supervise and ask if you can bring one or two fish back in the even that they're terrors.

 

[livewyr25]

Yeah ive been very lucky where all my fish have been getting along just fine. but just make sure to move the decorations around evey time you change the water, this will make any aggressive fish less aggressive ( from what ive been told ).