What should I add to my tank?

[Kissofthegorami]

Please keep in mind if you want your neons to live a natural lifespan, Angels may not be the best bet. Angels enjoy neons as a natural food source.

If you just read a book, it will tell you that in the wild, angels eat neons. But if you ask anyone with experience, most of them keep small tetras with angels. If you buy a full grown 4-6"" long angel fish, they may eat neons. If you introduce smaller angels into an aquarium with angels, they will not eat the neons. I have two medium sized angels and I put 10 tiny 1/2 inch cardinal tetras in with them. For the first day they chased them but then lost interest. The angels soon forget about them as food and they'd much rather be fed by you than hunt such fast moving fish. Angels are very lazy. I have had large angels in with neons, no problems.

 

[Harlock]

If you just read a book, it will tell you that in the wild, angels eat neons. But if you ask anyone with experience, most of them keep small tetras with angels. If you buy a full grown 4-6"" long angel fish, they may eat neons. If you introduce smaller angels into an aquarium with angels, they will not eat the neons. I have two medium sized angels and I put 10 tiny 1/2 inch cardinal tetras in with them. For the first day they chased them but then lost interest. The angels soon forget about them as food and they'd much rather be fed by you than hunt such fast moving fish. Angels are very lazy. I have had large angels in with neons, no problems.

I have found that cases like that are the exception and not the rule. I am glad it's working out for you, I was simply letting the OP know that it may not work out for him. Especially considering how much he likes neons. Don't take it personally, I was simply trying to let him know of the possibility.

 

[racingjason]

:OT: But my wild caught Heckel discus love to chase the neons, no luck catching one yet, the domestic bred german discus don't even blink when the neons get near. I guess it has something to do with the way they are raised.

 

[Kissofthegorami]

I found this in a post from February:

cardinals are some what prefered to neons for consideration as angel tankmates because they get slightly larger and seem to have better self preservation instincts. the best was to acheive success with any fish kept with a preditor is to raise the preditor in the tank after the prey fish have become established. have all the intended fish for the comunity in the tank grow up together. If you try to introduce cardinals to a tank after the angel is an adult I would expect the angel to try to eat the new arivals.

 

[Harlock]

Oh, well there you have it, guaranteed success. Kissofthegorami, I understand you think it works. I believe the OP has a right to know that despite his best efforts the Angel may view his neons as food. Is that so hard to let go? Get a grip. It's called full disclosure and mjfmm has a right to it. I already said it can work.

 

[mjfmn]

Guys, I'm satisfied with the information everyone has given me here! I'll have to make up my own mind about the angels and the tetras! A big thanks to all of you, I love this forum - plenty of opinions, and considerable experience!