Question about Angelfish

SamJS

Ok, so I have a 72 gallon tank and I really want to put a group of angelfish in it (thinking 4). All that's currently in it are 6 Platy and 3 bristlenose plecos. I'm thinking that I'll also put in 10 diamond tetras, 5 albino cories, and a Zebra Nerite Snail. I also want to put in a small school, 6, red bellied x-ray tetras, which are a variant of the Pristella Tetra. However, I've been getting mixed information. Some places say that pristella tetras are great companions for angelfish and others say that they're too active to be in the same tank.

Since I want to have angels as the centerpiece fish, I won't get the pristellas if they're not compatible. However, I think this would be a really cool school to have in there.

Can anyone give me a definitive answer? Many thanks!

funkman262

I have a bunch of Pristellas in my tank and they're not all that incredibly active. I've kept them with angels in the past and never had problems, but my tank was also heavily planted.

jentralala

Don't platys and Angelfish have different water requirements? That's mixing hard and soft water fish. What are the parameters of your tap water?

SamJS

I have soft to moderately hard water and it's got a fairly high pH. Though I am putting in a piece of driftwood too, so that may lower the pH a little bit.

Byron

If you want some colour, one of the best tankmates for angelfish are some of the species in the Rosy clade in Hyphessobrycon. Rosy Tetra and Roberts Tetra (the latter is one of my favourite tetra) work very well. Bleeding Heart Tetra is another, though some members here have mentioned trouble with fin nipping the angels. The Serpae Tetra also is in this clade, but this is a known nipper with angels so never mix these. The Rosy and Roberts should be excellent for some red. Other tetra are Lemon Tetra, Garnet Tetra, Flame Tetra.

I should just mention something about fin nipping. All tetra will resort to this if they are stressed. And one major factor is the number in the shoal; the more there are, the less likely they are to nip, or at least go outside the group to do so. This is one major reason I think that some aquarists have trouble with various tetra, they are not in a large-enough group. As you have the space, I would say no less than 11 or 12 of whatever species.

Another benefit of those species I've suggested is their quiet nature, generally speaking, which does suit sedate angelfish so well. And, they all like darkness, so lots of plants and always have floating plants with any of these fish, and they should remain peaceful.

Byron.

djembekah

and I'd actually do a couple more angels and 3 or 4 more cories if i were you.