Angel/Ram question

[JohnnyRaggs]

Hey all, just a question for you all. Im running a 45g bowfront planted Amazon biotope. Currently I have 10 Rummy nose tetras, 7 (will be 10) Cardinal tetras, 3 (will be 6) Bronze Corys, 2 assasin snails, 2 SAE and 1 flower shrimp. ( I know that the snails, shrimo and AE's aren't from the amazon, but oh well). I want to get 2 German Blue Rams and 2-4 Angels. What do you think about that? Too high a bio-load? Should I only have 2 Angels or do they do better with more of them around?

[DrNic]

The tank is already pretty stocked. With the current fish in that tank I would opt for no more than 1 or maybe 2 angelfish at the most. Even with 2 angelfish you should make sure they are both the same sex if you can. If angelfish start laying eggs and breeding in the tank they are going to get very aggressive and may hurt/eat the other fish. You may also have problems with the tetras. As angelfish get larger they regularly eat neon and cardinal tetras.

If it was me I would get a single angelfish as a centerpiece fish and leave it at that. If you get a juvenile that is allowed to 'grow up' with the tetras you have a better chance at the angelfish not seeing the neons as food.

[850R]

The tank is already pretty stocked. With the current fish in that tank I would op...If it was me I would get a single angelfish as a centerpiece fish and leave it at that. .
+ 1 for the reasons given.

[rich311k]

I would do the rams or a single angel. A single angel is much easier on the rest of the tank's inhabitants.

[JohnnyRaggs]

Ok, sounds good to me. 1 angel it is. Thanks for the input guys.....now, since Im only going to get one, any recomendations on which type to get?

[850R]

Ok, sounds good to me. 1 angel it is. Thanks for the input guys.....now, since Im only going to get one, any recomendations on which type to get?YVW:22:

Whatever appeals to you, There's nothing wrong with mutts [my angels are all mutts]. Or you could get something specific either local or online.

[Cascade]

Not sure how big your shrimp is yet, but I would be concerned about an angel picking at it. I have a similar setup and had to nix angels from my plan because I ended up with cherry shrimp and didn't want them to get picked off (though RCS are smaller than your shrimp). Just something to think about - even if it can't eat it whole, it may nip and pick at it.

[JohnnyRaggs]

hmmmm, good to know. My flower shrimp is larger then the cherry shrimp. Its about 1.5 inches long....ish. I may have to give it a go and see how the angel does. I plan on getting it as a baby.

[WhiteDevil]

Im not a fan of keeping single species. Id go with the rams for now, let some of them die off then get the angels. I keep two angels at minimum, however keeping 1-2 angels gives you the opportunity to look around and get the ones YOU want not just want the stores have, shipping isnt bad its usually a flat rate to a weight then additional. I had 2 boxes shipped to me overnight air cargo for a flat 75 bucks, cant really beat it considering I got over 100 fish that shipment.

If you dont have them yet, have you ventured into looking into other docile dwarf cichlids of the amazon? there are MANY out there that make the GBR's look bland.

I cant say if your tank is STOCKED or not without knowing your PWC schedule and your filtration system and if you have live plants in there or not, no one can.

[Dannilovesangels]

Angels are fine as singles but I too like more of them.

Technically- if you have good filtration and a water change schedule you can do 2. The issue is tank size and territory with them. The more fish and less room they have the more aggressive they can be- this can also be true with a single. So keep that in mind.

Angels shouldn't bother your Tetras at least the domesticated strain. I have been keeping them a long time and have never seen it happen. They prefer to beat each other up.

Now the wild strains especially manacupuru's will eat the Tetras. They get larger and it's the natural food.