Can I put Neon Tetras....?

by **hockeybro2139** on Fri Oct 23, 2009 5:28 pm

I have a 29 gallon tank. Right now I have an algae eater, 2 koi swordtails, a bosemonian rainbow, and an angel. I was wondering if I put a school of Neon Tetras in there if the angel would eat them? I heard that if you keep the angels well fed then the angels really just leave alone the other fish. As I understand, this is because they are from the cichlid family and are naturally aggressive if they are underfed. Is this true?

But my basic question is whether or not I should add the tetras. Thanks!

by **TekW282** on Fri Oct 23, 2009 5:33 pm

it depends on the size of the angels. if your angel is fully grown then yes it might take a bite. my angels are still rather small so they leave the neons alone.

I would say if you have a 2-3 inch angel they should be fine.

by **daanimalfreak022** on Fri Oct 23, 2009 5:36 pm

well i used to have 2 angels and 5 neon tetras and the angels devoured them in less than a week. yes, i know that the neon's look nice but you can't get any. besides they are very very delicate fish. BTW my angels were like 2 inches.

by **Damianus** on Fri Oct 23, 2009 5:38 pm

It depends on how big the angels are we got rid of our angels because they were too aggressive and were attacking our Molly's and Sword-tails. Also your Sword-tails will probably chase them around a bit and harass them but not to badly. Luckily tetra's are very hardy fish and fast too so they should be able to get away and the stress probably won't get to them like it can other fish that are harassed by their tank mates.

by **randomlettersfgjhskjhsdfkds** on Fri Oct 23, 2009 5:39 pm

Neon Tetras are a bad idea with such a tank, i once had a swordtail in my tank with them and he ate all of them before i could do anything, also, i would recommend keeping anything smaller then the angelfish OUT of the tank.

by **JessicaM668** on Fri Oct 23, 2009 5:42 pm

My question to you is what in the heck is a Koi Swordtail? I've heard of Pygmies and Mexicans, but never a Koi.

Anyways, once it's a livebearing Swordtail, I have no worries.

Now, about the Neons with the Angels. I strongly recommend you don't add the Neons because of them. Unless you had both of these fish in the same tank from when the Angel was a little itty bitty thing, then eventually all of the Neons will be eaten. Even when they grow up together you can still see issues.

I say not to add them. However, there is one other issue I see in your tank and that would be the Boesemani. It really and truly needs a tank no smaller than 55 gallons considering they are quite active and should be in groups of at least 6. Good luck!

by **TopPotts727** on Fri Oct 23, 2009 8:02 pm

Neons and other small fish are natural food for angelfish, so unless you're using them for feeders, don't.
Having said that, I had large angels and neons that grew up together and had no problems. The neons were too large for the angels to eat.

Can I put Neon Tetras....?