Glowlight tetras "intimidating" two adult angelfish?    8/10/17
Hello:
<Hey Jude>
I have two adult angelfish and six Glowlight tetras. I have found that since putting the tetras in the angels like to stay at the bottom a lot and the tetras get to the food first, the angels just let the tetras do this.
These angels have been in the tank for about a year and have never been speedy for the food, but are really slow with these tetras and must get most of their food from the bottom of the tank. The tank is 38 gallons. Is that small enough that the angels feel a little crowded by these tetras or is it ok to leave it as is, as they seem to be surviving??
<Mmm; I'd guess that this arrangement of species, numbers, in this size/volume tank would work out. >
or should I rehome the tetras, for the angels comfort? The angels never bred so I think they are two "laid back" females. Thank you
<I'd leave all as is IF the angels aren't getting beat up, are eating... in the hope that as they grow larger, the Hemigrammus tetras will leave them be. Bob Fenner>
Judy
Glowlight tetras "intimidating" two adult angelfish?    /Neale      8/11/17
Hello:
<Judy,>
I have two adult angelfish and six Glowlight tetras. I have found that since putting the tetras in the angels like to stay at the bottom a lot and the tetras get to the food first, the angels just let the tetras do this.
<Not uncommon behaviour. In the wild Angelfish consume things like mosquito larvae from the surface, so that should be their default. But under aquarium conditions -- and with decades of domestication behind them --
most feed wherever is easiest. If other fish get to the surface, they're happy enough to feed at the middle or bottom of the tank. While Angels are often fairly bold, this varies a lot, and you can easily find nervous or
shy specimens out there. It's also true that pairs tend to move shorter distances from their territory than singletons or schools of non-mated specimens. Cichlids are programmed to work as teams when mated, and a target fish, even a group of tetras, will elicit more defensive behaviour (and stronger bonding within the pair) than if those two fish are kept in an empty tank. It can easily be that your pair of fish view the tetras as a potential threat, and are defending their 'patch' more cautiously than you might expect.>
These angels have been in the tank for about a year and have never been speedy for the food, but are really slow with these tetras and must get most of their food from the bottom of the tank. The tank is 38 gallons. Is that small enough that the angels feel a little crowded by these tetras or is it ok to leave it as is, as they seem to be surviving?? or should I rehome the tetras, for the angels comfort? The angels never bred so I think they are two "laid back" females.
<Provided the Angels are not starving, I wouldn't worry. Be aware that lesbian pairs (for want of a better expression) are widely reported among Angels, right down to both fish laying eggs on the same leaf! So if they
work together, hovering about a certain plant or rock, it might well be they've formed a pair and are simply adapting their behaviour to match what they see as the threat level in their environment. Glowlight Tetras are not
normally fin-nippers, but of course that's a possibility, so look to see if there is any evidence of raggedy fins, which would again cause the Angels to be more reticent.>
Thank you
Judy
<Welcome. Neale.>