Angelfish and Serpae tetra's - a good idea?

[1cooljeep]

I thought I'd bring this discussion to this section of the forum and see what the angelfish experts think. I have a 125 gallon planted tank with 18 Serpae tetras, 6 large cories, 3 otos, 2 albino long-finned plecos, and 5 sidthimunkis. Its been up for 3-4 months now and, in my opinion, things are going well. The plants have grown in nicely and the fish are active, feed well, and seem to get along.

Here's a shot of the tank...


What I'd like to do is add 4 angelfish as a centerpiece group to this mix. I'm establishing a 20g high grow out tank for the angels to land in when they arrive. Plan on letting them grow up some prior to releasing them into the 125 community tank.

Here's a shot of my grow out tank...


My questions are: Will the Serpae tetras, if kept in a school or say 20-30, nip and harass the angelfish if I allow them to grow to sufficient size? If so, what do you feel that "sufficient size" is?

Thanks in advance. The grow out tank is still getting established and stabilized, but I'd like to move forward

 

[MickRC]

I've got Serpae tetras in two 55G tanks with Angels. The Angels don't bother the Serpae tetras and I haven't seen the Serpae go after the Angels fins. However I only have 5 Serpae in each tank. One 55 has 2 large adult Angels in it while the other has 6 juvi Angels ranging from nickel to quarter sized bodies. I've tried various tetras (Cardinals, Neons, Black Neons, Serpae, Bleeding Heart, Black Skirt) with Angels and I haven't seen much of a problem as long as the tetras are too large to swallow.

On the other hand, I've lost a few tetras to my Yoyo Loaches and size hasn't helped there.

 

[Pearl]

I once tried introducing sixteen serpae tetras into a 75 gallon tank that was home to Boesemani rainbows. Odessa barbs, cories and a blue gourami. Two days later I noticed that the gourami, all the rainbows, three of the cories and two barbs had tails and fins that were nipped so I moved the serpaes to a 20 gallon tank.

 

[johney66]

Hi Dave!
First I would like to say SWEET 125!!! Your sword is nice, I am soo jealous! my sword just won't grow well. :cry:
Anyway, in my planted 55 community the tetras (serpae and vonrio) don't really seem to bother the angels much, now the angels in there are about half dollar size but they started out in there at quarter size...
All the tetras school together and tend to just chase each other around but they do occasionally nip at other fish but nothing serious...
Hope this helps, Good luck!

 

[excuzzzeme]

I have a tank full of serpaes and blackskirts and has been maintained that way for 5 years. They mix well even with some tigerbarbs. I did try adding a pair of angels and it just didn't work even with removing the tigers. Later on, I had more problems with the angels and they never did settle. Just depends on the fish you get I guess.

 

[aviva90]

I know people have had issues with combining serpaes and angels. One account I read said that they killed the guys 2 angel fish. I have no personal experience with serpaes (I keep rosy tetras, which are really pretty, and not a nippy) but I'm just letting you know what I've read/heard about from other people. Then again, I see some posters here say they haven't had issues... not sure what to tell ya, but I personally wouldn't risk it.

 

[finsNfur]

This thread is several months old, but I'll comment for any others considering adding serpaes to an angel tank. I added six serpaes to my 46 gallon with an angelfish a few months ago, but it didn't work out. The serpaes tormented the angel to the point that it had taken to hiding, and it began to look ragged.

 

[1cooljeep]

Didn't notice this thread had been resurected. For the prpose of follow up, I did end up getting 4 angels to put in the 125 with the 20+ Serpae tetras. They started about quarter size in the grow out tank, then moved into the main tank without a problem. Although initially skittish, the seemed to take to the tank and were great. I think the tank was big enough the Serpaes kept to themselves for the most part. Unfortunately, due to an unfortunate pH probe incident, the angels all died... I plan on getting 4 more soon. They were great centerpiece fish.

 

[tara777]

Interesting topic and there are many varying experiences. I have 9 serpaes (fully grown) and have recently added 6 angels (2 weeks). There is absolutely NO aggression so far, from either side, NO fin nipping They just chase each other at times. Also they have NEVER bothered the 12 cardinals I have in there, although I was advised they would . . . So . . . I also heard that serpaes will fin nip if they think they are starving, so I feed everyone well and do 3 25% water every week. My only worry is that the angels will breed as I'm not at all set up for that. Hope that helps.

 

[1cooljeep]

Progress report

Just as an update, I did put 4 more black veiled angelfish in my 125 gallon with my 20+ Serpae tetras and 6 Congo tetras and everyone seems to be getting along OK. I've not really noticed any fin nipping behavior thus far. They've been together about 4-6 weeks. The angelfish are now 3-4 inches diameter. The Serpae's mostly keep to themselves. Its a big enough school I guess they feel safe and don't get too defensive when the larger fish buzz around.