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angelfish and african butterfly fish compatibility

23 11:45:23

Question
QUESTION: I am setting up a 30 gallon aquarium that i hope to base around a pair of angelfish.  i also would like to have an african butterfly fish in this tank.  Are there any precautions to take for these two species or are they generally compatible?  I thank you taking the time to answer this question.

ANSWER: Hi Jerry,
There should be no problem, but take a little while longer to acclimate him to your tank.  I would say about 1 hour or so adding water from your tank to the bag.  Once well acclimated, he should do very well.  He is a little nervous so add live floating plants, and make sure there is no opening where he could jump out.  They are good jumpers, and will find the smallest hole to jump.  Feed him well, so that he stays healthy.   He is a carnivore, so feed him lots of live and frozen food, and freeze dried food.  Now and then you can feed him crickets that you buy at the pet store, and never some that you find on the ground.   You could also feed him clean worms that you buy at the bait shop, now, and then.  To clean the worms put them in oats for about a week.  Be sure that the food you give him floats at the top, because he will not swim down to get food.
Hope this answers your question.
Lynda

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QUESTION: I also wondered what other fish would be good companions in this tank?

ANSWER: Hi!
Angel fish need 10 gallons of water each, so you could go with rams seeing as they like the same water conditions, and don't occupy the angels space.  You could add 4 rams to your tank.  They are really beautiful little fish.  You could also add 5 little cory catfish, such as pandas.  The butterfly will eat any fish that he can fit into his mouth, so top dwellers wouldn't do well.  Also, be very careful of putting fin nippers into your tank, so stick with cichlids, but small ones.  The ram would be my choice, but there are other dwarf cichlids that you could choose from.  The borellii is another dwarf cichlid that would get along with Angels.  Don't overstock your tank, as this causes stress, and stressed fish get sick.  Read up on them before you buy, as some little cichlids are more aggressive than others.
Lynda

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QUESTION: what  about Electric yellow cichlids and Elongated mbunas

Answer
Hi Jerry,
You cannot mix African Cichlids with South American Cichlids.  African Cichlids need alkaline water of 8.0 and up.  They are very aggressive, need at least a 50 gallon tank with lots, and lots of hiding places made with rocks, and overturned pots.  They are much too aggressive, and territorial to keep with Angels, and Butterfly fish.  The South American Cichlids need acidic to neutral water, and although aggressive, they are much less aggressive than the African Cichlids.  Mixing these fish would lead to death of your Angels, and Butterfly fish.
Lynda