jocky

Hey guys,
I bought about 50 or so neons for my 75 gallon tank. Was really hoping they would school closely together, but because there is a lack of predators in the area they scatter.

I was thinking about obtaining a big fish, you know, not predatory but "intimidating" enough that it would make the neons want to stay together.

Any ideas on who will be the perfect candidate?

OrangeCones

My vet does this with a PICTURE of a bigger fish taped to the side of the aquarium! Dunno if it is just a fluke, but it works for his cardinal tetras. I told him it was mean to keep them 'stressed' but he just laughed!

jocky

Very interesting. However, this tank is in display at a restaurant.
It doesn't look very nice with a picture of a Convict cichlid as a wallpaper. LOL

ddavila06

how about one or two angels? i had neons before and they didn't get eaten, they did well until they kind of just died off...i also had a red tail chelseaus that actually didn't seem interested in eating smaller fish...that was kind of odd

jocky

I have a breeding pair of angels in there before, I just recently moved them out because I saw the male eat the neon. So they have been moved out for 2 weeks now.
I think if the neons had reached full size, it wouldn't be a problem, however, these little guys are about 1/2" at max I'd say.

ddavila06

good point, younger neons probably make a tasty snack@! other fish you can add and you will likely love are rainbows. i don't have any more neons but my madagascar/boesmani rainbows live in a large tank with cherry shrimp

jocky

Rainbows are really rare to find up here in MN. Even those family owned stores that hold exotic fishes don't carry them.

They are definitely a pretty option indeed.

ddavila06

too bad, they are missing some big bussiness with them...if you have some $$ order some online, im sure there is others here that can hook you up with quality vendors and good prices, it is shipping that screws everything up i had threadfin, boesmani, madagascar and my very most favorite blue eye furcatas

Diana K

Angels DO eat Neons and similar sized fish.

If you cannot get Rainbows (and they are worth searching for) try a Pearl Gourami. I have had them eat Guppy fry (but what fish wouldn't ) but the Guppy parents were safe.

Six

Pearl gourami do work really well. around here people are breeding them in the summer in tub gardens. usually around this time of year there's a good amount available.