Keeping Altum with small fishes

[b_goh88]

I have the followings;

1. Cardinal x 25
2. Discus x 4 (WILD)
3. Altum Angel x 14 (WILD)

in 4x1.5x1.5 tank. 3 x Canister and 1 x OHF. So far so good. No issue.

Hi FND,

I'm trying to add small Altum into my 4 x 2 x 2, but someone advise me that once they get big they will eat the small fish. How big is your Altum? Any problem with small fish like tetra? Thanks for you advise.

[quix]

When the altum gets big enough, they'll pick off some tetras every now and then. I've seen that happen to mine. The tetras won't disappear overnight. They just reduce in numbers gradually.

[FND]

Agreed with quix. However, mine died to other reasons. So far none eaten (not witness yet) My altums are about 4" from mouth-tail now. If you add the altum at later stage, most of the time quite safe. I do hope you prepared you tank before introducing altums. My apologies to the late replies. More info of altum keeping here, http://www.arofanatics.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=304532.

[illumnae]

altums will generally eat whatever fish they can fit into their mouths. There have been documented instances of altums choking to death on small otos, as well as multiple reported events where adult altums make snacks out of cardinal tetras. I've been advised that this usually takes place after the altums are 1-2 years old...and someone has reported 100+ cardinals being eaten within the span of a week! So cardinals are safe for about a year, then you have to start thinking of other tankmates (red phantom and bleeding heart tetras are recommended as they grow sufficiently large and are also naturally occurring in altum's home waters)

[fishking]

This is the nature world of Big eat Small...Even goldfish will chase and eat small tetras or guppies which can fit in their mouths. This is their natural survival instinct.

[FND]

If I'm not mistaken, I've seen online video where Altum and Silver dollars/pacu swims together in the wild.

[unsung]

We've all seen it too. In the wild they do get eaten but their numbers are so great..Its an ecosystem, some will die, get eaten but they will reproduce.

[bosebani]

I kept my wild altums with my cardinals, been together for half year. The altums looks great with a school of cardinals swimming between them. Will be looking forward for the day when the cardinals become snacks for the altums, which also mean, the altums will be adults are ready to breed

[mok]

If you are going into Altums, the last thing you should worry is them eating up the tank mates.

[bosebani]

If you are going into Altums, the last thing you should worry is them eating up the tank mates.

bro, meaning altums will not eat up the tank mates?

[illumnae]

i think he means you have other things to worry about like acclimitizing the altums and keeping them alive in their initial unstable stage, curing any diseases/parasites carried by the altums, getting them to eat commercial foods etc.