Schooling Fish
Schooling fish like tetras make excellent tankmates for Santa Isabel angelfish because they help create a more natural and calming environment. Their constant, peaceful movement acts as a "dither effect," signaling to the angelfish that it's safe, which reduces stress and encourages natural behavior. Tetras also share similar water parameter needs, making them easy to care for in the same setup. Additionally, their active schooling adds visual interest to the tank while gently diffusing any mild aggression from the angelfish.
Rummynose Tetras (Hemigrammus rhodostomus)
Rummynose Tetras are known for their distinctive red coloration on their faces, which gives them their name. They are small, peaceful fish with a transparent body and a striking red area around the gills and nose, giving them a unique and attractive appearance. Their serene nature and beautiful coloration make them an excellent addition to a peaceful community tank with species like the Santa Isabel Angelfish. Rummynose Tetras are also known for their schooling behavior, which adds a dynamic and lively presence to the aquarium. When kept in groups, they tend to swim together, creating a mesmerizing sight.
Tank Size:
Minimum 20 gallons for a small school (6–8 fish)
A larger group (10+ fish) would thrive in a 30-gallon tank or more.
Life Expectancy:
4–6 years
Water Parameters:
Temperature: 74–82°F (23–28°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Hardness: Soft to medium hard water
Food:
Omnivorous – Rummynose Tetras enjoy a varied diet consisting of flake food, live or frozen foods (such as brine shrimp and bloodworms), and vegetable-based foods (like spirulina or algae wafers).
Social Behavior:
Rummynose Tetras are schooling fish, so they should be kept in groups of at least 6–8 individuals. Their schooling behavior is peaceful and they will spend most of their time in the middle to upper water levels of the tank, which avoids any territory disputes with Santa Isabel Angelfish.
Temperament:
They are known for their peaceful and non-aggressive nature. They are excellent companions for other non-aggressive species like the Santa Isabel Angelfish.
Compatibility:
Their size, peaceful temperament, and schooling behavior make Rummynose Tetras ideal companions for Angelfish. However, like all schooling fish, they will feel more secure and less stressed when kept in groups, so it’s a good idea to introduce several at once to help them settle into your tank.
Neon Tetras (Paracheirodon innesi)
Neon Tetras are one of the most popular and visually striking schooling fish. These small fish have a brilliant blue body with a red stripe running from the mid-body to the tail, creating a vibrant contrast against the Santa Isabel Angelfish. Neon Tetras are peaceful and enjoy swimming in schools, adding a lot of color and movement to the tank. Their small size and calm temperament make them ideal companions for larger, peaceful fish like the Santa Isabel Angelfish.
Tank Size:
Minimum 10 gallons for a small school (6–8 fish)
A larger group (10+ fish) would thrive in a 20-gallon tank or more.
Life Expectancy:
3–5 years
Water Parameters:
Temperature: 70–81°F (21–27°C)
pH: 6.0–7.0
Hardness: Soft to medium hard water
Food:
Omnivorous – flake food, live/frozen foods (such as brine shrimp and daphnia), and small pellets
Social Behavior:
Neon Tetras are schooling fish, meaning they feel most secure and confident in groups. They will often school together in the middle to upper parts of the tank. Keeping them in groups of at least 6–8 individuals helps reduce stress.
Temperament:
Their peaceful nature makes them perfect tank mates for Santa Isabel Angelfish. They are small and non-aggressive and are very unlikely to compete with your Angelfish for territory or food.
Compatibility:
Neon Tetras are an excellent choice for a community tank with Angelfish. Their peaceful and non-threatening behavior ensures that they won’t bother the Santa Isabel Angelfish, and their bright coloration will beautifully contrast with the Angelfish’s delicate fins.
Cardinal Tetras (Paracheirodon axelrodi)
Cardinal Tetras are often confused with Neon Tetras, but they have a deeper red coloration that extends all the way from the head to the tail, creating a vibrant and striking appearance. Their glowing red bodies with a blue iridescent stripe running along their sides are stunning, and they do best when kept in schools. These small, peaceful fish are perfect for community tanks with other non-aggressive species like Santa Isabel Angelfish.
Tank Size:
Minimum 20 gallons for a school (6–8 fish)
A larger group (10+ fish) would thrive in a 30-gallon tank or more.
Life Expectancy:
3–5 years
Water Parameters:
Temperature: 74–82°F (23–28°C)
pH: 5.5–7.0
Hardness: Soft to medium hard water
Food:
Omnivorous – flake food, live/frozen foods (such as bloodworms and brine shrimp), and small pellets
Social Behavior:
Cardinal Tetras are schooling fish and should be kept in groups of at least 6–8 individuals to help them feel secure. They swim peacefully and typically occupy the middle to upper levels of the tank.
Temperament:
Their peaceful temperament ensures they won’t harm the Santa Isabel Angelfish. They are not territorial and will happily coexist with other non-aggressive species.
Compatibility:
Cardinal Tetras are excellent tank mates for Santa Isabel Angelfish, offering vibrant color without any risk of aggression or competition for resources.
Harlequin Rasboras (Trigonostigma heteromorpha)
Harlequin Rasboras are small, peaceful schooling fish that are known for their beautiful, shimmering copper-red coloration. They have a distinctive black triangular patch near their tails,
which contrasts with their reddish bodies. Harlequin Rasboras are perfect for peaceful community tanks and do well when kept in schools. Their calm temperament and small size make them ideal companions for Santa Isabel Angelfish.
Tank Size:
Minimum 20 gallons for a school (6–8 fish)
Life Expectancy:
5–7 years
Water Parameters:
Temperature: 72–80°F (22–27°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Hardness: Soft to medium hard water
Food:
Omnivorous – flake food, live/frozen foods (such as daphnia and brine shrimp), and small pellets
Social Behavior:
Harlequin Rasboras are schooling fish and should be kept in groups of at least 6–8 individuals to feel secure. They are peaceful and occupy the middle part of the tank, often swimming calmly together in schools.
Temperament:
Their calm and non-aggressive nature makes them excellent companions for the Santa Isabel Angelfish. They will not compete for space or food, and their peaceful nature ensures harmony in the tank.
Compatibility:
Harlequin Rasboras are excellent tank mates for Angelfish. They offer a beautiful pop of color to your aquarium and create an active school, all while maintaining peaceful cohabitation with the Santa Isabel Angelfish.
Black Neon Tetras (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi)
Black Neon Tetras have a sleek, silver body with a black stripe running horizontally from head to tail, creating a striking contrast against the Santa Isabel Angelfish’s coloration. They are peaceful and social, making them great tank mates for community setups. Black Neon Tetras tend to school together in groups and thrive in the presence of other peaceful fish.
Tank Size:
Minimum 10 gallons for a small school (6–8 fish)
A larger group (10+ fish) would thrive in a 20-gallon tank or more.
Life Expectancy:
3–5 years
Water Parameters:
Temperature: 72–80°F (22–27°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Hardness: Soft to medium hard water
Food:
Omnivorous – flake food, live/frozen foods (such as daphnia and brine shrimp), and small pellets
Social Behavior:
Black Neon Tetras are schooling fish and should be kept in groups. They are very peaceful and typically swim in the middle or upper regions of the tank.
Temperament:
Their peaceful nature ensures they won’t disturb the Santa Isabel Angelfish. They are very compatible with Angelfish, as they do not pose any territorial threat and will not compete for food.
Compatibility:
Black Neon Tetras are ideal companions for Santa Isabel Angelfish. Their schooling behavior and peaceful nature add visual interest to the tank, and they blend beautifully with other peaceful species.