Adding An Angelfish To An Established Tank

[dafrnhm]

Hello,

I have just attempted to add an angelfish to my tank and it didnt go as planned.

I followed some guides i see online, i currently have 2 angelfish. I bought a new angelfish that was roughly the same size. Turns out it was the same size as 1 of them but a few cm bigger that my platinum one. Thing is the smaller one is going mental and chased him round the tank for a good 15 minutes. I only read about the big fish being bullies, not the small one.

Ive re-arranged the tank to try destroy territories. I have now taken the small platinum out for a time out. I dont know what to do.

The other angel isnt fazed by the new addition at all.

 

[Noahs ark6]

You are never meant to add angelfish if there is already anglefish in the tank. I advise you take it back to the shop

 

[ZoddyZod]

yep - adding an angel to a tank where others have established is always going to be a risk. Sometimes it can work but more often than not there will be some problems.

Also, 3 isn't a great number either - the weakest being easily ganged up on and if a pair forms then it's likely to be curtains for the 3rd.

 

[dafrnhm]

Its annoying because the other one is swimming around with new fish like they've been together for years. I'm tempted to try introduce them one more time, I did only leave them together for a while. Could it just be asserting dominance?

Would it make any difference if I put the aggressive fish back into the tank when the lights are out? I don't want to damage either fish, the new fish is quite a bit bigger and should be able to fend him off, hopefully he has got over the initial stress of being dumped into a new tank and stick up for himself a bit.

Am I completely missing the point? If they don't get on instantly is there nothing I can do other than return the fish.

 

[soybean]

I would imagine removing them all, rearranging the tank, leaving them out for a while then adding them back in at once is pretty much all you can try.

Pretty stressful for your existing angels though, they didn't ask for a third!

I'd keep whichever two get on the best and let another go. Can't force them to get along.