Adding more angels

[FishEnthusiast]

Hi,

I have a mature angel(about 5") in my 55G tank. I added 2 juvie angels today(one is about 2" the other 1"). My big guy didn't like the addition at all. Am I going to have to rehome the 2 smaller ones? There is no way I can rearrange the tank without up rooting a lot of plants. The big guy doesn't seem to be hurting the little ones, but he does like to swim up to them and try and bump them. The little ones are still faster and they swim away. I am worried he is going to harrass them, possibly to death. If I do remove them and put them in my 20G until they are bigger, will I be able to reintroduce them in the future? All help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[The-Wolf]

I recently added two smaller angels to my bigger one.
he did what yours is doing but after 2 days all was and is well.
I think it is just that he will establish himself as the Alpha, so
he gets the best food etc.

 

[FishEnthusiast]

That is kind of what I was thinking too. He is a mean guy. He chased my gourami around for at least a week. He doesn't stand a chance against my rainbows when it comes to food though, those things are fast. I usually separate my angel to feed him.

I am going to keep my eye on the aggression to make sure he isn't going to hurt the little ones.

One other question. I have had the juvies since they were the same size. One seems to have doubled in size, but the other one seems tiny. Why is that? They both seem healthy, and since moving them to the bigger tank, they have stuck together.

I wasn't going to move both to the big tank, only the bigger one, but circumstances called for me moving them both. I was going to only move the bigger one and hope the smaller one caught up in size. Thanks again.

 

[Tolak]

Some chasing is always going to happen with a group of angels. As long as no fins are being ripped, or no one is constantly hiding in strange spots, they should be fine. A 55 is lots of room for 3 angels, leaves plenty of room for territory. Even if you get a pair out of them, there should be enough room for the loner. Nice stocking.

For some reason, some angels from the same spawn will grow faster than others. Usually the slower growing one will catch up. Giving the smaller one more tank room may help also.

I've put dime size angels in with adults, in a 55 also. They sort things out in no time, everyone gets along fine after that.

Tolak

 

[FishEnthusiast]

The 55G is in my sig. As you can see, half is planted and the other half is a big decoration I am covering in moss. That is the side of the tank with the filter. The 2 smaller ones are over on that side and the big angel is patrolling his territory around the plants. I have seen no nipped fins as of yet. I will keep a close eye on them though. I am not really trying to breed them as the two smaller ones are koi angels as I have recently discovered. I don't want to inbreed them. I am pretty sure they wouldn't pair up with the bigger guy, he is at least twice their size.