Aggressive Angel To Mate

[Centaur]

Hi

HELP - This is my first posting, so please be gentle with me !

I have a 40 gallon (180litre) community tank which has been set up for about 6 months, including a single female angel of about 2.5 to 3 inches in size. I thought that I would add another angel as a 'mate'! The new angel is a ghost veil angel and is slightly smaller than my original female at about 2inches.

My original angel is being aggressive to the new arrival (which has been in the tank for 2 days). Is the aggression of my original angel likely to subside or will it just get worse. Are there any tips to stop the aggression?


Thanks very much

 

[ox5477]

Angels are cichlids.... a very specialized breed, but still cichlids none the less and can be territotorial. If you just put the new angel in then the original is prob just defending its territory. If you are sure the angel you added was a male then it is a possibility that they could mate but putting a new cichlid in an established cichlids tank is hit or miss. The old angel may except the new guy over time but there are no guarentees for mating. The best would have been to grow a pair up from young. But try taking both of them out, do a water change and move the tank decor around and this will confuse the old angel so that it thinks it is a new tank/area/body of water so that it will have to re-establish territory and it will give the new angel a chance to do the same. If it seems that the two are still gestureing and lip-locking extensively then it just isn't going to work and your old angel will just have to be single. Watching cichlids begin to breed and just plain fighting can be hard to tell. Both are almost the same, just that eventually the fighting will stop with breeding obv.

I'm not sure how big your angels will get but space might be another reason. It might be just right for the one angel and with the new one, it might just be to crowded so that they will never be able to live together in that tank.... if thats the case, then always good to have a reason to upgrade your tank to a bigger size .

 

[Rhiannon]

Its not nice seeing aggression is it..

I hope your 1st angel calms down.

Rhiannon

 

[demonmagus]

that sounds like fairly typical behaviour, unless they do pair up (you'll have to be lucky) they may keep fighting

 

[Avinitlarge]

Had this loads of times, Ours usually calm down after a few days

 

[Centaur]

Thanks Ox5477

I have done as you suggested. The initial signs look hopeful but I shall have t keep my fingures crossed for the next couple of days.

Will keep you posted

 

[Centaur]

Hi
After reorganising the tank's plants and bog wood and carrying out a water change I pu the two angels back inti the tank.
I am pleased to say that things have iproved quite alot. My new angel is now swimming around the tank rather than just 'hisding in the corner' and it is also eating. My original angel still gives the 'newboy/girl' a gentle reminder every now and again that she is boss, but in general they are musch better.

Thanks again for the tip!