Angel Problem

[azvictoria]

Hi all,
Posting for a coworker. Maybe a bullying situation? The fish are about a year old, two angels in 40 gallon tank with some other little things. Any advice other than separate? It's hard for me to know more without seeing it.

'Yellow angel is hanging out slightly sideways at bubbler top. Water quality just tested, is good, upped the temp a bit, plenty of oxygen and filtration, and all other fish are fine. Sudden onset. Same age as another angel that's grown 3x larger. Is it swim bladder?'

 

[Byron]

You are probably correct, this is most likely an issue of aggression. Two angelfish will rarely get long unless they are both female (sometimes this works, not always though), or a bonded pair. Two males are likely to fight to the death, as both will consider a 40g tank "their" territory. So the tank size is a factor here, and the inherent nature of the species itself.

"Bonded pair" means the two fish selected and accepted each other from within an original group. Sometimes a male may accept any female added to his tank, but usually not for long.

It would seem likely that the dominant fish has now decided to take charge. Dominant behaviour can occur early or at any time. It is the genetic makeup of the species. Separating the two is absolutely all that can be done now, in the hope the bullied fish will recover--it may or may not regardless.

 

[azvictoria]

You are probably correct, this is most likely an issue of aggression. Two angelfish will rarely get long unless they are both female (sometimes this works, not always though), or a bonded pair. Two males are likely to fight to the death, as both will consider a 40g tank "their" territory. So the tank size is a factor here, and the inherent nature of the species itself.

"Bonded pair" means the two fish selected and accepted each other from within an original group. Sometimes a male may accept any female added to his tank, but usually not for long.

It would seem likely that the dominant fish has now decided to take charge. Dominant behaviour can occur early or at any time. It is the genetic makeup of the species. Separating the two is absolutely all that can be done now, in the hope the bullied fish will recover--it may or may not regardless.

Thank you!