Angelfish Compatability

[KathyM]

As some of you know, we lost 2 of our angelfish babies recently. The other two are going strong, and eventually we'll want to look into getting new tankmates.

Having been slightly put off buying more angels, I wondered what you thought would be best? The tank is 50g while they're young, soon to be upped to 5ft x 2ft x 2ft. We have 5 penguin tetras, 8 black widows, and 6 cories. We also have a young gibby and a baby BN.

We're not looking yet, but have read online that apistogrammas and rams are suitable tankmates for angels - is this true? Are they hardier than angels as we don't want to pick another fish that's prone to disease? Are there any other small cichlids that would go in our setup?

 

[RadaR]

Rams and Apistos would be OK with Angels in your sized tank, in smaller tanks it's not so good.
Gouramis would be nice additions, like Opaline, Three-spotand Pearl.

 

[KathyM]

Thanks Radar

I'll have a look into the apistos and rams then - I'm not sure about gouramis as I'd prefer to keep this tank to fish from the same sort of area (even if it's only the same continent).

 

[KathyM]

Just to come back to this with another question (sorry!).

I've read that it's best to have a pair of rams if we decide to get them, as they're happier that way even in a "community" setup. Is this the case? Is it a nono to have two of the same sex? I'm only wondering because I don't know how to sex them if/when I see them in the shop. Is it a case of buying a small group and waiting for them to pair off?

Same questions apply to any other kind of small cichlid that would need to be in pairs.

Thanks again in advance and sorry for being a pest!

 

[RadaR]

Rams do prefer not to be on their own. If you want 2 then 2 females or a male and female is best. If you need to know the sex of them (which I think you do) then I think you could buy a group and wait to see what sex they are or just buy 2 and wait and see. You don't really need a "pair" if you aren't intending to breed them.

 

[KathyM]

Thanks very much - no I'm not after breeding them. It'd just be handy not to end up with two males who hated each other *lol*.