Angelfish Tank

[SouthernCross]

Hi

I've been thinking about starting a large tank one day (5 or 6 foot) and I'd love to keep a larger group of angels in it. Say 6-8 angels. Maybe more. I'm confused though - from what I've been reading it seems impossible to keep multiple angels if you get a pair - that the pair will become highly aggressive and kill the others? I'm guessing out of 6-8 that getting at least one pair is inevitable.

Can you keep a large group of angels together or not?

 

[Tolak]

With a larger group in a larger tank you will have more room for territory. The aggression will also be spread among more fish, so that one individual is not singled out. This is a situation where you could overstock a bit, similar to an African cichlid tank.

You may have one or two extremely aggressive individuals, so keep a divider handy, and prearrange a home for the fish if this happens.

 

[LIL860]

I have 7 angelfish of similar sizes and the get along together great they are in a 2 foot square 220 litre tank. I cannot add any of a smaller size though i tried it and my female angel (she has now died) killed it. They live with a silver shark 2 clown loaches and a parrot fish.

 

[Davo86]

I think the key with angels, and other cichlid types is to purchase the group at a relatively young age/size, IMO a group of angels that grow up together get used to a pecking order amongst the group, I would personally purchase around 8-10 2-3" angels and introduce them to the tank at the same time, this gives them plenty of time to build territories and allows you to see where any problems may occur in the future once they have matured. Also a key reason for having this number is that if you get one or a pair of particulary aggresive fish you can always remove them from your tank and find them another home elsewhere