Angelfish

[fish_face]

Hi all,

Ever since we got our fish tank, i've wanted to add a couple of angelfish, but most people say that they are vicious, especially with smaller fish. Is this true? and are there any certain fish that they particularly don't like?

I do have guppies, but probably wouldn't continue to buy them if I got angels. Other than that, the smallest fish we have are swordtails.

 

[sylvia]

Provided you get small angels that will only reach adult size after all the guppies are gone, you should have no problems. Swordtails are generaly ok, as are cories, gourmies and any fish that is relatively large (so as not to get eaten) but also won't nip the angel's long fins.

A friend of mine used to keep angels with scissor-tails, blue and gold three-spot gouramies, cories, a bristlenose plec, rosy barbs and swordtails in a 150 gallon tank. They all got along great and were absolutely beautiful to look at.

I wouldn't call angelfish vicious. They just naturaly eat small fish. In particular, fish like neon tetras and small guppies should be avoided. Tetras, in particular, are mostly what they would eat in the wild... Other fish that should be avoided are things like tiger barbs that'll nip.

 

[Tolak]

Any fish that will fit, or that they think will fit in their mouth will be looked at as food. Other than that the only aggression I've seen with mine has been directed towards other angels. They will form a sort of pecking order among themselves, much like dogs. If a pair forms they do best in a tank by themselves as the only angels.

Sometimes you can keep a pair in a tank with other angels, but it needs to be a larger tank, with decorations arranged to provide definite area so they can more or less stake out a territory. A 55 gallon or larger is the only way I've ever been able to do this without having a fish or 2 get beat on. Some pairs are really nuts, and this just doesn't fly.

They will leave other fish pretty much alone if they don't look like angelfish or food. Mine are in with platys, corys, plecs, & zebra danios.

Tolak

 

[Sasha]

I have a gold angelfish and he doesn't bother any of the fish. He has the sweetest personality. In the tank with him are guppies, platies, a swordtail and ottos.

 

[handsomeboy]

mine are fine except when theyre nursing eggs (which never hatch)

when they are, they bite me, the other fish, and anything that moves (like nets and siphons). theyre crazy when they breed.

 

[northpaul]

mine lives ok with cardinals and mounting minnows does not bother them at all yet!!!

 

[gto_cowgirl]

I think a lot of people consider most cichlids to be aggressive. It isn't that they are actually aggressive but are protective and need tons of space to have plenty of territory. Angelfish shouldn't be mixed with smaller fish that are equal to or smaller than their mouth because the angelfish will usually try to eat them, chase them to death or bite them in pieces. It is just their nature to see smaller fish as food.

Because angelfish have to have such territory issues they tend to not look forward to new fish. If you add fish, chances are yes the angelfish are going to show the new fish who is boss. Right now i have 2 blue rams with my angelfish, and my angelfish will chase the rams occasionally to tell them who is boss. I also use to have a rainbow and the angelfish did the same thing.

If you want angelfish then just make sure that any fish that you add with the angelfish are healthy so they won't get stressed out to much at first and die, bigger than their mouth, and not nippy. Make sure that you do give your angelfish plenty of space because if you don't sooner or later your angelfish will probably become more aggressive because of the issue and that may cost your other fish lives. I would say about 10 gallons per angelfish.

I personnally would never give up owning angelfish. They show personality, colors, attitude and very smart for a fish.

 

[ramesses]

I agree with the Southern Belle.Angels have plenty of personality,beauty and even though most people I know concider the discus as the kings of fresh water fish,to me there no more majestic fish than the gorgeous angels

 

[trevo878]

Angelfish are relatively peaceful... so you shouldn't have any problems