Can angels live alone?

[azvictoria]

Hi All,
I found this forum after giving up a male Philippine blue angel from a bonded pair and breeding pair - after many years he suddenly and relentlessly attacked the female and went back to his breeder (it was only the two together, no other angels). After the female grew her fins back, even most of a pectoral, I wanted to see if she could be part of a shoal. I got several little ones, and now after only a week, two of the little ones are going straight after her. They're the size of a coin, she's the size of a small bass. She's incredibly submissive and now stressed. I removed two of the small ones that I suspect are male and she's relaxing. There is one small one left in the big tank, I'm pretty sure a female and so far, so good but I don't trust these little ones or my big blue's ability to handle any bit of aggression. Will she be okay alone for her duration if it comes down to it? Other than her healing time, she never has been alone. She's 6 years old. She could slaughter these babies but doesn't push back even in the slightest. Still healing, aging or a fish version of PTSD?

60 gallon tall, well established
ANN all zero
Weekly water changes
Other fish - cories, neons, otos and nerite snails

 

[Guyb93]

Hi All,
I found this forum after giving up a male Philippine blue angel from a bonded pair and breeding pair - after many years he suddenly and relentlessly attacked the female and went back to his breeder (it was only the two together, no other angels). After the female grew her fins back, even most of a pectoral, I wanted to see if she could be part of a shoal. I got several little ones, and now after only a week, two of the little ones are going straight after her. They're the size of a coin, she's the size of a small bass. She's incredibly submissive and now stressed. I removed two of the small ones that I suspect are male and she's relaxing. There is one small one left in the big tank, I'm pretty sure a female and so far, so good but I don't trust these little ones or my big blue's ability to handle any bit of aggression. Will she be okay alone for her duration if it comes down to it? Other than her healing time, she never has been alone. She's 6 years old. She could slaughter these babies but doesn't push back even in the slightest. Still healing, aging or a fish version of PTSD?

60 gallon tall, well established
ANN all zero
Weekly water changes
Other fish - cories, neons, otos and nerite snails

Angels can do perfectly well on there own in reality, i wouldn’t be to worried about the smaller angels cus like you said the size difference she could easily defend herself but you know your fish and if you know it’s causing her stress I’d keep her on her own

 

[itiwhetu]

She will be perfectly happy on her own

 

[Byron]

I agree, alone is best in this situation. Angelfish are a shoaling species by instinct, but when a pair has bonded and been separated for a number of years such as for breeding, that has an impact on the fish's inherent traits. Should it become necessary to separate them, as here, it is not usually wise to re-introduce them to a shoal. It may sometimes work, but for the majority of the time it will end with a highly stressed fish and that leads to ill health and likely death depending upon the circumstances.

 

[azvictoria]

I agree, alone is best in this situation. Angelfish are a shoaling species by instinct, but when a pair has bonded and been separated for a number of years such as for breeding, that has an impact on the fish's inherent traits. Should it become necessary to separate them, as here, it is not usually wise to re-introduce them to a shoal. It may sometimes work, but for the majority of the time it will end with a highly stressed fish and that leads to ill health and likely death depending upon the circumstances.

Thank you! The little ones already have a home and big blue will live out her days stress free and solitary. Any suggestions for low energy, peaceful tank inhabitants or do you think anything new will stress her out? I hate to buy and rehome fish - not just the money, but stressing them as well.

 

[Byron]

Thank you! The little ones already have a home and big blue will live out her days stress free and solitary. Any suggestions for low energy, peaceful tank inhabitants or do you think anything new will stress her out? I hate to buy and rehome fish - not just the money, but stressing them as well.

I would not hesitate to have other peaceful fish in with the angelfish, but they have to be carefully thought out. Substrate fish like a group of Corydoras would be good. For upper level fish, shoaling species that are not active but more sedate work best with angelfish. For example, forget any danios and barbs, they are much too active. Some of the rasboras can work, or some of the sedate tetras like the Rosy Tetra, Red Phantom, Black Phantom. These are not only quiet cruisers, they are disk-shaped which means much less chance the angelfish might decide thy are food which the linear tetras can end up as. Species and numbers depend upon the tank size, but you want a decent number of each species. Floating plants are highly advisable. Sand substrate if cories are intended.