How Many Angels?

[CageUK]

I did do a search on the forum first for this and after over an hour of reading posts have sort of found what I am looking for but not categorically so I just wanted to check if I may.

On going out to purchase a couple of angels today my lfs successfully talked me OUT of buying them. He told me that they are shoaling fish and are happiest and least likely to be aggressive in groups of 6 or more.
He also says that sexing angels is nigh on impossible so there is no way to work out if you would end up with two males which could then get aggressive with each other.

We only have a 180 ltr tank well on the way to being stocked and to have 6 angels in it would be ridiculus.

On searching the forums I found many references to ppl having pairs of angels with no adverse comments about this.
My take on it is this: A pair of angels will be fine but are likely to get territorial if they breed.

Is this correct?

Is two angels a wise choice or should I opt for three or even just one?

Would the sex of the fish be an issue and is there anything I could do about it?

I have a community mix of:

Gouramis, mollies, pictus, plecs, rainbows and a mischievous Flying fox (starting to chase the other fish).

Appreciate any advice!

Cheers

 

[pica_nuttalli]

well, the LFS is half-way correct. purchasing 6+ small angels and waiting until two of them pair up is the general advice given to people wanting more than one angel. getting two random angels is generally not a good choice because, yes, they are territorial and yes, two males will fight constantly as adults.

if one wants to keep more than two adult angels, then the advice to keep 6+ in a tank is not bad advice provided that you have room. keeping that many angels will help distribute any aggression such that no one fish is likely to be picked on constantly.

really, the only part of that i disagree with is that I don't think of angels as being "shoaling" fish.

 

[CageUK]

Well that's good to know as I had sort of a good feeling about this guy but I'd never heard this advice before.

Would the answer then be to have just one angel?

 

[jakeroberts]

yes i would think so as i have one angel and have never had any problems

 

[Straydum]

it does no harm to your angels but as a personal rule, i still go for angels in even numbers. besides, they look better that way. not to mention probably happier too. lol.

 

[scooterchick]

Sounds like a pretty good lfs!!!

Go for the single angel, much less problems.