Social Angels

[garyspence84]

Hello all!!

Just want to find out a bit about angels. I have always been led to believe that angels should be kept by them selves, and have always had 1 angel at any 1 time in my tanks through the years.

But since joining this forum, reading other peoples threads and looking at everyones tank, I constantly see/read about people successfully keeping angels together.

Now, I have an angel in with my discus, always have. He just kicks about with them, chases them, even flirts with 1 of them doing the old shakey dance at the side of it (quite funny to watch ), thinks it is a discus itself.

Iv always liked the idea of having a group of them, like 3,4,5 maybe? Would this be a good idea? given that iv had him about a year now? He's still young though, i got it when it was tiny tiny.

Cheers

G

 

[ZoddyZod]

they exist in large numbers in the wild and are definately a social fish - the issues arrise with space, correct numbers kept and if pairs form.

I keep 6 in my 4 foot. 1 Pair has formed and marked out their territory. They will mostly tolerate the others but get feisty when they are wanting to spawn. Because there are 4 others to take this 'attention', it is dispersed and manageable. If there were 3 in there, chances are that the odd one would be picked on too much and possibly die.

what size tank do you have?

 

[garyspence84]

Its a 4ft tank. What would be an ok number to up them too?

G

 

[ZoddyZod]

well I guess it depends on the rest of the stocking. You say you already have discus in there, so how busy is the tank already?

 

[garyspence84]

That was going to be my next question actually, I have 5 young discus, 1 angel, 9 corys, 2 bolivian rams, 4 bleeding hearts, 1 spotted cat, 1 plec and soon to be a butterfly fish.The tanks fairly well planted too with plenty of large pieces of bogwood. I know im prob near, if not at my limit already?

The tank doesnt look too busy just now, but i know in about a year or so, when the discus grow a bit (as well as angels), it will look pretty busy and some bogwood will have to go to make some space.

G

 

[onidrase]

I'd say your tank is pretty dang stocked already. having 5 discus and 6 angels in a 4 footer is a lot of pretty big fish in a semi confined space.

 

[FishFanatic04]

As a soon to be Angel parent..... Can't you have 2 Angels...as opposed to 6. Then they have someone socially without pushing your tank seams.

 

[FishFanatic04]

I was planning to have 4 {eventually finding 2 breeding pairs} Will that be a tough number? {sry for the hijack question} I have a 4ft as well... 4 angels / 2 Gourami

 

[onidrase]

I'd prefer a solo, single pair, or group of 6 or more.

@ OP, if you've had your angel alone for a while anyway, it might be best to keep him like that. I've found that even social species can be territorial to others of their kind if kept by themselves for a long time.

 

[garyspence84]

I'd say your tank is pretty dang stocked already. having 5 discus and 6 angels in a 4 footer is a lot of pretty big fish in a semi confined space.

Cool, I already knew this, but slightly indenial cheers for clearing it up for me though.

Think my 1 that thinks its a discus will do for now, at least till I get a bigger tank

G

 

[Zikofski]

ye the hardest part of angel fish is adding new angel fish into an already establish tank, for example i originally bought 2 angel fish and the fought badly took one away and all was okay then i was told on here to add more but adding 4 or 6 i went with the 4 and the one on its own bickered and fought with the other 3 was okay i have 3 around same size and 1 smaller and the smaller one dose get picked on more, and 2 of my large ones have paired of i think

so ye if you do get more just keep an eye out, i would say best to buy all your angel fish at one go so there is no problem with the hierarchy

 

[garyspence84]

Yeh I wish i had done this now, but im about a year too late, and i love the we guy! looks great, almost pure black

Well if/when he snuffs it, i'll no what to do hopefully that WONT happen for a LONG time though.

G

 

[Zikofski]

Haha I know the feeling I couldn't leave my guys either