Very Aggresive Angels

[MrPurplePickle]

Hi

I have 2 Angels in my 55 gallon tank, with schools of tetras and harlequin rasboras. Well planted.
The Angels were bought young after the tank was cycled roughly 12 months ago.
I know one angel is defintely female, she has laid eggs, with the other quickly feasting on them.

Over the last week or two the aggression between the 2 has increased alot, neither one is
majorly more dominant, both seem to give as good as they take.
Both seem to also be less tolerate of the tetras and rasboras as well.

Will they sort it out themselves?
Unsure as to what is the best course of action. Could really do with some advice.

Thanks

 

[1411939]

you could have a pair of angels that are trying to breed as in angels, is rar for them to lose nor win like in other aggressive cichlid species, my green teror and jd would do this none would win so the gt would flare at the jd but they wouldnt fight to death... this just happens in the xtreme cases wit more aggressive species,.... BUT thats what i think u r referring to when both angels hold their own, so they aare probably trying to breed but the conditions arent right yet otherwise usually one angel will kill the other male angel

 

[freerunner416]

Hi,

It does sound like your angels are trying breed. I have 3 single angels and a breeding pair in my tank. When the pair are getting ready to breed all hell breaks loose in the tank and everybody is fighting. One of the single females is the dominant angel but the breeding pair will not split up so she just lays eggs at another point in the tank at the same time.

Once the eggs are laid they last anything from 1hour to 8days before they are all eaten. I dont have the space to raise them.

You have been quite lucky to get a pair from 2 angels.

Goodluck

 

[MrPurplePickle]

Thanks for your replys.
I was watching them this morning before work, the female (the one I know to be female) was chasing the other Angel around the tank, and had her breeding tube showing.

I see three possibilities.
1. Other Angel is male and is breeding behaviour as mentioned above.
2. Other Angel is male and not interested, perhaps some barry white and blood worms be candlelight are in order.
3. Other Angel is female.

Does the behaviour possibly represent theories 2 or 3?
Just trying to get a handle on this

Thanks

 

[MrPurplePickle]

Further Update.
Almost 2 weeks on, they are still going for it hammer and tongs.
The known female is certainly the more aggressive of the 2, the second also shows signs of some fin damage.

 

[MrPurplePickle]

One question answered.
Both angels are female.

Now that I know that the big question, do they need to be seperated?

 

[the biffster]

take one female and see if you can swap it for
a male of roughly the same size or slightly bigger
they will pair of but not strait away there might be a bit
knocking about first but i thinks they will pair i have
done it in the past and got away with it

 

[karin]

I'm going to jump in on this with two questions:

1. I have two angels that have been together for 2 months and really seem to prefer to hang out with each other. Zero aggression but only 1.5 inches of body to teach, one a bit smaller. I'm guessing that I cannot assume their buddy behavior will last, and that they are not mature right now which is what really accounts for their "friendship". They get on so well now, wish it would last indefinitely.

2. When can you sex an angel Biffster? I was under the assumption that its plain old luck unless you have a known breeding pair?

 

[MrPurplePickle]

Biff,
I am not particularily interested in having a breeding pair, I am more interested in can I keep the 2 feamles together.

Karin,
1. Sounds exactly like where is was. Was not until maturity hit in that any problems arose.
2. I had the same belief.

Cheers