cognizant

I posted this somewhere else and then realized there was an angel forum...

I am setting up a 29g tank and I really want to put 2 angelfish in it... I was just wondering if there is a way to sex them before I do this? Or if there isn't, should I just get one? If I end up with two males would they become aggressive toward each other?

mathas

The only reliable way to sex them is to see them spawn, or at least catch them while their breeding tubes are out, as shown here.

Two angels might work, or might not. I wouldn't recommend getting more than one unless you have some sort of contingency plan to deal with aggression, such as a separate tank or returning one to the store.

cognizant

In a 29g tank what other fish would go well with an angel?

Iron waffle

Having 2 angels could potentially be trouble. The dominant one will pick on the smaller or weaker one. With angel either get 1 or 3+. Unless they're a breeding pair or in a large tank with hideouts.

Iron waffle

How about gouramis or some bottom dwelling catfish?

cognizant

Would it be possible to keep an angel, 3 scissortails, and 3 cory cats in a 29g? Inch wise they would be near perfect, but not sure if it would be wise or not.

I really want the angelfish, I think they are so beautiful... but I'm not sure to put with it.

A 29g tank is too small for 3 angels, right?

mathas

In my opinion, yes. A 29g is large enough for one mated pair, or one single specimen plus other types of fish.

cognizant

Thank you for your help, I will see if any stores have a mated pair, if not I will do a single angelfish with a school of cory cats.

Iron waffle

That's what I would do. 1 angel and other types of smaller fish. The angel can be the centerpiece. Just keep water parameters in check, they are sensitive to bad water.

Allie

Single angelfish will do fine. I have a pair who don't know how to mate in a 20g. My male was paired with another female who I couldn't put in that small of tank. She was mean aka dominant...sent my male flying around the tank hitting the canopy on my 33g and 44h Diamond corner we had. Angelfish are DEVILfish lol.

capekate

I started off with two angels in my 29g about a year and a half ago. They both were very young and got along just fine. It was later that as they both matured, that the aggression began. With no real way to tell when they are juvi's some advice indicate the 'bump' over the eyes as an indication of a male. If this is so, I have two males and that would explain the awful aggression that began after they matured. It really does not matter if two Angels that are aggressive with each other are in a 29g or a 55g. They will single each other out or one will be the top aggressor and wreck havoc on the other.
I would suggest keeping only the one Angel as your center piece fish and you can save yourself a lot of headaches. Ive had mine with many different fish and they do not bother them. So the cories would be great as bottom fish, the Angels pretty much stay top and middle. The scissortails are top swimmers and can reach 5 inches at adult size and not sure that three would be a good idea to add in that 29g. is there a smaller size fish that may interest you instead?

Shawnie

ive been told to sex them by the roundness of the face and nose area..the more rounded is the male and the more pointed slimmer is female...its worked for me so far...I have a mating pair that dont like other angels but do fine with other fish ...its a hit or miss...

capekate

Hi Shawnie
at the risk of hijacking a thread, I think I will start another thread on IDing my Angels. They are mature enough.. hopefully to be able to tell the gender. I suspect that they are both males.
I just took some photos for IDing purposes.

Shawnie

cant wait to see them!!

capekate

ok... going to start a new thread now.. thanks!

josephtsui

shawnie, did you say a that you can identfy the gender of angelfish by looking at the roundness of the heads? does this apply to the young angelfish?