KE0M

Hi,
I have two angelfish with a bristle nosed pleco inside a 29 gallon tank. One of these angels recently has been very aggressive to the other and also is forming a bulge in its stomach. I have read many different things about angelfish with bulging stomachs and I finally decided to put them on a 24-hour fast thinking that the one with the bulge was overweight. After the fast the bulge disappeared and I resumed feeding but one day later the bulge returned and the aggression from the fish with the bulge has greatly increased towards the other fish. I have the angels on another fast and I am thinking about lowering the amount of food I give them, but I am not sure if that will fix the problem. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
KE0M

agabr123

do you have a male and a female, two males, or two females?

males and females do not automatically pair off just by being put in the same tank if there are only two....so i'm not sure how that is going to work out for you.

KE0M

I am not sure but I think I have a male and a female because I looked at the sticky on this forum and their crowns are a little different. Otherwise I have no idea. Are the males normally more aggressive than the females?

Thanks,
KE0M

agabr123

i'm not sure, but it would definitely have an effect if you have one male and one female and they havent paired off (which is probably the case if it IS one male and one female). generally, the only way to get angels to pair off is to buy six juveniles (same size/shape/type and from the same tank) and let them pair off on their own, and then either keep enough tanks to separate the pairs, or return the other four. OR buy a proven breeding pair (which can get extremely expensive). unfortunately that's really the only way to do it, as i've never found anywhere that just sells pairs of angelfish that aren't proven breeders. i'm still looking though, hopefully i'll find something

KE0M

Thank you very much for looking! I will also research some more. Do you think that if I bought 2 more angels my angels would be better off?

Thanks,
KE0M

agabr123

how long have you had your angels? how big are they?

KE0M

I have had my angels for roughly three weeks and they are a little over an inch tall.

agabr123

hmm, maybe if you go back to the same store you got those angels and get two more of the same type, remove the current angels you have, rearrange the tank completely, and then put all four back in, you might be able to make it work. however, 29 is tight for four angels, you'd need another tank, i'd recommend a 20 gallon hex if you can.

KE0M

Okay, thank you very much for all of your help again. I will see what I can do with some of your suggestions.

Thanks again,
KE0M

agabr123

no problem i'm here to help

cerianthus

Any pics (side view w/ fully extended fins) available? Although having them pair off on their own is better but selecting male and female from young can also work. Even when have two females, they will try/pretend to spawn when sexually matured. You could see female actually lay eggs and another female trying to fertilize acting like a male. Of course, no fry from such clutch.

I am wondering if one w/ bulge with also aggressive towards the other angel. If it does, may be two males

I'm guessing body is about size of quarter?? should be able to differentiate when fins are fully extended w/ pretty good accuracy. If Quarter size, my guess is little too young to breed.
As far as bulging, you must be feeding he/she very well.

As someone mentioned, try adding more w/ interior remodeling. This method should work.
Also isolating very aggresive one in Breeder trap may work also provided that breeder trap has many holes for circulation.

agabr123

i don't think KE0M is trying to breed, just trying to have angels that will get along however, it is true that they could both be males, pics would be awesome to help some of the members who are very experienced with angels sex them.

KE0M

I will try to get some pictures and hopefully post them here. How should I remodel the interior and I think I am wrong about the measurements. The angelfish are about as big as a Kennedy half-dollar.

Thanks,
KE0M

agabr123

However you want, just pull things out and move them around in whatever way you like, just make sure that things are on different sides of the tank, what was in the back is on the opposite side in the front, that sort of thing.

oh, and for good pics use the macro setting on your camera if it has one (it should)

Shawnie

if they are a breeding pair, this behavoir is normal also...they actually lock lips and do all kinds of weird things prior to breeding..I agree pics would help but the way they were described, they may not be big enough to sex as of yet ...but we love pics anyhoo