Tombo

Hi,
Are angelfish hard to look after? somebody told since im a beginner not to get them because of this.
also do they grow to be aggressive??
will they eat smaller fish?? like neon tetras and guppys??

Thanks

Jonah

Angel fish prefer to be in a Tall tank rather than a long tank. Where a fish like the Dannio needs to have a long tank to swim lengths Angels like to have romm above and below them.

If you get multiples and 2 pair off they will be REALLY agressive with any other Angels in the tank.

If you get 2 and they dont pair off, one will rule the other just like the RTBS.

If you have a pair and they start to spawn, they will be agressive with ANY fish in the tank.

They do have a tendancy to see smaller fish as their personal buffet menu.

They are more susceptible to poor water quality than many other fish.

Other than that I dont believe they are all that hard to keep.

AlyeskaGirl

Angelfish are sensitive to water quaility and should be introduced last on your stocking list. Some say it is better to add them to a well established tank.....meaning it's been running for two months after it's cycled.

Angelfish are a cichlid and are known to be aggressive and territorial. Especially if they pair off. Angelfish will beat up and maybe even eat smaller fish that get in its way. Then Neon Tetras is it's main food in the wild. The angelfish usually attacks a second angelfish in the aquarium, so its best if there are three or more in the tank if you want to keep them. It's best to get them when they are the size of a quarter. Dime size are really sensitive. They grow to 6" in diameter.

Good luck!

mardaver

Hey Tombo.
I've kept Angels a few times. The 2 I have now are about 3 years old. I would consider them mildly aggressive, maybe just 'bossy'. Mine are kept with Brilliant Rasboras...a very peaceful fish about 2 inches long. They were housed with Glowlight tetras for a year or so...also without any real problems. The only time the other fish were in any real danger was when the Angels were breeding. Fortunately, the other fish knew to stay out of the way and nobody was harmed during this process.
If you want to keep Angels...go for it. They will grow rather large in time. I'd say a 30 gallon tank would be fine for quite a while. Smaller fish should likely be of the faster moving variety. I'd avoid Guppies and I've heard they naturally eat Neons. Also, Tiger barbs can be a problem...like to nip at long flowing fins. This still leaves you an infinate number of fish choices to put in your tank with them.
You should also know that Angels do best in slightly soft, acidic water.
Good luck. I think you will really enjoy Angels!

fishchick

I had some angels in a 75 gall tank and they seemed to be very peaceful, just make sure you have or get some fish that won't nip at them or bully them ! The bala shark is always a good fish to me !

Jonah

Except Bala's get to be 13" long and need at least a 55Gal tank and the OP has at best a tank about 40-45gals. http://www.fishlore.com/Profiles-BalaShark.htm

They also have the same requirements as the RTBS for secure tanks as they like to jump out of tanks. But granted they are better community fish than the RTBS.

TedsTank

My Angel fish would attack my neons at night when the lights went off!!! Then when they began spawning they just flat out killed the neons.....so if you get some....and they pair off, not recommended for a community tank...at least my community tank.

jack--sos

Just puttin my 2 cents in to what jonah said at the start of the thread, i have 2 angels that havent paired off and they live very peacefully. The are also with alot smaller guppies and haven't bothered them at all, so each angel has a different personality.

Jonah

How long have you had them and how big are they?

They are natural predators, when they are big enough neons, and similar sized fish, who are their prey in nature will start to look very appetising.

Some folks have success if they get them young enough and small enough so they grow up with tanks mates and don't see them as prey, a lot of folks don't have the same luck.

I used to have 3 honey gouramis that everybody said wouldn't live together and for 6 months I proved them all wrong, a year later I have 1 left, the others had to be rehomed or the dominant one would have killed the other 2 he had a real good try with one of them.

And that is in a 60gal tank with loads of hiding places.

TFA101

Did you mean that Guppies naturally eat neons? or that angels naturally eat neons. 'Cause in the wild, Neons are on the diet of Angelfish, but guppies don't eat neons. Pardon me if I read something wrong, or if you meant something totally different.

jack--sos

ive had mine about 2 months, but i got them quite big, one was 3.5 inches the other was 4.

Regal

My angels are pretty peaceful too. They do get defensive of whichever spot they lay their eggs. But none of mine have ever killed each other. I have Rummynose Tetras and otos that are pretty small and they are still there.

My angels were small when I got them, so that may be why its worked out okay. If you look at this picture you can see one pair has eggs on the filter tube on the left and another pair is cleaning a leaf on the right. The parents will keep the other fish away from the eggs but it's usually not a problem.

Attached Images

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TedsTank

I guess I should have said "after they lay the eggs and the babies hatch" their territory doubles and they move the young around the tank....then community life is ****. Until they paired off I had absolutly no trouble.....the sweetest fish. Very compatable, but as they grow keep an eye out. Parents love their kids above all else.

Sorry, i didn't know they would bleep out the H word.

Bad Wolf

i know you've probably got your answer but i still i'll give you another, my first real tropical fish was an angelfish. they are really easy to look after.

fish_newbie

so after the angel babies are spawn, mom and dad would protect them from other fish in the tank?

Shawnie

for a few days, even sometimes a couple weeks, but then they seem to disappear.....at least all of my spawns have angels are good parents but also are great fry munchers