MelissaF

I just bought my fish and I've read in a few places that you should either have one or more than three angelfish. Is this true, should I be worried. Mine are about 2 inches big but since I'm new to the fish experience and I only have a 10 gallon tank I don't want to get more fish just yet.

FishKing

No, angelfish are not suppose to be kept together in small groups. They are ciclids so when they get older they will pair off and fight for territory, and for a tank that size I would reccomend that you only have one in there or a breeding pair because they can get pretty big. Even for a pair it is too small but you can manage. Plus you have alot to learn because yo are a begginer.

SereneReyn

you should take the angelfish back. even one is too many for a 10 gallon tank. they need some height and room to swim or their growth will be stunted.

MelissaF

This may be a big no no but I know my tank is small. the thing is, I'm moving in less than a year so I was planning on upgrading when I was all settled.

SereneReyn

angels mature pretty fast (and most pet stores sell them at a decent size already, like a quarter-size minimum). unless you're moving in the next 3 months or so, i'd still advise against it... if you stunt their growth, they'll never get to be full sized, (and would likely be picked on if you added an angel or whatever later)... they'd probably have a shorter lifespan due to the stunting as well as other potential problems - digestion, swimming, immunity, bent fins...

but the choice is absolutely yours.

Gunnie

Melissa,
Welcome to FishLore! I understand your intentions to upgrade when you move, but you should always buy fish and put them in the tank from the beginning that is appropriate for their adult size. Things can happen, and that bigger tank never gets purchased, or you keep things the way they are, and you end up doing frequent water changes because of the tank size just to maintain decent water quality. Angels are a bit more sensitive than a lot of other species of fish, and can't tolerate less than perfect water conditions as well as other fish can. I think your first experience with a new tank would be much more pleasureable if you took the angel back and got a betta for that tank instead. I'm also guessing your tank isn't cycled either, and and angel in an uncycled tank would almost surely result in an early fish death in that tank.

MelissaF

Thanks everyone for the great advise.

SereneReyn

hope we didn't scare you off with our negativity... we're just trying to help.

MelissaF

nope not at all. Thanks

COBettaCouple

Welcome to Fishlore.

You might look into freecycle.com, craigslist.com and local yard sales or newspaper ads to find a deal on a 30g tank. You'll love your Angels - they have such personality and our Angel loves to take his food from my fingers. He begs for food when I get near the tank. lol.

I'd recommend the shark & pleco go back to the store though as they are going to need a 55-75g tank REALLY soon. The shark will likely go after the angels when he gets bigger and the pleco puts out more waste than you'd believe - he'll make the water chemistry toxic unfortunately. Don't feel bad - the pet stores do this to everyone and you didn't know how big the fish got. Plecos especially get sold with 10g tanks.

MelissaF

Thanks, well I don't have to worry about one of the angels and the shark anymore. I'm convinced the pleco killed it. They were battling for the same cover spot for quite a while.

SereneReyn

the pleco killed the angel? or the shark? sorry to hear it.

COBettaCouple

Are you sure it wasn't the other angel? It would be really unusual for a pleco to be able to take out those other 2 fish.

MelissaF

Who knows, I'm basically learning how to set up a tank the hard way. Sounds like a lot of people have made this mistake. Only my pleco is left now. I'm just going to continue trying to keep it alive and wait until my tank finishes its cycle before I get anymore fish.

On that note. I asked the people at the pet store if how to keep the cycle going if my last fish dies (which i wouldn't be surprised if it does at this rate). She said it's already started and no theres nothing for me to do but let it runs its course. Does anyone have another opinion. In reading the ammonia cycle article it says that if you start it with food you have to continure feedin the tank, if you put the meat in you let it decompose, etc. Without a fish in my tank will the cycle continue on it's own for do I need to put meat in it? Any ideas?

MelissaF

oh and I thought the pleco might have killed the shark. the angles never really ventured near the pleco or the shark and vis versa. They kept to each other and swam around.

SereneReyn

an empty tank needs some sort of source for ammonia, or any existing bacteria will die off. if your pleco dies, you could simply use fish food to continue the cycle. i'm sorry you lost your fish, btw... but it sounds like you're on the right track now.

MelissaF

how much fish food should I put in and how often? And thanks. I've been looking at other posts too to get a better selection and ideas for fish for my 10 gallon. Lucky that alot of people ask the same questions I have.

MelissaF

Would it work if I just left the dead fish in the tank (if it does die)? Also should I be cleaning my tank at during the cycle or just leave it be.