Adding Angelfish to community tank

I was contemplating adding angelfish to my community tank, the tank mates would be 5 mollies, 5-6 female guppies, some small fry, 3 Honey gouramis and one German blue Ram (with possibly one more being added soon).
How many angels would you add to that, one or two?
I'd be getting young ones so I wouldn't know the gender of them, if they end up being two males or two females would they be OK sharing the 55?

 

Angelfish will eat the frys and they prefer to be in a group of at least 5+.

 

Angelfish will eat the frys...

That's perfectly fine with me. I have a couple of other tanks to put the fry in that I want to raise.

...and they prefer to be in a group of at least 5+.

Hmm, 5 would be a lot for a 55 gal once they grow out, considering I've other fish in there. I was under the impression that you could have a couple of angels in a community, but if they have to be in a shoal then I guess I won't be getting any.

 

Hmm, 5 would be a lot for a 55 gal once they grow out, considering I've other fish in there. I was under the impression that you could have a couple of angels in a community, but if they have to be in a shoal then I guess I won't be getting any.

That's the thing I hate about angelfish care. Many people claimed that angels can be kept alone or numbers less than 5, however, they don't consider the fact that angelfish live in shoals in the wild.

 

That's the thing I hate about angelfish care. Many people claimed that angels can be kept alone or numbers less than 5, however, they don't consider the fact that angelfish live in shoals in the wild.

I didn't know that, I don't like the idea of keeping shoaling fish alone - guess I'll stick to getting something smaller for my community then. Thanks.

 

I never heard of 5 angels in a tank. I would have to say unless breeding you wouldn’t want 5. With 5 they will pair off and become a problem with the other fish. Now this may still happen even with 2. But you could also end up with 2 males or females. I’ve kept angels by themselves and as a pair for most of my fish keeping. Right now I have one marble angel that’s been by itself for over 6 months. Just added 2 more 2 weeks ago. So far all is well.
Now adding to your tank may work may not the only problem may be the honey gouramis. Yes angels will eat the fry if they can catch them. As will the gouramis and ram. What kind of filter are you using and how often do you change the water?

 

Now adding to your tank may work may not the only problem may be the honey gouramis. Yes angels will eat the fry if they can catch them. As will the gouramis and ram. What kind of filter are you using and how often do you change the water?

Why would the honey gouramis be a problem for the angel? The ones I have are very calm. The only ones that like to squabble every once in a while in that tank are the mollies, but I wouldn't say they're aggressive. I wouldn't care if the angels eat some of the babies as long as they are good with the rest of my pretty peaceful fish.

Right now I change about 10% water every other day when I do a substrate siphon and I do a big water change of about 40-50% once a week. Sometimes I do two 30% water changes instead of the one big one. For the filter I'm using a DIY HOB rated for a 75 gal (Aqueon) filled with various sponges and ceramic media.

 

Why would the honey gouramis be a problem for the angel? The ones I have are very calm. The only ones that like to squabble every once in a while in that tank are the mollies, but I wouldn't say they're aggressive. I wouldn't care if the angels eat some of the babies as long as they are good with the rest of my pretty peaceful fish.

It's more of the angels messing with the gouramis than the gouramis messing with the angels.

 

Yes the angels can be aggressive. Get them small. Body size about a quarter. When they grow with fish they tend to be less aggressive. Great water change routine and filter should be fine. Clean water makes everything work.

 

I would worry more about the mollies with the gouramis. Mollies have always failed with my gouramis, but the fault is not on the gourami, it’s on the molly. For some reason mollies and swordtails never seem to like gouramis, and usually end up chasing them relentlessly IME. Every experience is different, though, so if you really want mollies, go ahead. Just be prepared to separate them if conflict happens, as honey gouramis do not fare well with aggressive tankmates.

 

It's more of the angels messing with the gouramis than the gouramis messing with the angels.

Good to know, in that case, I'd have to either return the angel or move the 3 gouramis to my 20-long, which they should be fine in. It could work!

Yes the angels can be aggressive. Get them small. Body size about a quarter. When they grow with fish they tend to be less aggressive. Great water change routine and filter should be fine. Clean water makes everything work.

Thanks for the tip, makes sense for having the angels adjust to a community setting as they mature. At that size, they wouldn't be able to boss the other fish, and then hopefully become content enough that they never have to.

I would worry more about the mollies with the gouramis. Mollies have always failed with my gouramis, but the fault is not on the gourami, it’s on the molly. For some reason mollies and swordtails never seem to like gouramis, and usually end up chasing them relentlessly IME. Every experience is different, though, so if you really want mollies, go ahead. Just be prepared to separate them if conflict happens, as honey gouramis do not fare well with aggressive tankmates.

Wow, crazy! There seem to be so many variables with fish behaviors. My mollies have been fine with everyone, they're always busy doing their molly-things amongst their own kind, or eating! They share the space with the honey gouramis like they weren't even there, pecking around side by side. I'm definitely hanging on to them.

I'm not dead set on getting a pair of angels, or one, but if I see some nice looking babies I may try it out.
If it doesn't work out I'd bring the angels back.
Thanks for your thoughts on this all!

 

Wow, crazy! There seem to be so many variables with fish behaviors. My mollies have been fine with everyone, they're always busy doing their molly-things amongst their own kind, or eating! They share the space with the honey gouramis like they weren't even there, pecking around side by side. I'm definitely hanging on to them.

Lucky you! I’d love to keep mollies or swordtails with my gouramis. I guess Petco and Petsmart only sell demonic versions, though. It sucks because I really do love those fish!

 

I guess Petco and Petsmart only sell demonic versions, though. It sucks because I really do love those fish!

Perhaps they do!? I got mine from a local LFS, maybe try a private breeder or some other source. They sure are a nice fish to have a group of, I agree. I have 5 dalmatian fry now that made it in the main tank to about 1.5 cm, they are the cutest things, staying in their own little school and have their own squabbles and pecking order already. Just like tiny versions of the adults.

 

I have 2 angels in my 75 gallon community tank (including a dwarf gourami and rainbow shark).

I had the first angel for about 2 months before adding the second one (possibly not the best idea). At first, there was a small amount of aggression from the older one, but now they’re best buds.

 

I had the first angel for about 2 months before adding the second one (possibly not the best idea). At first, there was a small amount of aggression from the older one, but now they’re best buds.

Good to know it worked out for your community tank, makes me hopeful

I went to an LFS to get some more plants and driftwood and saw the cutest, little baby angels there! They were listed as Hybrid-Silver babies in the store. I picked out a couple that looks like a girl and a boy to me, not that it means anything at this size... The one that I call a boy has more prominent stripes that are always very dark and his head is bigger. The one that I'll presume is a girl has stripes that turn from light (almost as silver as her body) to dark, she seems to be able to change the lightness of her stripes almost immediately, kinda cool to watch.
I picked these guys cause they are still tiny, quarter size and I liked their wild-type/natural colors. They also looked healthy to me, except for a few nips at the tips of the fins.
I just got them and they seem comfy with all the other residents, no sign aggression yet. They started trying to hunt the newborn guppy fry right away (the ones that are just a day old) and it's cool to watch them hunting.
I'm very glad I got these guys so far! Can't wait to watch them grow and develop








A little update on the angels, the smaller one died shortly after - she stopped eating, got weak very fast and passed overnight. However, the larger one has been doing quite well with no signs of any illness. Since he was now alone I got another angel for him, this one is pure black. So far they have been swimming and eating together nicely, and it looks like my lone one appreciates the new addition.

I love how his scales have absolutely no shine and are jet black. Hoping nothing happens to this one. I'm doing a treatment on the whole tank just in case.

 

Wow, beautiful angels! Sorry for your loss of the little one, though.

 

Wow, beautiful angels! Sorry for your loss of the little one, though.

Thank you. Yes, poor little one. It looked smaller and weaker to its sibling from the start. I'm guessing it had some internal infection and maybe had a weaker immune system from the start.

 

Thank you. Yes, poor little one. It looked smaller and weaker to its sibling from the start. I'm guessing it had some internal infection and maybe had a weaker immune system from the start.

Stuff like that seems to happen a lot in young angels. They don’t really get tough until they’re older. Your angels really are just stunning, though. I’m in awe each time I look at your pics! If the pure black and the striped did pair up, they’re going to be such a beautiful mature pair.

 

I have a 36 gal biocube community tank with:
10 Neon Tetras
3 Clown Loaches
4 Red Ember Tetras
3 Zebra Danios (will be moved)
3 Orange Platys
AND....1 Sunset Gourami
I want to add 1 or 2 Angels (small rn)
Will the Angels coexist ok with the Gourami? Any other problems with the mix?

 

1. The tank is fully stocked.

2. A 36 is too small for angels, imo.

3. Angels will eat neon tetras.

 

Cons

1. Clown loachrs will get too big for your tank

2. Ember tetras need to b in groups of 6+

3. Angels may eat neons

Pros

1. 36g is NOT too small fir angels

2. If you removed the loaches you MAY b able to fit ONE angel in.

3. Angels r fine with MOST gouamis but there MAY b an issue.

 

1. 36 gallon is NOT too small fir angels

Imo, a 36 is. Angels prefer to be in groups and I have seen some large angels that are not Altums.

 

Thanks, the tank height is 20 inches, and much of the middle and upper areas is used pretty much only by the Danios, which I am moving. Which is why I thought of Angels.
The Clowns are very small rn, recently added, about 1 inch. I have a 55 gal tank, 48 inch length for when they get bigger.
The tank is mature, good water quality, and really does not look overstocked at this point. I also have a 20 gal tank I use for quarantine..will be empty In a week. If the Neons seem to be threatened, I will move them there.
My worry is the Gourami...think I will try one small Angel, and watch carefully.
Worst case, I will swap him.
Appreciate the good inputs.

 

Why not get the angels for the 55? Much better choice

 

That makes good sense. Thanks.

 

Imo, a 36 is. Angels prefer to be in groups and I have seen some large angels that are not Altums.

While angels like to b in groups having a group is not necicary. It is recomendet to keep them in even numbers except if u r keeping one. Thr minimun tank size for one angel is a 29g. I have two (not pair) in my 36 and they are thriving. While I agree that u r correct about groups it IS possible to just keep one.

 

While angels like to b in groups having a group is not necicary. It is recomendet to keep them in even numbers except if u r keeping one. Thr minimun tank size for one angel is a 29 gallon. I have two (not pair) in my 36 and they are thriving. While I agree that u r correct about groups it IS possible to just keep one.

Surviving is not the same as thriving.

Here's a pic of how big angels can be. This is a side-by-side pic of two large angels compared to discus.

 

Any other suggestions for compatible choices of 1 or 2 fishes that prefer the upper tank area? I guess I could leave the Danios..not a favorite of mine tho.

 

Any other suggestions for compatible choices of 1 or 2 fishes that prefer the upper tank area? I guess I could leave the Danios..not a favorite of mine tho.

How about rams?

 

I guess I will leave this thread to the Angel debates. I will try elsewhere for suggestions to my search for top water swimmers.
Thanks for the input received. It has saved me from getting the Angels, which would have been a mistake.

 

Surviving is not the same as thriving.

Here's a pic of how big angels can be. This is a side-by-side pic of two large angels compared to discus.

I totally understand. One if mine is stunted anf the other grew to average size (6in). Those are large angels. Larger than most. I thought is wasn't recommended to keep discus and angela together so IDK.

H

I guess I will leave this thread to the Angel debates. I will try elsewhere for suggestions to my search for top water swimmers.
Thanks for the input received. It has saved me from getting the Angels, which would have been a mistake.

Hatchet fish are nice top swimmers.

 

I totally understand. One if mine is stunted anf the other grew to average size (6in). Those are large angels. Larger than most. I thought is wasn't recommended to keep discus and angela together so IDK.

The angels and discus aren't mine.

 

Oh well then who ever is kerping them I suguest that they separate them.

 

For the top, agree with Amazonian that Hatchets are the bomb. Don't have any yet but have wanted them for a while, but hear they need specialized light to thrive - UV or some such. Source was my LFS owner with 30 years in the trade so tend to accord it some credence. Other than that rainbows of varying sizes tend to move about through tank strata and might be an idea.

My 2 angels are in a 120 gallon so can't speak to min size but they're healthy, happy and active. They like to eat shrimp and may harass or attach nano-fish or tiny tetras but they're happily coexisting with cherry barbs, harlequin rasboras and a number of other species without incident. I just can't put in nano-fish like tiny rasbora species and fear they may be the culprits.

 

I always thought angels and discus lived together in the wild, I have seen videos of catching in the wild and both coming up in the same scoop of a net. I think the last one I watched was in peru.

 

True. In the wild they aren't in a confined space so taht makes the difference.

 

Update: I removed the 3 Danios. Today I acquired 2 x 1.5 " Bolivian Rams. No idea of what sex they may be.
Are they OK with just 2? I'm reluctant to add more given tank size.
.

 

Update: I removed the 3 Danios. Today I acquired 2 x 1.5 " Bolivian Rams. No idea of what sex they may be.
Are they OK with just 2? I'm reluctant to add more given tank size.
.

Bolivian rams do best in pairs.

 

Thank you. If they turn out to be 2 males, can that be a problem?

 

It can be a problem sometimes. I've spoken to people that haven't had too many issues keeping males together and some that have. We have members here that have them together without much issue. I'd just see how they get on, with bolivians there usually isn't too many issues.