Angel Pair Fighting

We have a pair of angelfish that are now fighting after their third spawn. They ate the 4th spawn and have been fighting constantly. We finally had to separate them. We tried to put them back together but the fighting continued. We don't want to get rid of either one. Is this normal for a breeding pair?

 

It’s called a divorce. Quite seriously. I had a pair do this and was stupid enough to keep them together, only because there didn’t seem to be any injuries, and then one morning found the male dead.

I’ve had this happen a few other times over the years and separating them is the best choice. And honestly, I have not been able to get divorced fish to pair up, ever again with each other or any other angels. It’s at this point where I sell them individually as retired breeders.

This may not always be the case for some but it’s easier for me to do it this way.

 

It is divorce, but most angels will take up with a new partner as long as they meet that fish's requirements for a partner.
Separating is the biggest thing you have to do, as angelfish can easily kill other angelfish even overnight - I had my male of my blue smokey breeding pair die after several days of off behavior, the female likely caused organ damage as she had put a couple marks on him. Males and females are equally able to kill, it takes one well placed hit to damage the swim bladder (or cause it to burst, which will kill the fish quickly).

You will have to have a second tank because they likely will never get along again and cannot be safely housed with each other. I would rehome the one you like less and keep the one you like the best, I know that is a hard thing to do.

 

It is divorce, but most angels will take up with a new partner as long as they meet that fish's requirements for a partner.
Separating is the biggest thing you have to do, as angelfish can easily kill other angelfish even overnight - I had my male of my blue smokey breeding pair die after several days of off behavior, the female likely caused organ damage as she had put a couple marks on him. Males and females are equally able to kill, it takes one well placed hit to damage the swim bladder (or cause it to burst, which will kill the fish quickly).

You will have to have a second tank because they likely will never get along again and cannot be safely housed with each other. I would rehome the one you like less and keep the one you like the best, I know that is a hard thing to do.

I have put one with another angel that seems to get along. I'm just not sure what sex it is. I'm attaching pictures of each.

 

The first looks to be female based on the abdomen, the second looks to be male - this is just a guess and you would need to see breeding tubes on them to be sure.
Having them get along might work out or they could also divorce and cause more issue.

 

Having them get along might work out or they could also divorce and cause more issue.

Agree with this, be prepared to rehome one. In the past I had a pair spawn a couple times, I moved them to their own 29G and the female started getting beat up by the male relentlessly. Moved the female back to the 55G they were originally in, she got on fine with a male in there for a short time, then beat him up to the point of killing him.

At the moment I am having good luck with my 6 angels, I know for sure there are 2 males and 2 females in the group (both spawn regularly) but am not sure of the sex of the remaining 2. Thankfully, the aggression is fairly limited, having a heavily planted 125G likely helps, but I am prepared to have to rehome some if needed. Even though I would hate to have to rehome any of them.

 

Agree with this, be prepared to rehome one. In the past I had a pair spawn a couple times, I moved them to their own 29G and the female started getting beat up by the male relentlessly. Moved the female back to the 55G they were originally in, she got on fine with a male in there for a short time, then beat him up to the point of killing him.

At the moment I am having good luck with my 6 angels, I know for sure there are 2 males and 2 females in the group (both spawn regularly) but am not sure of the sex of the remaining 2. Thankfully, the aggression is fairly limited, having a heavily planted 125G likely helps, but I am prepared to have to rehome some if needed. Even though I would hate to have to rehome any of them.

Mine is a different story but I'm not trying to breed them. My bristlenose usually eats their eggs after a couple of days anyway. Spawned late at night 2 weeks ago and immediatey started fighting. Still fighting the next morning. Pleco hadn't gotten to the eggs yet. Since I had no second tank to separate them, I knocked all the eggs off the plant leaf. They ate them all after that. They are friendly as ever towards me and are back to being happily ever after together. So I guess we'll never know what goes on in their heads lol.

 

Mine is a different story but I'm not trying to breed them. My bristlenose usually eats their eggs after a couple of days anyway. Spawned late at night 2 weeks ago and immediatey started fighting. Still fighting the next morning. Pleco hadn't gotten to the eggs yet. Since I had no second tank to separate them, I knocked all the eggs off the plant leaf. They ate them all after that. They are friendly as ever towards me and are back to being happily ever after together. So I guess we'll never know what goes on in their heads lol.

That would be a case of the pair deciding the other partner is unable to care for the eggs/offspring properly, so they see each other as the enemy.