Angelfish is aggressive towards platies

Hello all! I was wondering if anyone would know why or has experienced something similar. I have an angelfish, platys, Corys, danios and neon tetras in one tank. My angel is only aggressive towards the platys. It never bothers anyone else and will calmly swim around the neons and danios. But if it sees any of the platys swimming near the top of the water column, it will swim all the way across the tank to chase them away. Look forward to hearing your thoughts/experience.

 

Angelfish can be buttheads. I have had them all over the board as far as aggression. Some they had to be alone others were so timid any small fish would send it into hiding. Why its only chasing the Platies could be a few things. Sees it as a threat. Sees it as a mate. Doesn't like its color.

 

Yeah. I was thinking that maybe it saw them as competition for food since they are the largest fish in the tank, other than the angel.

 

I had a similar experience like yours, but it involves with a pearl gourami that I used to keep. Out of all the fish that this fish is housed with, that pearl gourami would constantly harass my female molly instead of the other fish.

 

The angel clearly sees the platys as its biggest competition! Lol

How big/old is the angel?

 

It's almost a year old. It's pretty big but I don't believe it's full grown yet. It loves to stare at me when I'm near the tank so I'll try and measure it when I get home lol.

 

It's almost a year old. It's pretty big but I don't believe it's full grown yet. It loves to stare at me when I'm near the tank so I'll try and measure it when I get home lol.

Can you share a photo of the tank?
I just mentioned this on another thread about a lone angelfish getting aggressive towards smaller fish.

My thoughts are that they get annoyed/aggravated by the movement of all the small fish. So adding lots of tall plants (fake or real) along with taller pieces of wood or whatever. Just lots of things to break up the sightlines...should help a lot if you don't already have that.

My feelings are that the angel just needs some peace and quiet. So a territory to call it's own...and lots of stuff to break up sightline should really help.

These are things often suggested for people keeping multiple angels. But I think it is just as important when keeping a solo angel in a busy chaotic community tank. They need a place to go for calm-ness and alone time.

 

I used to keep multiple angels with platies (platies were there first) and I didn't find they make the best combo. The platies would not get out of the way. Seemed undaunted by the angel's attempts to shoo them away. Does the angelfish actually make contact with the platies, or is it more a "back off" warning? I think it's because my platies were more top level like the angels. Also my angels were breeding, and the platies didn't care lol. Most likely sees them as a food threat like others commented.

I have been keeping tetras and rams with angelfish for years and years lol. The tetras don't get in the way and obey the angelfish's warnings to stay away. It's a personality conflict I think.

 

Platys being livebearers, they could be chasing a snack…

 

Platys being livebearers, they could be chasing a snack…

Unless all of the platys are male.

 

Sorry for the late reply. Here's a picture. My plants are getting back on their feet cause I moved not too long ago. Once they grow up some more it should provide enough cover. I do plan on moving the platys to my other tank once the cherry shrimp colony grows and those plants provide the baby shrimp enough cover.

I used to keep multiple angels with platies (platies were there first) and I didn't find they make the best combo. The platies would not get out of the way. Seemed undaunted by the angel's attempts to shoo them away. Does the angelfish actually make contact with the platies, or is it more a "back off" warning? I think it's because my platies were more top level like the angels. Also my angels were breeding, and the platies didn't care lol. Most likely sees them as a food threat like others commented.

I have been keeping tetras and rams with angelfish for years and years lol. The tetras don't get in the way and obey the angelfish's warnings to stay away. It's a personality conflict I think.

Yeah it looks like more of a "back off" move to me.

 

Yeah it looks like more of a "back off" move to me.

Ok, well that's good. As long as the angel isn't hurting the platies or causing damage to them. It could also be because the tank is smaller length wise, it's harder for the angel to claim a bit of territory and may be regarding the whole tank as it's territory. The plants filling in might help hopefully.

But FYI I've never been able to keep neocaridina shrimp with angelfish. They are too good at hunting! But if you can, that's cool.

 

Ok, well that's good. As long as the angel isn't hurting the platies or causing damage to them. It could also be because the tank is smaller length wise, it's harder for the angel to claim a bit of territory and may be regarding the whole tank as it's territory. The plants filling in might help hopefully.

But FYI I've never been able to keep neocaridina shrimp with angelfish. They are too good at hunting! But if you can, that's cool.

The shrimp are in my other tank, that's where the platys will end up pretty soon. I figured the angel would wipe out shrimp, but I was thinking of transporting some of the Cherry's over to this tank if the population in the other tank starts booming.

 

The shrimp are in my other tank, that's where the platys will end up pretty soon. I figured the angel would wipe out shrimp, but I was thinking of transporting some of the Cherry's over to this tank if the population in the other tank starts booming.

Oh ok, Yes! The angelfish will most likely take care of them. I had a large cherry shrimp colony in a really jungly 46g bow. I had an EB ram pair in there with them. But when I swapped the EB rams for a pair of angels, they wiped out the whole colony in two weeks! I was so surprised!

 

Oh ok, Yes! The angelfish will most likely take care of them. I had a large cherry shrimp colony in a really jungly 46g bow. I had an EB ram pair in there with them. But when I swapped the EB rams for a pair of angels, they wiped out the whole colony in two weeks! I was so surprised!

Angels will be angels, and they are not that all angelic.

 

Angels will be angels, and they are not that all angelic.

I wonder why they got that name? You'd think the name chosen would reflect their triangular or compressed body shape like Discus.

 

I wonder why they got that name? You'd think the name chosen would reflect their triangular or compressed body shape like Discus.

Common name or scientific name?

 

I guess common name. Just thinking out loud...

 

I guess common name. Just thinking out loud...

If I'm not mistaken, I believe that the angelfish gets its name from its fins. In a way, freshwater angels kind of resemble certain saltwater angels in terms of fins.

 

Ok, why are saltwater angelfish called angelfish? Maybe the triangular shape resembles an angel....

I just agree, angelfish gives the wrong impression.

 

Ok, why are saltwater angelfish called angelfish? Maybe the triangular shape resembles an angel....

I just agree, angelfish gives the wrong impression.

Hmm that's a good question. Unfortunately, I don't know much about saltwater angels compared to freshwater angels.

 

Hello all! I was wondering if anyone would know why or has experienced something similar. I have an angelfish, platys, Corys, danios and neon tetras in one tank. My angel is only aggressive towards the platys. It never bothers anyone else and will calmly swim around the neons and danios. But if it sees any of the platys swimming near the top of the water column, it will swim all the way across the tank to chase them away. Look forward to hearing your thoughts/experience.

I have some Angels that show aggression towards plecos - but only at feeding time.....as if they feel that the plecos are taking first pick at the food, so they don't want them around!
Could yours be a feeding time bias?

 

I have some Angels that show aggression towards plecos - but only at feeding time.....as if they feel that the plecos are taking first pick at the food, so they don't want them around!
Could yours be a feeding time bias?

Well it's not really when I feed them. I notice it mostly later in the day whenever they swim towards the surface. So maybe the angel thinks they're swimming towards food haha. He never makes contact though, otherwise I'd be moving them to my other tank sooner.

 

I have some Angels that show aggression towards plecos - but only at feeding time.....as if they feel that the plecos are taking first pick at the food, so they don't want them around!
Could yours be a feeding time bias?

My angels pick at the plecos' food. My plecos try to ward them off. I also feed my plecos when the lights are out to help keep the angels away. And place algae tabs in tight fitting areas only the plecos fit into. Otherwise, that algae tab gets dragged everywhere.