Angels Fish Aggression

I’m trying to see what I can do to lower aggression in my 55 gallon aquarium. I’ve got 19 black phantom tetras, an albino bristlenose pleco, and two probably both male but I’m not 100 percent sure. Recently the aggression has increased. It used to be the occasional peck here and there but as of this week I’ve noticed tore fins and the one slightly larger fish going after the other one almost constantly. Honestly relocating would be next to impossible because this is my only sized tank suitable for angelfish. I was hoping that maybe getting two more angels would help spread aggression so this one fish doesn’t all of the fighting. At my lfs, the angelfish are quite a bit smaller than the fish now sonic have to be careful. Literally as I was typing this I noticed the other fish actually fighting back. It’s getting pretty rough so if possible I need something done in the next week or so.
I recorded a fight, so if there is a way to post it tell me and I’ll share it.
the one up front is the mean one

 

You likely have a male (the one in front) and a female, meaning they are no longer getting along and one of them has to go otherwise one is going to die - angelfish need one good hit to kill another angel and half the time it won't leave a mark - separate them and rehome the one you like less.

 

There’s a nice photo

A little off topic, but my gravel is getting a little messy, would sterbaI cories work in my tank, I plan on getting another canister filter in the next month or so. I have 250 gph and the one I have my eye on has 350 ish

 

You likely have a male (the one in front) and a female, meaning they are no longer getting along and one of them has to go otherwise one is going to die - angelfish need one good hit to kill another angel and half the time it won't leave a mark - separate them and rehome the one you like less.

Again re homing is very difficult for me right now. If it would help, getting more angels to spread aggression would be the most available thing to me now.

 

View attachment 468169
There’s a nice photo

A little off topic, but my gravel is getting a little messy, would sterbaI cories work in my tank, I plan on getting another canister filter in the next month or so. I have 250 gph and the one I have my eye on has 350 ish

Messy how? They will help eat uneaten food but need to be fed their own food. They won't help with poo or algae.

 

Messy how? They will help eat uneaten food but need to be fed their own food. They won't help with poo or algae.

I understand that yeah, often times typically in the morning, the fish don’t get all the food, and don’t bother pecking it off the sand. Also my pleco doesn’t always eat his entire algae/ shrimp pellets

 

Its sad to have to separate them but a single Angel is still one of the world's best aquarium fish in my opinion. I'd always keep them singly now.

 

Its sad to have to separate them but a single Angel is still one of the world's best aquarium fish in my opinion. I'd always keep them singly now.

If I were to separate the two, what else could I put in the tank, that’s leaving quite a lot of extra space for me. I was think a fish that stays around 3 inches. Maybe gourami? Like 3 or 4 honey gourami or maybe pearl? I know pearls get quite big so maybe not them but I’m just shooting ideas

 

Honeys need cooler water than angels but a pearl or 2 would work

 

Honeys need cooler water than angels but a pearl or 2 would work

Sounds good! Which angels should I drop and what do I do with it? They both show signs of aggression. I don’t have another tank for it, I would hate to give it away, to a pet store or something, but if I did would I be able to trade it in like I would a book? would it really not help to get more angles? I’ve read that’s one way to help

 

Store can give you credit, but if you are returning it, a refund. Getting more angels is a really bad gamble. It could kill other fish in the tank, if you get a pair.

 

If I get a pair I would probably return the others and keep the pair

And I’m not sure how true this is, but I heard that it takes months for angels to pair. And by that time I hope to have another larger tank suitable for angels

 

And I’m not sure how true this is, but I heard that it takes months for angels to pair. And by that time I hope to have another larger tank suitable for angels

I've had them pair up in less than 10 minutes of meeting each other (they spawned a little later but were paired up almost as soon as the female went into the tank).

 

What’s my next best option after rehoming. That’s going to be very difficult and probably won’t happen.

 

A pair is not good, if you aren't breeding them only to make money. They get EXTREMELY aggressive.

 

That's right and even two males or two females can pair up and either chase everything in the tank away or they also may fight. Its a lot less hassle to keep them singly if you want them in a community and aren't intending on breeding them deliberately with a proper plan for the future of the other fish and the Angel fry.

 

That's right and even two males or two females can pair up and either chase everything in the tank away or they also may fight. Its a lot less hassle to keep them singly if you want them in a community and aren't intending on breeding them deliberately with a proper plan for the future of the other fish and the Angel fry.

Two males will not pair up, they may form a bond of familiarity and might share territory, but they aren't able to pair up (pair meaning they'd be able to spawn, males never go through the motions of a pair).

 

So good news, my lfs agreed to give me store credit for one of the angels, which one should I bring to them, the aggressive one or the other one. The aggressive on looks better, but is mean, the other one is nice but isn’t as pretty.

 

I think you may have to keep the best looking one, otherwise you will always regret it.

Even if it is more aggressive, maybe this will not matter when it is a singleton.

Also, maybe they would both be the same way as singles.