confused about angelfish aggression and breeding

Was going to have a rubberlip pleco and 1 angelfish. Starting to think my corys and snails will be enough maintenance and 3 angels would be much prettier. Can I put 1 male and 2 females together without aggression? I have 1 male red honey gourami.

ALSO I DON'T WANT BABIES. Will I have to deal with potential babies in my tank? Like I don't want eggs to turn into fish. So confused on that whole process.

 

If two of the angelfish pair up, they may be aggressive towards other fish and will most likely bully the third angelfish. If you want to avoid the mating, laying of eggs and any aggression, I'd just keep 1.

Also, corys aren't a clean up crew. They need their own high protein diet of meaty foods so I hope you're giving them enough to eat. And I don't think a rubberlip pleco is temp compatible with angelfish.

 

I've got slow-sinkng pellets for the corys. I just meant they eat off them bottom what the other fish leave behind. And I think you actually may have been who informed me of the temp incompatibility in the rubberlip and angelfish. I was looking at other plecostumus and I'm just not as fond of them. So I wanted to skip it altogether. I think multiple of something would be prettier than one of everything.

 

So I just realized something that may be a "duh" moment..

Would 3 females work? With NO males?

 

No, from what I understand 2 females can still "pair up" and one acts like the male.

 

With three angels, one will most always be bullied. Never keep them in threes. Even two females can pick on each other, so if you want no breeding and no bullying, stick with one.

 

I agree, it's a lot less hassle to keep a single angelfish. All Angelfish have a certain amount of "attitude" and like to boss the tank so one is usually enough for the other fish.

Even my two females "bred" and laid, but fought each other over the care of the eggs and had to be seperated.

What size tank? Angelfish need a good sized aquarium as they are tall fish. I'd say an 18" tall tank.

If there is room why not choose a shoal of compatible midwater fish.

There's a possibility an Angelfish could bully a small Gourami depending on it's individual character.

But they do make a great aquarium fish as they are such an amazing shape and interesting to own as they have intelligence and character.

 

Also there is no reliable method of sexing angelfish until they are old enough to breed and their breeding tubes are visible.....Alison

 

Redshark, it's a 55 gallon tank. 20½ inches tall. Right now I only have the 1 red honey gourami, 5 bronze corys, 7 checker barbs, and 4 cherry barbs. All of which hang out on the bottom portion of the tank. The honey wanders to the top but, as crazy as this may sound, likes to be around the other fish at the bottom and I have seen no aggression from him.

What would you suggest?

 

That sounds like a very suitable tank.

I would try an Angelfish. Younger ones seem to accept their tank mates more readily if they have grown up with them (though some on sale can be ridiculously tiny - I'd avoid anything that looks obviously fragile as you want it to be able to hold it's own).

With luck the barbs will not nibble the Angelfish fins.

When Angelfish are maturing they are often bossy and seem to expect smaller fish to move out of their way and I think your species would most likely comply and avoid aggression.

 

Also there is no reliable method of sexing angelfish until they are old enough to breed and their breeding tubes are visible.....Alison

And based on my recent experience with my koi angel...even the breeding tube can be questionable. Everything about this koi was female all the way down to the breeding tube...but that koi angelfish successfully fertilized eggs!

I've also had people tell me that my proven female black marble angel is a male. But I have watched her lay eggs. I really don't understand how people can claim to sex their angelfish without seeing their breeding tubes. That is the only reliable way. The koi Angel was definitely unique though...

 

Checker barbs aren't temp compatible with angelfish, so I wouldn't add one to this tank. The barbs should be in schools of 6+ of their own species too.

 

The honey wanders to the top but, as crazy as this may sound, likes to be around the other fish at the bottom and I have seen no aggression from him.

Do you have enough cover for him at the top, like taller plants and floating plants?