Do long finned angels stay smaller?

I have several angelfish in 3 different tanks, a few of them are veil tail/long fin angels...one of which is a "super veil tail". I got the super veil tail angel at the same time as a regular finned angel....this was about 2 years ago. They were the same size when I got them. Now a couple years later, the regular finned angel is HUGE, but the veil tail is less than half the size. They were in tanks the same size, with very similar stocking, but not together.

basically....I am finding that the bodies of ALL of my long finned angels seem to stay much smaller than the bodies on the regular finned angels. And they grow much slower as well. Is that typical?

 

Veil tail is a partially dominant trait that will result in lengthening and broadening the tail, and in lengthening the dorsal and analfins when present in heterozygously (V/+) to produce a veil tail angelfish. When present homozygously, the tail and fins are further lengthened to produce a super veil tail. Basically, the veil tail gene causes all of the finage to be longer and more flowing. A fish with one veil tail gene is called a veil tail, and one with two veil tail genes has even more elaborate fins and is called a super veil. A veil tail bred to a standard fin will produce half of each type, while a super veil bred to a standard will produce all veil tail offspring. The veil tail and super veil tail otherwise don't differ in size from a standard fin.

 

The veil tail and super veil tail otherwise don't differ in size from a standard fin.

Hmmm. Well that is odd then. Because my veil tailed angels have bodies half the size of my non veil angels and they are the same age. I don't quite understand why they aren't growing as large. So if they aren't supposed to differ in body size....is it possible that the veil tails grow slower or something? They are all happy healthy beautiful angels!! I am not bothered by the smaller size. Just confused by it.

 

Each specimen is unique. You could have a school of Angels and they could all be different sizes, though usually they are close.

When you look up the max sizes for fish, that is the most commonly accepted max size, although some sites might use their natural max, others may use the aquarium max. The aquarium max is often times smaller than the natural. Also, its not uncommon for a fish to never reach its listed max size.

I would guess your super viel is a male and without having a female or other males to compete with, it hasn't "felt the need" to grow to be the alpha of the tank.

Adding another Angel may, or may not, cause it to grow, just like it may, or may not, cause fighting issues after having the tank to themselves for 2 years.

There is also research being done on this topic to see if the extended growth of the fins slow or stop the growth of the fish over the lifetime of the fish. However, I don't feel there is anything to that because I have seen all 3 types reach lengths of 5-6 inches.

As long as they are healthy, fed well and kept in good quality water, there is no reason to be concerned, in my opinion.

Sorry I can't be of more help. I have never personally kept Angels, but have done a good amount of reading about them in journals from scienctists and angelfish experts.

 

When you say 5-6 inches, are you talking about just the body? or the body AND the tail. Because if you factor in the length of the tail, the long finned one is the same length as the giant angel I have. It's just that the body is so much smaller. I would not be surprised if the long fins have an impact on their body size. It is interesting that they have done research on that!

Also, this long finned angel lived with the big angel for several months (started at the same size of about a quarter). The big one grew huge and the veil stayed smaller. That is why I separated them. The veil tail is now in a 55 with another veil tail and a platinum pearlscale angel. They have lived together in harmony for about 6 months. No change in size on the older veil tail. And the veil tail I added to join him is also staying very small while the regular finned platinum angel is growing much larger.

But either way, I am not concerned one bit. My angels are beautiful and healthy and I absolutely LOVE them. Thanks so much for responding!!!!

 

I measure fish from tip of the head to shortest end of the tail..

Some people measure to the base of the tail. When you measure fish that you catch and want to keep from the wild, you typically (if possible) pinch the tail together and measure it there. So there are several ways to measure a fish. If you go to the base of the tail, then no, they don't get to 6 inches. I think most are about 3-4", unless I haven't truly seen a full grown adult Angelfish lol.

 

This may help when measuring

 

Ok, so I clicked on the link and saw three options: Standard, Fork and total. So since I am specifically comparing body size here.... and the standard size includes NONE of the tail....what is the STANDARD size of an angelfish? Do you know? Because I have a feeling everything I have read in the past about their size is referring to their TOTAL size.

It makes sense that the much longer fins could affect the size of the body. But either way, I know my angels are all happy and healthy. I was just wondering if anyone had seen this size difference before. Thanks guys!

 

Most sites use standard length when giving sizes for fish unless they state otherwise, I'd use that.
SF gives 6"SL

 

Wow, I have never seen an Angelfish with a body 6 inches long, or even 5 inches long. I guess if that's true, then I haven't seen a full grown adult. It must take 5+ years to grow to that size.

 

Wow, I have never seen an Angelfish with a body 6 inches long, or even 5 inches long. I guess if that's true, then I haven't seen a full grown adult. It must take 5+ years to grow to that size.

My biggest one is about 4-5 inches (body sized) and I have had him about two years. He is huge.The veil tail's body is 2-3 inches and I have had it the same amount of time. I am just trying to picture a BODY of 8-10 inches plus fins. Many websites say 8 inches, sometimes up to 10 inches. SO I am thinking the websites use total size. I can't imagine an 8-10 inch body and a few more inches of fins. So if that is true, I haven't seen a full sized one yet either!

 

I have never heard of Angelfish supposed to get 8-10 inches long. I have heard of them getting 8 inches tall, which is why they need such tall tanks..

Only way I could see it being 10 inches is a super veil tail measured total length nose to tip of the tail fin extensions. And it would be one heck of a specimen!


EDIT: One thing I sort of overlooked was the living conditions. Temperature can have a big impact on the growth rate and total growth of the fish. Warmer water will grow faster. Angels do best at temps 80-84 from what I have learned. How often do you do water changes? What are you nitrate readings? Lower the nitrates, the better they will do. High nitrate readings have been proven to stunt growth. How much protein is in their diet? Angelfish are carnivores and need a high amount of protein in their diet. You said that you have multiple Angels in the tank, is there any bullying happening from the other Angels or other tank mates? Stress can slow growth as well. Just things to think about. You don't have to answer the questions to me.

 

When raised in a sufficiently large tank, I have seen many angels with a 6" SL, usually in 200+ gallon tanks. The keys to growing fish are, in order: food, water changes, space, and temperature. If all 4 are done correctly, any fish can grow large.

Growing long fins does use up more of the protein that the fish takes in. More importantly, I've noticed that veil/lyretail fish of all species grow faster when they do not have to compete with normal finned fish. The long fins slow them down, preventing them from getting their "fair share" of the food. Overfeeding can resolve this issue, but then one must do more frequent water changes to deal with excess food.

 

When raised in a sufficiently large tank, I have seen many angels with a 6" SL, usually in 200+ gallon tanks. The keys to growing fish are, in order: food, water changes, space, and temperature. If all 4 are done correctly, any fish can grow large.

Growing long fins does use up more of the protein that the fish takes in. More importantly, I've noticed that veil/lyretail fish of all species grow faster when they do not have to compete with normal finned fish. The long fins slow them down, preventing them from getting their "fair share" of the food. Overfeeding can resolve this issue, but then one must do more frequent water changes to deal with excess food.

Was about to add that as well the long finned my be getting enough food to be healthy but not to grow as big.

 

When raised in a sufficiently large tank, I have seen many angels with a 6" SL, usually in 200+ gallon tanks. The keys to growing fish are, in order: food, water changes, space, and temperature. If all 4 are done correctly, any fish can grow large.

Growing long fins does use up more of the protein that the fish takes in. More importantly, I've noticed that veil/lyretail fish of all species grow faster when they do not have to compete with normal finned fish. The long fins slow them down, preventing them from getting their "fair share" of the food. Overfeeding can resolve this issue, but then one must do more frequent water changes to deal with excess food.

interesting theory about the need to compete for food! I could totally see that as an issue with long finned fish. But I must say...ironically, this super veil tail angel gets just as much food, if not more, than the other angels! That may not have been the case when he lived with the big angel....but he hasn't lived with that angel for about a year....

The other super veil angel I have has a body no bigger than a quarter....so it is young, but I have had it for about 6 months and it has hardly grown at all. Its tank mates have all sprouted much faster. I could see the food being an issue with the little guy...although I always watch my fish when I feed them and I have never seen him struggle to get food.....

I also have a veil tail angel that is not a "super veil" so the fins aren't nearly as long...and that angel is growing slower than the regular finned ones as well...BUT it is growing faster than the super veil tails! So maybe...the longer the fins the slower the growth?

 

I have a standard fin and a veil. The veil is way bigger than the standard and they are siblings of the same age.