I don't know what to do with my angels

So far, my four juvenile angels seem pretty mellow. I have them in two separate community tanks - one has gouramis and black neon tetras, and the other has platies, guppies, minnows and cories.

I've not kept angels before but I know that they don't always stay as cute and funny as they are as juveniles. One of them in particular is very sweet, dancing about, always happy to see me (he's in the guppy tank). The other three don't interact with me at all. One of them (in the gourami tank) is so painfully shy that he just hides away in his tunnel all day. The gouramis don't pay any attention to any of the fish except each other, but they are quite big and they do nip at each other from time to time. That tank just seems to have a sense of menace in it - the angels do not seem comfortable and neither do the neons, for that matter.

Would it be better to have all four of the angels in the one tank? It's 170 litres and very peaceful, so I worry about territorial issues as they mature with the two that are in there already, let alone four of them.

The very shy one I've only had for two days - should I just give him more of a chance to settle in?

 

Yes, as juveniles they will be happier together in the 170 litre. They will group together and schoal a bit.

Moving tanks/rehoming will have to be done in the long run though. Adults need deep, spacious tanks and may see guppies and minnows as food. If the angels pair up then they won't be good community tank fish either.

 

Thank you. I'm just a bit nervous about it because I do think know their sexes of course but I guess that's the same with all angels.

One of the angels was quite peppy at the store - nipping at the others when they tried to flirt with me - but he's not like that here.

As for the 170L, the sweet little angel seems to have taken care of all of the fry and adolescents already, even though he's so so little. (Which is fine!)

 

I hate to be a downer but that tank isn't big enough for angels, If you have more than one male they'll fight and if a pair forms they'll terrorize the tank. Even with only one, they often turn mean and kill things just for spite.

The one hiding in the cave is probly afraid of the gouramis.

 

I hate to be a downer but that tank isn't big enough for angels, If you have more than one male they'll fight and if a pair forms they'll terrorize the tank. Even with only one, they often turn mean and kill things just for spite.

The one hiding in the cave is probly afraid of the gouramis.

Noooooo!!!! I've just transferred them across so I've got the four in together now.

They're behaving completely differently - swimming around, following each other, the extra scared one is out and about too.

But they swim and conduct themselves so differently to other fish - glide/stop/glide/stop - I can't tell whether that's how they always are or if they're doing it to intimidate the others.

I have a white one, a silver one, a black one, and a grey stripey one. The white one is the boldest and seems to be making sure the others know. The silver one was zero personality and is now swimming around after the white one everywhere - not hassling, but very interested. The black one is my sweet baby one and the smallest, he was fine alone with the silver one but now they're together I'm concerned they'll gang up on him. The grey stripey one is the biggest and the most timid and is kind of hanging back.

There's no nipping or chasing but with the exception of the black one who has always been active, the others seem to have suddenly come to life.

But I don't know how to read it all yet!!

 

Having them together for now is likely fine. Within a couple months (depending on how big these actually are) you'll start seeing a very different side of things. Personally, I'd start looking for what you're going to do with them in a couple months. The tank size really is too small for 4 of them so I'd drop to two as otherwise they will get too aggressive.

 

Having them together for now is likely fine. Within a couple months (depending on how big these actually are) you'll start seeing a very different side of things. Personally, I'd start looking for what you're going to do with them in a couple months. The tank size really is too small for 4 of them so I'd drop to two as otherwise they will get too aggressive.

****! That's why I only had two in there but the tank with the gouramis is obviously too scary for them. They're little, no more than two inches between the tips of their top and bottom fins. Their bodies are about 3cm (1.18in) top to bottom.

They're smaller than my adult platies.

The white, silver and black are hanging tight. Poor old scaredy cat is still hovering behind the driftwood in the darkest part of the aquarium.

The white, silver and stripey were all together in the one tank when I bought them.

There are plenty of hiding spaces and plants as well as open places to swim.

 

****! That's why I only had two in there but the tank with the gouramis is obviously too scary for them. They're little, no more than two inches between the tips of their top and bottom fins. Their bodies are about 3cm (1.18in) top to bottom.

They're smaller than my adult platies.

The white, silver and black are hanging tight. Poor old scaredy cat is still hovering behind the driftwood in the darkest part of the aquarium.

The white, silver and stripey were all together in the one tank when I bought them.

There are plenty of hiding spaces and plants as well as open places to swim.

Being that small you're probably fine for a while. Just watch for aggression and pairing off.

 

Being that small you're probably fine for a while. Just watch for aggression and pairing off.

Thank you!

At the moment they are just gliding, pausing, gliding, pausing. They dart towards each other but stop - no nipping or bumping so far.

But I wouldn't know what I'm observing, to be honest. I started with two so I could learn slowly, one died early in the piece, and now I have four. I don't know what is happening to me!! I'm captivated by these fish.

But I am also responsible for their well-being and quality of life, and that of my other fish. So I want to make sure I know what I can expect as much as possible

 

they are fine together until they mature. and maybe fine together then also if no female in the group.

as long as they are around the same size and development, shouldn't be any issues until adults.