Weird angel fighting

I have four angels and they normally display some type of pecking order behavior, almost always. 3 silvers, 1 marble veil.
On Monday my medium size angel was getting mauled by the littlest angelfish. He went at him half the night, biting him & the medium one keep swimming with his head straight up from the biting. Finally the medium one bit him back a few times and eventually it subsided.
Now, they haven’t fought anymore since Monday & I still don’t know what that was about, but I added water conditioner for the minor wounds the medium one suffered.
Anyone know about this weird behavior & why it started one day & then ended with no more incidents yet.

 

Was it right before or after a WC? maybe extra hormones in the tank water? Or did you switch anything around or add/take away anything? they could be establishing new territories... Just a couple thoughts. And always be sure to check parameters when you see something is off with any fish.

 

Angels need to be kept in a group of at least 5 or more. Keeping a group less than 5 will cause long term aggression.

 

I did do a water change on Monday, they’ve never did that b4. The small angel didn’t hurt the medium one, left a few scratches & bit fin. But I’m mean he went after him for hours straight. And the medium one doesn’t usually take that from him. Idk. Was weird

 

Don't mean to hijack, but I am also having issues with my angels. I have a black angel and a smokey blue. The black angel is nearly twice the size (about 5" long) of the smokey blue and appears to be the instigator the majority of the time, but is also the one showing the most fin damage. He also has a white mark on his side. They have been in the same 60 gallon tank (along with six juvenile Red Head Tapajos) and I only started noticing the fighting about two weeks ago. The black angels fins are looking pretty raggedy and I'm worried they will get infected. Should I separate them or let them fight it out? Also, the Smokey Blue is showing aggression towards the Tapajos. I haven't observed the black angel doing so.

 

Don't mean to hijack, but I am also having issues with my angels. I have a black angel and a smokey blue. The black angel is nearly twice the size (about 5" long) of the smokey blue and appears to be the instigator the majority of the time, but is also the one showing the most fin damage. He also has a white mark on his side. They have been in the same 60 gallon tank (along with six juvenile Red Head Tapajos) and I only started noticing the fighting about two weeks ago. The black angels fins are looking pretty raggedy and I'm worried they will get infected. Should I separate them or let them fight it out? Also, the Smokey Blue is showing aggression towards the Tapajos. I haven't observed the black angel doing so.

Get more angels. If angelfish are kept in a group of at least 5 or more, then the aggression would not happen to one particular angel. Instead, aggression will diffuse within angels.

 

Get more angels. If angelfish are kept in a group of at least 5 or more, then the aggression would not happen to one particular angel. Instead, aggression will diffuse within angels.

Okay, but this is only a 60 gallon tank and I have two angels, six redhead tapajos (they get up to 6") and 7 corydora.

 

Okay, but this is only a 60 gallon tank and I have two angels, six redhead tapajos (they get up to 6") and 7 corydora.

Either upgrade the tank or re-home some of the fish.

 

Either upgrade the tank or re-home some of the fish.

Haha, funny. The tank is brand new and custom built into the corner of my living room, so no changing it. I have two other tanks but they are too small for angels or tapajos (and not conducive to either anyway). I'd just assume get rid of one of the angels.

 

The 5 angels advice is spot on. When I built my 75 gallon in October I had 4 angels. The smallest was a terrible bully. After getting the same recommendation I added a 5th plus did a big rescape.

I have an amazingly peaceful tank now. They eat together and swim around peacefully for the most part. Every now and then there is a little scuffle but nothing like before.

 

The 5 angels advice is spot on. When I built my 75 gallon in October I had 4 angels. The smallest was a terrible bully. After getting the same recommendation I added a 5th plus did a big rescape.

I have an amazingly peaceful tank now. They eat together and swim around peacefully for the most part. Every now and then there is a little scuffle but nothing like before.

Oh, I believe you, but do you think my tank can support three additional angels? That would be 11 fish that will potentially reach 6" each. Is it okay to mix different species of angel or should I try to get a couple more of what I already have?

 

Oh, I believe you, but do you think my tank can support three additional angels? That would be 11 fish that will potentially reach 6" each. Is it okay to mix different species of angel or should I try to get a couple more of what I already have?

It depends on a number of factors such as tank dimension, filtration, amount of water changes, etc. Also, mixing different species of angels can be done, but I'm generally not a huge fan of doing it.

 

It depends on a number of factors such as tank dimension, filtration, amount of water changes, etc. Also, mixing different species of angels can be done, but I'm generally not a huge fan of doing it.

The tank is 48" wide, 18" deep, and 20" tall. Similar dimensions to a 75 gallon only with triangular shaped ends. I currently have two Aquaclear 70 HOBs, but will be switching to a canister in the near future. 50% water changes at least once every two weeks. Some plants, a large piece of driftwood, and 3" sand bottom.

 

It depends on a number of factors such as tank dimension, filtration, amount of water changes, etc. Also, mixing different species of angels can be done, but I'm generally not a huge fan of doing it.

I think I may have figured out the reason for the aggression. There are about 50 eggs on the HOB intake! No wonder the larger black angel has been hanging out there. I figured they were snail eggs (I have 5 snails in the tank), but the snail eggs have been white, whereas these eggs are more tan colored. How do I ensure the eggs survive/hatch!?!? Should I gently scrape them off into a breeder basket? I could disconnect the intake tube and place the entire tube in the basket if that is safer. And I'm assuming I'd leave the basket floating in the main tank, wait for them to hatch, then begin feeding brine shrimp and micro worms? This is exciting!!

 

I think I may have figured out the reason for the aggression. There are about 50 eggs on the HOB intake! No wonder the larger black angel has been hanging out there. I figured they were snail eggs (I have 5 snails in the tank), but the snail eggs have been white, whereas these eggs are more tan colored. How do I ensure the eggs survive/hatch!?!? Should I gently scrape them off into a breeder basket? I could disconnect the intake tube and place the entire tube in the basket if that is safer. And I'm assuming I'd leave the basket floating in the main tank, wait for them to hatch, then begin feeding brine shrimp and micro worms? This is exciting!!

You can use a turkey baster and suck up the eggs. When they hatch, feed them BBS, daphnia, and cyclops.

 

The eggs have been there for 3 or 4 days but I don't see any movement. Guess maybe they are not fertile? No clue what sex my angels are. I'm assuring the black one is female as it is the one guarding the eggs. It won't let the other one near them.

 

If there tan there probably fertile, the problem with a breeder net is no air flow over the eggs to help keep them from getting fungus and the other fish will be able to suck the wigglers through the net. Remove any that get fungus or it will spread to the other eggs, There is plenty of info on you tube on raising angel fry.

 

It would be in the path of the HOB outlet and the net is very fine such that the eggs/fry would not be able to be sucked through. However, I would eventually need to place them in a tank anyway. Guess I'll set up the 10 gallon.

 

The new born are nothing more than tiny blobs of jelly, they can be sucked through. I use a gal. jug with a sponge filter rated for 5-10 gal. that I keep running in the parent tank till needed and some old java moss so the fry will have some infusia to pick at and eat with bbs also, a ten gal. would make it hard to feed and the survival rate may not be good. Good luck.

 

The female ate the eggs overnight, so it's of no concern at this point. Thanks for the tips!