Angels

Emily921

Emily921

Emily
Apr 6, 2008
95
0
0
Desoto, FL
After looking at pics on here for a few months, I am really begining to fall in love with everyone's angels. So, before I just go out and buy some I have a few questions.

1. What is the smallest size tank that would house a pair?
2. Are they picky when it comes to their water parameters?
3. What other fish can you keep with them?

TIA,
Emily
 
1. 29 gallons but they better be compatible. 37 or more would be much better.

2. They like nice clean water, sword like plants to hide in and room to swim.

3. Tetras, corys, apisto, rams. Nothing small enough to get eaten and nothing nippy that will go after their flowing fins.
 
1. as rich said, 29 gallons is a bare minimum for a pair. if they are not a breeding pair, then in a 29 gallon they should be kept singly

2. angels are not super sensative and will adapt to most pH's, but they do not like having any ammoina or nitrite in the water. or salt. no salt.

3. stay away from barbs, more aggressive CA/SA cichlids, most african cichlids (too aggressive), neons, cardinals, otos, and guppies (those four will get eaten). lemon, red eye, rummynose, black skirt, and diamond tetras all make good schooling tankmates. as for bottom dwellers, all corydoras will work, but some loaches will go after the angels' fins.
 
Emily921 said:
After looking at pics on here for a few months, I am really begining to fall in love with everyone's angels. So, before I just go out and buy some I have a few questions.

1. What is the smallest size tank that would house a pair?
2. Are they picky when it comes to their water parameters?
3. What other fish can you keep with them?

TIA,
Emily
Click to expand...

i wouldn't put them in anything under 30 gallons

no there not picky sort to say, but they need clear water for best health and color

id say tetra and unaggressive cichlids such as ram or keyholes
 
I have 6 in a 90 gallon with rams, apistos and feeder guppies. I also have clown loaches. The Angels have lots of places to hide but they still pick on each other. I have not had any problems with the clown loaches picking on them. Mine are still young and I'm waiting to see if any will pair up. They are great fish, the bigger the tank the better.
 
^^^ i agree 100%
 
The only loaches that will work in a tank less than 30g in size is Pangio kuhlii. These also happen to be one of the few that should be fine with the angelfish. Most botiine loaches have the tendency to nip for the following reasons: 1. curiosity, 2. cramped quarters, and 3. aggression (depending on the species).

Clown loaches will obviously be fine with angelfish in a large tank provided there is plenty of room for both species to swim around otherwise their discomfort from being cramped can cause both to react negatively against each other.

Your best bet for bottom dwellers to be mixed with angelfish would be Pangios, corydoras, Garra, otos and small loricariids although most Garra prefer powerful currents which is not unfortunately something you want in a tank with angelfish in it.

There are some strains of angelfish that are much more delicate compared to the rest. For a good start, pick gold, marble, koi or zebra strains. Avoid the black angelfish as much as possible. I find them rather frustrating as they are far more delicate than most strains I tried. And just as a note, there are three species that currently exist: Pterophyllum scalare, P. altum and P. leopoldi. What we see most of the time are P. scalare. P. altum require large tall tanks as their dorsal and ventral fins are unusually very high. 24 inches would be the minimum height for altums.

P. leopoldi are widely known to be the most aggressive yet the smallest of the three. A 29g might be fine for one. I never kept these yet but I do have a feeling even star_rider wouldn't suggest more than one P. leopoldi due to their nasty temperament. Besides, you rarely see these ones so it's not much of a problem anyway.
 
interesting..I can tell you that a breeding pair of angels can be kept in a 20H..they really don't need much room and can defend/tend the eggs much better in this tank.
if you want them in a show tank..a pair can be kept in a 29..my preference is this for a pair. the 29 is taller than the 30 so is more compatible.. angels will get tall. I currently have a large male(2yr old in july) Wild P.Scalare. he is already over 9" tall and growing:eek:
you will need to keep an eye on the pair tho..if there is aggression a 29 may not offer enough room.
keep tank mates large enough to not get eaten..mine like neons and Oto's:wall:

there are 3 known species of Angelfish.. Altums, Scalare and leopoldi.

Lupin is correct..the leopoldis are the smallest..they make up for their size with 'attitude' and are the most tenacious of the three.

tha Altum is hands down the largest and IMO the most beautiful of the three..but they can prove difficult to keep. and as of today are still very difficult to breed in captivity...there have only been a few successful breeding attempts.

they also love pond snails..:eek3:

angels are compatible with dwarf Cichlids(rams, apistos etc) you can keep them with larger torpedo body tetras(cardinals and black neons seem to ..uhmmm.. not get eaten as much.)

obviously they will fare better in a larger tank say 40-55G bottom dwellers can include BN's and cories..tho if they lay eggs..the cories may like them too.
 
Thank you all so much for all the help and advice. I think that I am going to hold off on the angels after reading what everyone is saying. I think that after my oscar, I would love to raise a pair in my 50 gallon. They look so pretty and graceful. Thanks again for all the help!!
 
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