View Full Version : How many angels in a 55?
aahhsin
08-13-2009, 1:42 AM
does it go by the 1 inch per fish rule?
The inch per gallon guideline is absolute garbage. Your 55g can fit about 6 angelfish just fine although of course, you need a backup tank since angelfish will readily pair up as they mature and can bring problems to the community in the process.
bs6749
08-13-2009, 8:15 AM
That tank will easily fit 6 adults permanently. If you are growing them out on a temporary basis it can fit many more.
One CUBIC inch per gallon. An angel is round, so I guess you could do six, though once they pair you might have problems
bs6749
08-13-2009, 9:17 AM
One CUBIC inch per gallon. An angel is round, so I guess you could do six, though once they pair you might have problems
Question: How many adult angels could you house in a 20L?
Answer: Zero
Question: How many adult angels could you house in a 20H?
Answer: Two
It doesn't matter if it is cubic inches or linear inches of the fish, both "rules" are worthless.
Hebily
08-13-2009, 10:22 AM
5 or 6 juvies. Once they pair, 4 (two pair). ONLY if there are no other mid or upper level swimmers in the tank that you don't want to be food. If you have other fish that you want to share the same level and not be killed, I would only keep one pair. Two pair will split your tank in half. Again, as juvies, 5 or 6.
wkndracer
08-13-2009, 10:58 AM
One adult angel for every 10 gallons of tank size is as good a rule as any and better than most. In a 75g tank I back that off to six veiled fish and it works well.
Star_Rider
08-13-2009, 11:04 AM
I think you have your answer.
;)
unfortunately, angels are difficult to sex. otherwise you could probably keep 5-6 adult females in a 55. the same cannot be said of the males.
Hebily
08-13-2009, 11:05 AM
I really don't reccomend trying to have three pair, or two pair plus one in a 55. I pretty much guarantee, there will be a lot of fighting. It depends on the individual fish, you might be able to pull it off, but I think it's a bad idea.
*edit - I am thinking of a 55 tall. If your 55 is 48" long, you could probably keep 3 pair with out much fighting.
sea-community
08-13-2009, 11:16 AM
The inch per gallon guideline is absolute garbage. Your 55g can fit about 6 angelfish just fine although of course, you need a backup tank since angelfish will readily pair up as they mature and can bring problems to the community in the process.:iagree:. i hate that rule with a passion:swear: it literally makes no sense.
stratusfearrr
08-13-2009, 11:20 AM
there is a pair of angels in my 46 bowfront that will sometime show aggression. i had three, and the pair killed the third one. so id say if it was a 55l, or 48 inches long, you should be fine with two or three pair. also a few plants or something might help, as to give the fish some sort of "territory lines" or a slight division for the tank. it helps if there are some places to hide and such.
Star_Rider
08-13-2009, 11:30 AM
I really don't reccomend trying to have three pair, or two pair plus one in a 55. I pretty much guarantee, there will be a lot of fighting. It depends on the individual fish, you might be able to pull it off, but I think it's a bad idea.
*edit - I am thinking of a 55 tall. If your 55 is 48" long, you could probably keep 3 pair with out much fighting.
I have a std 55 (48" long) with 2 pair.
there is no way I would try a 3rd pair in that tank.
;)
Hebily
08-13-2009, 11:34 AM
I have a std 55 (48" long) with 2 pair.
there is no way I would try a 3rd pair in that tank.
;)
Ok, then. So, either way, you really shouldn't try and keep more than two pair of adults in that tank.
bs6749
08-13-2009, 12:10 PM
unfortunately, angels are difficult to sex.
I'm not sure if this is only in silver angels and some other strains, but mine are incredibly easy to sex.
My males all have the "cichlid hump" and are much thinner than the females.
Females are lacking in the cichlid hump and are generally smaller than their male partners. They are also wider when you view them from the front. They always look like the "just ate" because of how full they get with eggs.
aahhsin
08-13-2009, 1:05 PM
thanks that helps a lot.
You can fit more angels in a 55 gallon tank than you can on the head of a pin!
/ too obscure?
Hebily
08-13-2009, 1:27 PM
Way too obscure. Pin heads vary considerably in size.
Star_Rider
08-13-2009, 2:24 PM
while some use the hump as an identifying feature, it is unfortunate the hump is not a characteristic that only shows in males.
Add to this, the characteristic will not show in all males.
if it does appear, it is in mature fish . since pairs can form before the Angels reach full size , this may not help much.
when the female is showing eggs it is usually much easier and more effective to sex by identifying the ovipositor.
even mating rituals with domestic angels is not 100 % as a pair bonding can occur with 2 females.
any way you dice it.. the end result is stocking the 55 will have it's issues. may of which will be what happens when you add multiple Angels to the tank.
chances are, especially true with higher numbers, you may wind up with pairs which will change the dynamics of the tank.
DavidZ
08-13-2009, 2:42 PM
I agree, lived though it when I started keeping angels.
Started with 6 juv in 55, then all hell broke loose one day.
2 pairs developed had to move them, ended up with a 55 and 65 gl and gave some away.
They are not as peaceful as they seem.
I lost all the neons, ottos and most of the mid fish, when I was away for a long weekend.
That is why I only keep one pair per tank with mostly fish that stays on the bottom.
They rule the tanks.
AquatiCreations
08-13-2009, 2:50 PM
Also remember with cichlids like Discus, and Angelfish, they should be kept in even numbers, or a pair will form and bully the "Odd guy out" to death in most cases.
Star_Rider
08-13-2009, 3:33 PM
Pairs forming have little do do with even or odd numbers.
all you need is a male and female.
having more fish just increases the chances you will have 1 male and 1 female.
everything outside the pairs are basically invaders/outcast. and all will be pushed away/ beat up/picked on.
the hope of having an even number or more fish is to help disperse the aggression.
but will eventually lead you to the same conclusion.. remove anything that has not paired. ;)
With angelfish, it's not necessary to even keep them in whichever number you want. You can keep one by itself just fine but certainly not discus as they behave on another dimension than the angels.