Angel tank question

ejk0799

ejk0799

AC Members
Dec 5, 2005
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Connecticut
We currently have a 75 gallon community tank and our 6 1/2 year old son has a 5 gallon hex. We are thinking of adding a 3rd tank and making it an Angel tank. I'm not looking to add another huge tank so what size could I get away with to house a few nice Angels?

Also...they are the one fish I do not know much about so I'd love any advice on keeping them...
 
The size tank will depend on the number of angels. You will need a taller tank, not a 'long'. (For example, one angel in a 20g tall). They can get quite aggressive so buy them young and put them all in together at the same time. They like soft warm water, a little on the acid side. Mine loves places to explore, lots of plants and nooks/crannies to get into while looking for food. You may hate to hear this, but perhaps you could get a 55g?

Hopefully others will write in on this one - I have angels, but am not an 'expert' on them.

Cathy
 
So perhaps something along the line of a Hex tank since they tend to be taller?

I'm not looking to get a ton of them, just a few. Are they always aggressive?
 
If you were going to house angels and went for the minimum size the tank should have 12"+ of water column depth at least 12"(18" would be better) back to front and about 24" of length per mated pair of angels.

so if you wanted 6 adult angels the smallest space would be about 5'x 18" x 18" tall if you happened to get 3 pairs to match up. 1 pair and 4 females could get by with a little less space.

Angels are really hard to get a definitive sex on so you have to be prepared for the extra aggression that comes when a pair starts defending territory.

I would honestly say your 75 gallon tank is best suited if you want a school of angels. I can't say for certain that you can keep more than one angel in a tank less than 3' long. There are individuals that can be paired in tanks smaller but not every individual fish can be kept that way.
 
Basically the angel rule of thumb is 10 gallons per fish(minimum 20 gallon tank)
now that said..you can keep a pair of angels in a 20..lots of people to..those are usually bare bottom breeder tanks with a breeding pair.
so if you want 6 angels you'll need 60 gallons(remember this is a rule of thumb and not set in stone)
if you want a species tank with decorations(natural surroundings) I would use a 75 for 6. angels like cover. the tank has enough room to get other fish in there too.
if you get a breeding pair..good luck..I am moving 5 angels out of a 55 that I set up specifically to get a pair..well I got a pair and they are hoggin a 55.(the tank was too small for that many angels but they were juveniles when I put them in there in October.) the 5 are going to a 75 community with them being the centerpiece.

angels are pretty aggressive when they pair up..the pair I have actually killed a superveil.
 
Commercial breeders generally use 20g tall tanks for a pair of angels. I think that's a little cramped for a full grown pair. A 29g would be sufficient for a pair, but most would probably say that is still on the small side. I think it would be fine if it was aquascaped with lots of plants (real or fake).
 
Thank you all so much for your input. I read and read and read but I think nothing is better than hearing personal experiences.
 
I think what a lot of folks don't realise is that angels get big..I have seen them 11" fin tip to fin tip (top to bottom)

what surprised me was the age that the pair formed..I was thinking I had more time... :confused: these fish are only medium sized..wtf is up with that..
maybe I shouldn't have put that filtered rain water in the tank... :duh:
in my opinion they are worth it tho :D
 
The only non-agressive angels I've owned were put into the tank together as tiny fish. They grew up together and with the other fish in the tank - it was a community tank.

My only angel is now in my husbands 75 gallon, she bullied every fish in my tanks, and his tank was the last resort before going back to the lfs. She laid eggs on a silk plant and man was she a terror! She actually kept every other fish in the tank - rainbows, gouramies, tiger barbs, algae eaters and a big eel confined to 1/4 of the other side of the tank. (It was a hoot - hubby didn't appreciate it at all!)

Angels are beautiful fish but be prepared to drop back and punt when there are difficulties!

Cathy
 
yup, breeders are agressive..I have the two mediums that are basically controlling 70% of the tank..they just spawned again(this time on top of the heater) they have successfully chased the two large golds away,,the only onbe that stands up to them is a mean lil blusher koi..he's tough as nails...LOL

the 75 can't cycle fast enough for me at this point..I may be looking at adding bio-spira soon. :idea2:
 
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