angels in pairs?

redbucket

redbucket

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Dec 1, 2004
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i've read several times on this forum that angels do better in pairs. currently i have one angel. it's doing just fine, but i've considered from time to time adding another, if that would make my angel more comfortable. my angel is almost three inches in height. i'm unsure of gender.

what would i have to consider if i did add another angel? size, gender, coloring? with what my LFSs stock, it'd be nearly impossible to find an angel of similiar coloring and size -- would adding a smaller, drastically different colored angel result in aggression? Also, how do you sex angels, if gender is an issue?

Thanks for the help / info!
 
If you have enough room in your tank, i would say get another one. They are smart fish, and most of them develop pairs, either mates, or just best friends (doesnt have to be male-female). I do not think color matters too much, but i could be wronge. I would try and find one around the same size, kinda same coloration.. one thats healthy, doesnt look like hes really agressive for some reason.
 
Color actually means NOTHING. Although there are some colorations that do seem to be a little more hardy due to their genetics. Golds, silvers, and marbles are all usually very hardy. Some of your more exotic colors have had a lot of inbreeding and therefore are a little less hardy. This is just my 2cents and what I have learned as a former member of The Angelfish Society.
 
tamccain said:
Color actually means NOTHING. Although there are some colorations that do seem to be a little more hardy due to their genetics. Golds, silvers, and marbles are all usually very hardy.
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it means nothing as far as how the fish socialize with eachother?
 
no, not really. They will be just as social to one another no matter what coloration they have.
 
Angels don't care what their mates/friends colours are. What size is your tank? If it's large enough to house another angel, then go ahead and get one, just try your best to get one that is about the same size. One that is much smaller than yours might get chased and picked on. As for colour...get the colour that you like the best. :D
 
I had two large 4" adult angels that I had to separate after they had been together for a long time because they started fighting to the death. Anyway, I added one of them to a tank with a baby, about 3/4 inch, angel fish and the big one and little one get along great. So I wouldn't worry about size much, although it probably helped that I added the big one to the tank that already had the little one and not the other way around.
 
saturday said:
I had two large 4" adult angels that I had to separate after they had been together for a long time because they started fighting to the death. Anyway, I added one of them to a tank with a baby, about 3/4 inch, angel fish and the big one and little one get along great. So I wouldn't worry about size much, although it probably helped that I added the big one to the tank that already had the little one and not the other way around.
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Saturday you're right, but the fact that he might be adding the smaller angel (maybe not much smaller) to the already established tank and angel in there it may cause a problem, then again it may not. All fish react differently, so you want to try and get another angel that is of equal size incase he has to stand up for himself. Re-arranging the tank a little might help as well before adding another angel.
Saturday: Those angels of yours generally shouldn't want to kill each other as you put it unless the tank was way too small for 2 angels of their size or there was a breeding pair(which there wasn't) They each need a certain amount of space(their comfort zone so to speak) to feel comfortable, if those spaces are limited then they will start to be aggressive to each other....the larger the angel, the more space it needs..just like with any fish. These guys are cichlids as well, so they do require a little more room that say your average community fish. Their temperment can't always be pointed out.
 
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if your adding another to the 50 I would think that there would be enough room for it to get away if needed. I have 3 and two are paired so they pick on the third, so I would say that 2 would work. But now if things get out of hand you can always remove one. Also I would try and get one about the same size as the one you already have, if not larger if possible.
 
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