Hello all, I'm looking to get tropical fish for my 36 gallon tank after it's been empty for so long and I'm looking to get 2 angels, but I'm unsure of which tank mates and how many will fit with them in the 36 gallon tank. any advice? also if this is important, my tank used to have three goldens in it
angelfish tankmates
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What are the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?
What is the GH (general hardness), KH (carbonate hardness) and pH of your water supply?
This information can usually be obtained from your water supply company's website or by telephoning them. If they can't help you, take a glass full of tap water to the local pet shop and get them to test it for you. Write the results down (in numbers) when they do the tests. And ask them what the results are in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).
Depending on what the GH of your water is, will determine what fish you should keep.
Tetras, barbs, angelfish, gouramis, rasbora, Corydoras and small species of suckermouth catfish all occur in soft water (GH below 150ppm) and a pH below 7.0.
Livebearers (guppies, platies, swordtails, mollies), rainbowfish and goldfish occur in medium hard water with a GH around 200-250ppm and a pH above 7.0.
If you have very hard water (GH above 300ppm) then look at African Rift Lake cichlids or use distilled or reverse osmosis water to reduce the GH and keep fishes from softer water.
dsch132
Fish Fanatic
If you are set on an angelfish tank, be wary of overstocking. A long time ago, I made that mistake in a community tank with angels as the focus. Personally, I would go for tankmates that occupy a different part of the water column. Angelfish can be territorial jerks sometimes. Your options are limited with a 36 gallon tank, but many species of corydoras catfish would be a good fit. You may be aware already, but they like to shoal and prefer sand to gravel.
Avoid most barbs (except maybe cherry barbs) and be careful with certain tetra species. Some are small enough that adult angels will eat them (ex. neons) and others are known to nip fins (ex. black skirts) especially if their shoal is of insufficient number. I, myself, keep black skirt tetras with my angelfish and they've been peaceful. However, my tank is much larger, sustaining a sizable shoal and enabling the angels and tetras to put distance between each other.
I keep a bristlenose pleco in that same community tank which might work for you. They have specific dietary requirements but are, overall, not difficult if you do your research. They'll also consume algae and don't grow as large or aggressive as many pleco species (avoid those). The angelfish will probably ignore this fish completely.
Some people have had luck with angels and dwarf gourami but I would hesitate to keep both in a smaller tank. Also, be careful where you source dwarf gourami as terrible breeding practices have made many of them rather frail.
You probably know this already, but I'm not suggesting you add all of these fish simultaneously. Stocking 2 angels, a shoal of Cory cats, a shoal of some tetra species, and a bristlenose pleco in a 39 gallon tank is beyond inadvisable (especially considering the adults size of some of these species).
What shape is your tank? More vertical or horizontal? Horizontal tanks can generally support more fish but the shape of angelfish lends itself well to a vertical tank. Furthermore, you could just keep the angelfish pair without any tankmates. It would take pressure off the system and you could specialize your setup for that species without worrying about the requirements of any other fish.
All else aside, best of luck. If anyone else has suggestions or has kept angelfish in something between 35 and 40g, chime in!
Avoid most barbs (except maybe cherry barbs) and be careful with certain tetra species. Some are small enough that adult angels will eat them (ex. neons) and others are known to nip fins (ex. black skirts) especially if their shoal is of insufficient number. I, myself, keep black skirt tetras with my angelfish and they've been peaceful. However, my tank is much larger, sustaining a sizable shoal and enabling the angels and tetras to put distance between each other.
I keep a bristlenose pleco in that same community tank which might work for you. They have specific dietary requirements but are, overall, not difficult if you do your research. They'll also consume algae and don't grow as large or aggressive as many pleco species (avoid those). The angelfish will probably ignore this fish completely.
Some people have had luck with angels and dwarf gourami but I would hesitate to keep both in a smaller tank. Also, be careful where you source dwarf gourami as terrible breeding practices have made many of them rather frail.
You probably know this already, but I'm not suggesting you add all of these fish simultaneously. Stocking 2 angels, a shoal of Cory cats, a shoal of some tetra species, and a bristlenose pleco in a 39 gallon tank is beyond inadvisable (especially considering the adults size of some of these species).
What shape is your tank? More vertical or horizontal? Horizontal tanks can generally support more fish but the shape of angelfish lends itself well to a vertical tank. Furthermore, you could just keep the angelfish pair without any tankmates. It would take pressure off the system and you could specialize your setup for that species without worrying about the requirements of any other fish.
All else aside, best of luck. If anyone else has suggestions or has kept angelfish in something between 35 and 40g, chime in!
madmark285
Fishaholic
If water condition support them, German Blue Rams.
My tank is a rectangular shape but has a more rounded front side panel but nothing too bad to stress fish, and since angels are a bit pricey I'm trying to find other tropical fish to put in communities so the tank can be pretty
Kuriuskitten
New Member
I wouldn't keep more than a pair with maybe a small pleco or bottom feeder. Not saying anything else wouldn't work, just I wouldn't want to try it.
I kept my pair of mating angels in a 40 and that was just enough. If anything else besides my pleco had been in there I'm sure they would have stressed/bullied it to death. They really can get fiesty if cramped.
I kept my pair of mating angels in a 40 and that was just enough. If anything else besides my pleco had been in there I'm sure they would have stressed/bullied it to death. They really can get fiesty if cramped.
Kuriuskitten
New Member
You can always try just one angel, which would solve most of the aggression issues. Then just pick other tropicals with a different body shape.
Hello,
Angelfishes are schooling fishes generally a peaceful cichild but may squabble with it’s own kind, so best kept in groups of at least 5. Rather good community fish but may eat small fish such as tetras.
Angelfishes are schooling fishes generally a peaceful cichild but may squabble with it’s own kind, so best kept in groups of at least 5. Rather good community fish but may eat small fish such as tetras.
Electric Warrior
Fishaholic
My two cents... that tank is too small to keep any angels. I wouldn't keep angels in anything smaller than a 50g, and that's pretty much the bare minimum for two. I kept a m/f breeding pair in a 50, and it was literally just barely enough for two fully grown angels. They need a lot of swimming room, not to mention that they can grow very tall. Even a breeding pair can harass each other from time to time, and they need space to get away from each other; they are cichlids after all.
I think that part of the problem is that when people see angels in the store, they are still juvi's and like the size of a half dollar or something. and people don't always realise how big they actually get. My older adult angels are bigger than my entire hand, top to bottom.
I think that part of the problem is that when people see angels in the store, they are still juvi's and like the size of a half dollar or something. and people don't always realise how big they actually get. My older adult angels are bigger than my entire hand, top to bottom.
Electric Warrior
Fishaholic
Leopoldi still need a pretty big tank, although it's unlikely the op was considering them. Scalare can get big. This is my 6 year old adult male and he is bigger than my hand, top to bottom.
I just got a juvi manacaparu “red shoulder” a few months ago, and it’s already 7 inches top to bottom! Some scalare will stay on the smaller side, but some can grow quite massive.
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Metalhead88
Fish Herder
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I'd opt for a larger tank if you want angels.
Well, I'll sing my standard old song. Species only. Angelfish are slow moving and they don't need the aggravation of other fish. To me, Angelfish are so beautiful and cool. Cater to them and watch them flourish.
Just a personal anecdote here : I have kept large mature Angelfish in a 20 high on numerous occasions and they spawned and raised their brood. I never did think that was too small a tank for them. I got them at quarter size and raised them up. When I got a mated pair I moved the others out to other tanks.
That top picture in post #12 ? That is an exquisite fish !
Just a personal anecdote here : I have kept large mature Angelfish in a 20 high on numerous occasions and they spawned and raised their brood. I never did think that was too small a tank for them. I got them at quarter size and raised them up. When I got a mated pair I moved the others out to other tanks.
That top picture in post #12 ? That is an exquisite fish !
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