Angels- A Pair Or Not?

[Alex.]

Hi everyone

I added 2 angels to my tank about 2 weeks ago and wanted preferably a pair. Apparently the guy at the Lfs told me its hard to sex them but these two I have are of decent size (about 8-10cm long) and after a bit of observation seemed to be swimming as a pair in the tank they were in.

Long story short, they started off mainly staying pretty close by each other, but for the last few days have clearly claimed a side of the tank each as "theirs"... When one crosses that half way point, the other squares up to it and within a few seconds they swim off again.

Ive not experienced any serious fighting, and it definitely seems more bark than bite when they square off - but it's also not what I'd have thought a M & F pair would have done.

What are your thoughts? I'm not interested in breeding them, I just read its better to keep a pair rather than two males or two females etc. If they are a pair - are there any tell tale signs? Any ways to sex them as they're both decent size?

Thanks for your help

PS - tank is 4ft long / 60cm high

 

[mattlee]

its better to have a group to spread the aggression out a bit. the same as any cichlids really the more the better if keeping the same species. if you have 2 males then 1 will soon become the dominant fish and the other will become stressed, its for this reason that 4 or more is better so a single fish isnt picked on.

a pair (m&f) will lip lock to start with but then calm down a bit. when paired they will clean an item in the tank like a plant, rock, heater etc that is usually in an upright position. this is to lay eggs onto.

 

[UKSPEED]

Hard to tell. I had two angels that turned out to be a pair. When I first put them in they never claimed an area each, so chances are they could be M+M or F+F? Not sure though..

 

[ZoddyZod]

if there is any squaring off it is highly unlikely they are a pair.......it would be very lucky if you had managed to buy just two and they paired.

As Matt said if you notice them cleaning an object together that's pretty solid evidence a pair has formed.

 

[UKSPEED]

if there is any squaring off it is highly unlikely they are a pair.......it would be very lucky if you had managed to buy just two and they paired.

As Matt said if you notice them cleaning an object together that's pretty solid evidence a pair has formed.

I was very lucky - the only 2 angels i've ever bought, and they were a pair!

 

[Alex.]

Ok - so it seems I've not got a pair, what would you recommend doing?

 

[mattlee]

add 2 more at least or remove 1 of the 2

 

[Alex.]

I'm considering taking them back, they're not causing much trouble, but I don't want anything to escalate into something serious in the future.

The only reason im considering taking them both as all the other angels in the lfs were much smaller so I take it one largish one and a few small ones wouldn't work?

I also dont want to stock too heavily by adding quite a lot long term.

I have one rotkeil sev in there too, he's only tiny at the moment (about 2 inches) but i am aware the size he'll get to eventually. Great little character too.