Question About Stocking For Angels

[fatboybaby]

Hi,

I have a 29 gal with 2 angels in. I've been told before that the minimum size for a pair is 29 gallons, 18 inches high. my tank is these specs but it looks incredibly empty - can i add a shoal of mid water fish like x ray tetras in as well or is the capacity of 29 gal just for the two fish?

I also have in there 6 bronze cories and 1 marble hatchetfish.

thanks

 

[Kopix Nation]

You can stock your tank with a few more fish.... I am guilty of keeping my angelfish in a 20. Since there is only two of them I made the mistake in keeping the one molly (which is still a baby) and two bumblbee gobies. Not forgetting the one figure eight puffer which is said to be a terror to other fish. But he has been fine for three months.
I really go for the hatchet because you want to get a couple more I thought they were schooling fish. I don't know if you should get x-rays because the angelfish might eat them when they get to be full grown.

claire

 

[fatboybaby]

thanks for that - yes i meant to say i am going to buy 5 more hatchets just as soon as i can find some for sale without whitespot - they are very prone to it so its difficult to find any.

was thinking x rays as i was told that the angels only eat tetras shaped like neons ie thin and long whereas x rays have the fin that sticks out on top..

 

[IMCL85]

If they are just assort angel(marble/silver/albino/black/veil/stripe)it should not have problem goes with more then 4 in that tank. Add some large tetra like cardinal or neon alone with them they should be fine. Unless u r keeping like altum angel else that 10g per angel's rules is not really that much important because assort angel dont grow very big.





Good luck
Jack

 

[Kopix Nation]

Yea I am going to keep three altums in my 44 gallon. Do you have any plants in the tank? They love plants!

claire

 

[Tolak]

Assorted angels? Someone should tell my fish they are assorted angels & shouldn't grow as big as they do. They will grow big, though not as large as a properly raised altum. Here's a stocking chart I stole off the internet some time ago, credit goes to God only knows what site;

Newly free swimming fry 40 fry per gallon
Two week old fry 20 fry per gallon
Month old fry 10 fry per gallon
Pea size bodies 3 fish per gallon
Dime size bodies 2 fish per gallon
Nickel size bodies 1 fish per gallon
Quarter size bodies 1 fish per 2 gallons
Silver Dollar size bodies 1 fish per 3 gallons
Potential breeders 1 fish per 5 gallons
Show Specimens 1 fish per 10 gallons
One breeding pair 20 gallon high tank

A full grown veil really does need the depth provided by a 29 gallon, a pair of standard fin angels do fine in a 20 gallon. "Assorted" angels get that big, I have a pair of silvers in a 29, the male who is a veil, is closing in on 10" tall if you include the fins. They have a few cory & an albino bristlenose as tankmates, everyone gets along fine except the pair who battle a little every day.

Your best bet for getting a compatable pair is to look at the chart, figure how many of the proper size you are willing to start with, and wait for a pair to happen. I would start with 6, they will get to breeder size in your 29. Once a couple pair off, return the others & stock the tank around the pair.

Tolak

 

[fatboybaby]

thanks for the replies guys, but i'm afraid i'm still a bit confused. I already have two angels who mostly get on - they don't appear to have started any spawning or anything so i don't think they're a pair.

i basically don't care if i have a pair or not, i'm happy with my angels as they are (one has a bump and one doesn't so i think maybe they might be a m/f combo) - i was just wondering whether the size limits are because they need that much space for themselves or whether i can add in some x ray tetras without overloading the tank?

hope someone can help

thanks
fbb

 

[OohFeeshy]

a pair of standard fin angels do fine in a 20 gallon.

As in, a 24x15x12-y one? Or whatever the dimensions are.

 

[Tolak]

Oops, sorry! 20 high, 24"x12"x16". A 20 long, 30"x12"x12" won't fly, being a shallow tank.

I would try adding a few x-ray tetras as long as they were larger, but keep an eye out for any aggression caused by territory disputes. Established territories can be changed by removing the angels, rearranging the tank, & putting the angels back in.

With 2 angels in a 29 you do have more room for a few fish besides the 2 angels. I've kept platys with angels, similar in size & shape to x-rays, everyone got along wothout a problem.

Tolak

 

[fatboybaby]

thanks very much tolak!