Snippy Angelfish

[KimmyFishy89]

I bought this small angelfish. About an inch and a half or so. I put him in the tank, and he was fine. I had him in there for about two weeks, when I brought home a larger, marble angel. At first they both got along. About a month in, I notice the big one snipping the little one into the corner of my tank (10 gallon). It continues, and now the little one is about the same size as the big one. But now instead of one big fish being nasty, they both snip at eachother. There really hasn't been any serious damage. A piece of the top fin on the smaller one that is fully healed now was the extent of it. The guy at the pet store said switch around the plants, so I did but they are both still pecking. They don't bother any of my other fish. Should I move one of them to another tank?

I only want my fish to be

 

[KnuckleHead]

You have to remember angels are cichlids and can be "KnuckleHeads". If you have the room I would add 1 more angel approx the same size to help disperse the aggresion. As a general rule with angels its best to either have just 1 or more then 2. Its also possible you have the pair you have could be doing the mating dance. Look at one of them and see if its belly is bulging a little.

 

[AquaNut]

I would think that a big part of the problem is that a ten gallon tank is not big enough for angelfish, imo. I wouldn't keep one angelfish in a ten gallon tank, let alone two. They are territorial and neither of them is going to be able to stake out sufficient territory in a tank that size. Furthermore, they get physically too large for that amount of space and will be stunted or possibly deformed if you don't give them the space they need to grow. Definitely remove one, and if possible, remove both.

 

[KnuckleHead]

Holy crap I totally missed the 10g part. Yes you definatly need a bigger tank. Nothing smaller then a 20g tall to house a pair.

 

[AquaNut]

I kinda thought you'd missed it when you suggested she get another one.

 

[KimmyFishy89]

Okay. So do I HAVE to get rid of both? Or should I get rid of one of them? Okay I will give the smaller one to my sister. The big one is much to territorial. Thanks!!

 

[missyintx_99]

If what you have them in is a 10g, then yes you should find a new home for both of them. If you have a bigger tank you could move them into, that would be better. They will need at least a 30g tall. Good luck.

 

[KimmyFishy89]

I moved one into another tank (One with more space). I dont have another place to put the second one. Now it is only him, two platies, a guppie, and two cats. Does he still need more room?? My dad had kept angelfish for a long time in a ten gallon tank and nothing was wrong with them.

I really appreciate your help guys!!

 

[smb]

It's great that you come here and ask for help. It's obvious you care about fish or you wouldn't be asking but noone can keep angelfish in a 10g tank without there being anything wrong with them.

They lived but they were probably stunted and the water had to be changed about 25% daily or any less and they would be continually exposed to inferior water quality.

I hope you don't take offense to my opinion but it's best said incase others, that might be looking for answers, read this and I believe you're talking in the plural sense with your dads 10g?

IMO, a 20g high is the minimum for just 1 angelfish.

 

[KnuckleHead]

If what you have them in is a 10g, then yes you should find a new home for both of them. If you have a bigger tank you could move them into, that would be better. They will need at least a 30g tall. Good luck.

You can house a pair of adult angels in no less then a 20g tall tank. Most angels use that size in their hatcheries. I myself prefer 30g but thats just a personnel preference.

 

[KimmyFishy89]

They lived but they were probably stunted and the water had to be changed about 25% daily or any less and they would be continually exposed to inferior water quality.

I hope you don't take offense to my opinion but it's best said incase others, that might be looking for answers, read this and I believe you're talking in the plural sense with your dads 10g?

IMO, a 20g high is the minimum for just 1 angelfish.

No offense taken, I know you are only trying to help me. And you sound like you know your fishies B)

I had no idea they where delicate like that. Bad water constantly?! Aww.. poor thing.. I dont have any other space for him. My sister is maxed out, and the biggest water space we have is a pond for goldfish

Should I give him back to the pet store? But pet stores always seem to have alot of fish in small tanks. I bought him from a ten gallon tank with 4 other angels.

I will see if any of my friends will have him. Hopefully he wont be stunted like I might have done

But the good news is, the angel that was being picked on is safe now. Turned out he was pretty bad. I have a blue light in my tank, and my sister has white. So under the white you can really see all the nicks, and wounds. Now he can heal in peace