If you’re discovering that you really like angelfish, then you might want to learn a bit more about them. Those who are thinking about adding angelfish to their aquariums will be well served by learning more about the needs of these fish and what to expect out of them.
With as gorgeous as angelfish are, you’d likely think that they would be fairly docile. Would angelfish make good community fish or do they need to be kept in separate tanks?
Continue reading to learn about whether angelfish can be considered to be community fish. This will help you to figure out whether adding an angelfish to your tank will be a practical choice or not.
Caring for angelfish will be really satisfying, but you do need to put some thought into things. After you’ve read everything below, you’ll be able to decide whether you want to buy some for your aquarium.
Angelfish Can Be Community Fish (with Exceptions)
Yes, angelfish can be good community fish, but there are many exceptions. It’s likely not going to be wise to place an angelfish in your current fish tank without putting any thought into the matter.
You see, angelfish can be mildly aggressive, and this means that they could cause problems in your fish tank. If you wish to add angelfish to your tank, then you’ll need to do some research about compatibility beforehand.
The angelfish are very likely going to eat fish that are smaller than them. So placing them in a tank with many smaller fish would be a bad idea.
This doesn’t mean that angelfish can’t be great fish in a community tank. You just need to place them in a tank that has the right type of fish.
What Types of Fish Can Be in a Community Tank with Angelfish?
There are many different types of fish that will do well in community tanks with angelfish. Some of the more popular and common types of fish will do nicely.
Guppies are some of the most common tankmates that you’ll find in angelfish aquariums. These fish are able to survive and thrive alongside angelfish without having too many problems.
Corydoras catfish are going to be excellent fish to put in the tank alongside the angels as well. They look really nice and you shouldn’t have problems with the angels trying to bully them.
Silver dollar fish are very pretty and should look really good alongside the angelfish in the aquarium. You could also consider interesting fish such as the German blue ram or the electric blue ram.
You could place mollies in the fish tank if you like those fish. Dwarf gouramis and three-spot gouramis should do great in an angelfish tank, too.
As you can likely tell, you have plenty of appealing options. You just need to pick the fish carefully to avoid any issues.
The major factors to consider involve the size and aggression levels of the fish. You don’t want fish that are too small, and you don’t want large and aggressive fish that will harm the angelfish.
Get a Large Enough Tank
As you might expect, putting the angelfish in a fish tank that is large enough will be important. If the fish feel the need to fight over territory, then things won’t go as well as you want them to.
For this reason, it’s a good idea to get at least a 55-gallon tank. This should allow you to have enough room for a pair of angelfish as well as several other fish.
You could certainly go with a much larger tank if you have the room. If you plan to create a very large community tank with many different compatible tankmates, then you can get a 100-gallon tank or an even larger one.
Just don’t use fish tanks that are too small. It’ll cause the fish to experience stress, and this could lead to substantial health issues.
Always Consider Social Requirements
Always consider the social requirements when adding fish to a tank as well. Some fish do best when kept alone and others do great in pairs.
There are some fish that have trouble getting along with their own species. Male angelfish fight quite a bit, and that’s why you shouldn’t add two male angelfish to the tank unless it is quite big.
Bigger tanks make it less likely that the male angelfish will squabble. Males have been known to injure each other during confrontations, but these fights don’t often end with one fish killing the other.
Water Parameter Compatibility
Of course, water parameters are of the utmost importance. When you’re picking out tankmates for angelfish, they need to be able to thrive in the same water conditions as the angels.
It’s recommended that you keep the pH balance of the water between 6.8 and 7.8 when caring for angelfish. You should also use a heater to keep the water temperature between 76 degrees Fahrenheit and 84 degrees Fahrenheit.
You’ll want to look into the recommended water parameters for whatever fish you’d like to add. The fish mentioned earlier are known to be good choices, and they will be fine living in the same water as angelfish.
If you wish to consider different fish as tankmates for your new angels, then you should do the necessary research first. It’ll help you to avoid unfortunate problems.
Final Thoughts
Angelfish can indeed make great community fish, but you have to be careful. Since angelfish are mildly aggressive, they won’t play well with all types of fish that you might want in the tank.
The angelfish might try to eat smaller fish that they can bully. You also need to be careful not to put them in the tank with overly aggressive fish that will hurt them.
Do your best to research compatible tankmates and everything will go well. It’s simply about being willing to put in some effort to pick out the right types of fish to go in the community tank.
The angelfish will look beautiful in the tank and your other fish will be able to thrive as well. Be sure to take care of all of the fish properly and the community tank can thrive for years to come.
Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his family’s fish tank. Being able to maintain a small ecosystem and observe the behaviors and interactions in the underwater world peaked his interest early on and has kept him hooked until this day. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything he’s learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium.