▷ Society of angelfish in the aquarium

Altum scalars and normal scalars

Normal scalars and Altum scalars can be socialized without any problems. They quickly swim together as a loose group. When feeding, it may be necessary to ensure that the long-established animals do not eat all the food from the newcomers out of jealousy.

hatchet and angelfish

Whether the socialization of smaller hatchet species and angelfish is successful depends primarily on the individual character of the angelfish. Aggressive angelfish can attack and injure the slamler. Peaceful angelfish leave the hatchet bellies alone. Larger hatchet species can easily be socialized with angelfish.

Gourami and Angelfish

© Vladimi Varangel -Fotolia

According to one report, a female blue gouramis chased a nearly adult angelfish to death.

According to another report, a pair of gourami and a pair of angelfish got used to each other in a short time. Both pairs have marked out their territories and then no longer came into each other’s enclosures.

In a relatively large tank measuring 120x50x40 centimetres, angelfish and dwarf gouramis almost always attacked each other. A dwarf gourami eventually had bite wounds and died.

Angelfish and threadfish form territories. When kept together they need enough space to have their own territories. The angelfish alone need a lot of space for their territories. 2 scalars should already have 200 liters or more. A pool height of 50 cm is also recommended.
When scalars have less space, they become aggressive towards other fish because the territory stretches across the tank and other fish invade the scalar territory almost constantly.

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In a 540 liter tank with 2 scalars, for example, 1/3 of the tank can be scalar territory. The exact territory sizes also depend on decoration and planting. A large wooden root, which stands upright and is overgrown, is often chosen as a territory boundary.
Other fish are rarely allowed into the area without being scared away. During the spawning season, the territory can be extended to half of the tank. That’s about 75x60x60 centimeters, which are fiercely defended.

Even in such a large aquarium, only dense planting will prevent all other animals from getting away unscathed. Especially since the angelfish usually only threaten without really biting. However, if there are other territorial fish, such as gourami, in the tank, serious fights and injuries can occur.

Malawi cichlids and angelfish

Angelfish and Malawis do not go together simply because of the extremely different demands on the water conditions. Malawians need alkaline water with a pH above 8, while angelfish come from South America and need soft, acidic water.

Even if a certain tolerance is granted to both species, since they are not the most sensitive species, the requirements are so contradictory that it is better to refrain from socializing.

Also, the hustle and bustle of the Malawis will certainly not appeal to the angelfish. A Malawi basin is certainly not a calm basin. The scalars would not be eaten, but might be robbed of their fin appendages. In the long run they would not be able to compete against the territorial claims of the Malawis. The angelfish would not survive in the long run.

tetras and angelfish

Many tetra species can easily be socialized with angelfish if the tetras are at least big enough to not fit in the angelfish’s mouth. However, angelfish can open their mouths wider than many owners initially give them credit for. For example, mourning cloaks, oblique swimmers and black neon are suitable.

If the tetras are uninteresting to the scalars, the scalars leave the tetras alone. The tetras are only scared away for a short time if they are in the way of the angelfish, for example when feeding.

If new scalars are placed with tetras that have been there for a long time, the tetras sometimes show pronounced territorial behavior towards the scalars. Occasionally the scalars are even bitten. This behavior has been reported, for example, by royal tetras and brilliant tetras. As a rule, the scalars defend themselves only briefly and then swim away. The behavior usually subsides after a short time.

clown loaches and angelfish

Clown loaches are not suitable for socializing with angelfish. Clown loaches are far too lively for the normally calm angelfish. There is even a risk that the angelfish will be searched for food by the loaches.

Fish species suitable for angelfish

Angelfish can be socialized well with the following fish species:

Angelfish need soft water. When socializing with livebearers, eg guppies, it should therefore be noted that these can also be kept in soft water. There are wild guppies and swordtails that come from biotopes with a conductivity below 50 µs and therefore need soft water.

Swordtails are found in a very large distribution area and have developed many local site forms, some of which have very different water quality requirements. The water hardness ranges from very soft water with a few µs conductivity to rock hard or even salty water, the same applies to guppies.

The socialization of angelfish with livebearers in hard water, as is often used for livebearers, is not recommended.

Sumatran barbs and angelfish

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The socialization of Sumatran bears and angelfish is not recommended. Sumatran barbs nibble on threads and fins of angelfish. Sumatran barbs are also too lively for angelfish, which prefer to be quiet in the aquarium. Due to their play instinct, they put the scalars under too much stress.

Sumatran barbs even pluck the fins of their own species.

If angelfish are to be kept with barbel, five girdle barbel and brocade barbel are more suitable. These are not as aggressive as the Sumatran barbs.

honeycomb toads, clawed frogs and angelfish

Pipa, honeycomb toads, prefer slender fish but at least they will try if the angelfish are edible. Pipa also like to dig halfway into the ground. Pipa carvalhoi, which only grow to about 6 centimetres, also like to dig in.

Clawed Frogs Xenopus and their relatives are also not very careful with your plants and fish and the dwarf clawed frogs should also be kept in their own tank. Feeding honeycomb toads is difficult in a fish-stocked aquarium. Some honeycomb toads eat strips of fish on the feeding wire, but in the long run they then lack the other parts of the fish such as bones, innards and scales. In the literature, the combination of angelfish and clawed frogs is not recommended because clawed frogs release nitrate through the skin, among other things.