If you are interested in Angelfish, one of the questions you might be thinking is “are angelfish schooling fish?” Strictly speaking, Angelfish are not schooling fish, however they do tend to prefer swimming and living in groups or pairs. The social structure of Angelfish is most similar to that of a shoal rather than a school – they will swim together but not in a synchronised fashion the way neon tetras do for example.
What Are Angelfish?
Angelfish are very popular aquarium fish, thanks in part to their attractive appearance and relative ease of care requirements. If given proper care and enough space most individuals will not turn aggressive towards tank mates unless they are kept with ones they’re not compatible with.
Angelfish are found in North and South America, and some parts of Mexico moving from freshwater to brackish water as they mature. They inhabit large slow-moving rivers (source), particularly those with soft sandy or muddy bottoms. This is because Angelfish need a substrate that’s soft enough to dig into for their burrows. Some species also prefer deeper waters depending on the environment they’re native to. Usually you’ll find Angelfish swimming together within this type of setting – it makes sense if you think about it! The benefit of living within a group is twofold; firstly it gives these fish protection against predators and secondly by grouping together the angelfish can more easily protect their food sources.
Do Angelfish Like To Be In Schools?
Angelfish do tend to prefer to be in a small group but they don’t tend to intermingle or “school” like you would see with Neon Tetras. They can become territorial when kept with other individuals of the same species or when sharing their environment with similar types of fish. They will be more aggressive towards one another when vying for food such as live foods or blood worms, but they’ll also fight over territory and breeding sites.
It’s worth noting that if you’re keeping Angelfish with peaceful schooling fish, then you should try to house them in a large enough aquarium to ensure everyone has their own territory and is less likely to squabble over territories and resources.
How Many Angelfish Should Be Kept Together?
Small species such as the Pygmy Angelfish (Pterophyllum P. Managuense) and the Dwarf Pearlscale Angelfish (Centropyge argi) can be kept in a small group of 3 or 4 individuals since they are smaller species of angelfish. However most other types of angelfish should only be kept in pairs unless you have a huge aquarium! They will naturally establish themselves into pairs and may also become aggressive towards one another if housed in larger groups – just watch them for signs such as biting at each others tails, that’s usually an indication that they’re not getting along with one another very well!
Can I Keep Both Male And Female Angelfish Together?
Yes, it is possible to keep male and female angelfish together within the same aquarium. Once they have paired, you should avoid introducing any more Angelfish into the tank since this could upset their social structure – whether a pair is bonded or not will depend on if they’re compatible enough to breed or not!
Can You Keep A Single Angelfish?
Yes, in a larger aquarium you can keep a single angelfish – they do need plenty of space to swim around and exercise though. Unlike species like neon tetras, keeping a single Angelfish is not a problem – but I wouldn’t try and add other Angelfish at a later date – they will just become territorial towards one another!
The best way to house an individual angelfish would be in a large tank with plenty of live rock for cover and cave-like structures to swim through. They’ll need enough space but also the right environment to allow them some peace from tank mates who might try to pick on them or steal their food.
In smaller tanks you’re better off sticking with more schooling fish as this is much less likely to cause aggression – even something like neon tetras are safer than Angelfish in small confined spaces since they all move around together at quite a fast pace, that’s much more effective at scaring away a predator!
Can I Keep Angelfish With Other Types Of Fish?
It’s important to know that Angelfish aren’t as passive or hardy as some of the other peaceful species – so you should think about keeping them with more durable and defensive shoaling fish. You can also house Angelfish alongside larger peaceful species. There are many possibilities when it comes to suitable tank mates – just make sure that your angelfish is going to be safe from harm and will be able to establish its own territory within the community aquarium environment.
Can I Keep 2 Male Angelfish Together?
Yes, you can keep 2 male angelfish in the same tank – providing there is enough space! If your Angelfish feel too cramped they will almost certainly become territorial and start fighting with one another. They will feel like they need to compete over the available space and the available food. Each male angelfish will need an equal amount of space in the aquarium, so if you’re keeping 2 males then I’d advise a minimum tank size of 40 gallons.
It’s best if your male angelfish are both the same size, you don’t want one being bigger than the other since that will also trigger dominance and aggression – just make sure they’re around the same age and have similar personalities!
Is It Bad To Have 3 Angelfish?
In most cases yes, but it really depends on the size of your tank and whether you are willing to provide enough space for each individual angelfish in your aquarium. If you’re planning on keeping 3 male angelfish together then I’d recommend a minimum tank size of 60 gallons – as long as there’s plenty of space for every angelfish (and other fish) then it could work out just fine!
This would be my advice if they were all likely to reach similar sizes at around the same age, however if one of your male angelfish is smaller than the others and will eventually be dominated by them, then I wouldn’t keep more than 2 male Angelfish together since this may cause aggression between them.
If you do end up with 3 male Angelfish in the same tank, try to regularly check your water conditions and make sure there’s plenty of swimming space for them all. Try not to overcrowd your aquarium with fish otherwise you could find yourself dealing with some problems!
Is It Bad Having 3 Female Angelfish?
Again, I wouldn’t recommend keeping more than 2 female angelfish together unless they have even personalities and are a similar size (or only very slightly bigger than one another). Females tend to get on with each other better than males do, so if your female angelfish are all around the same size and age then they’re more likely to settle down together – but it’s best not to keep them with larger Angelfish or those who will eventually grow bigger.
Will I Need A Large Tank For Just One Angelfish?
The answer is yes! It can be hard to work out whether or not you should house an individual Angelfish in a small tank which might stress him out, especially when only younger specimens are available. Ideally you really should go for at least a 20 gallon tank (or upwards) if you plan on keeping 1 male or 1 female Angelfish alone without any other fish in the community aquarium.
What Size Tank Do I Need For One Angelfish?
It depends on the tank itself, and also the size of your Angelfish. If you’re talking about a 20 gallon long aquarium then it’s ideal for 1-2 smaller angelfish – if they’re very small adults or young angelfish (under 3 inches) then I’d recommend around 20 gallons minimum for them. Although in general I think 40-55 gallons would be better, just to give your angelfish the space they need!
When you start looking at larger tanks such as 55 gallon or 90 gallon tanks, 50+ gallons is advisable for 2 adult Angelfish. With any larger sized tank you may want to consider adding more fish alongside your Angelfish since these are going to require a lot of swimming space!
What Size Tank Do I Need For 2 Angelfish?
Ideally you should be looking at a minimum of 20 gallons per Angelfish but they will feel more comfortable if you can give them 30-50 gallons.
Also consider that Angelfish are very active fish so they will swim up and down, across and also sideways, so try to provide enough space for them to do all of this in. Don’t forget the filter either – depending on how many fish you’re keeping with your Angelfish you may need a pretty powerful filtration system within the community aquarium tank.
What Size Tank Do I Need For 3 Angelfish?
Ideally I’d recommend a minimum of 20 gallons per Angelfish. For 3 Angelfish you should really go for a minimum tank size of 60 gallons, but if you’re willing to provide enough room for them then it could be worth keeping them in a larger aquarium. The more space the better!
How Many Angelfish Can I Put In A 20 Gallon Fish Tank?
This is a question which really depends on the size of your Angelfish, and also how many other fish you plan to keep alongside them. If they’re smaller Angelfish (around 1-2 inches long) then I’d recommend at least 20 gallons per angelfish but if you want to add some other community fish with them then 30+ gallons would be useful!
How Many Angelfish Can I Put In A 55 Gallon Fish Tank?
I would recommend for a tank of 55 gallons to keep no more than 2 adult Angelfish, possibly 3 if they are a smaller species. The more space they have the better – they love to do a lot of swimming around and can get very territorial if they don’t feel that they have enough space
Are Angelfish Schooling Fish? - Conclusion
Angelfish are a very popular choices for community fish tank enthusiasts, but you do need to make sure that you buy the right sized aquarium and provide enough space for them! They do prefer to be in a small group but technically, they don’t school together as they don’t really cooperate with each other. As long as you provide plenty of swimming space and don’t overcrowd your tank, you should be able to keep Angelfish without any issues.
