Angelfish are actually part of the cichlid family.

That’s right, Angelfish are related to those pesky little cichlids you probably had at some point. Characteristic of other cichlid species, Angelfish can actually get quite aggressive if not kept with the right species. They need tank mates that are completely compatible and friendly for a community aquarium.

Let’s take a look on what needs to be considered when choosing tank mates for your beautiful angeldish.

 

Aquarium Level

Angelfish are top water dwellers that spend most of their cruising near the surface.

Ideally, you should get tank mates that occupy lower levels of the aquarium. That will keep them from competing for space and coming into conflict with your angelfish.

 

Similar Parameters

Angelfish are South American cichlids that originate from soft and acidic waters. They are tropical fish that require warm temperatures in the range of 78°-80°F (25.6°-26.7°C).

It’s best to match fish with tank mates that have similar needs.

Stay away from cold water species like goldfish.

 

Size

It’s kind of hard to imagine when you see juvenile angelfish at the live fish store, but those adorable little guys will end up being 6-8 inches (15-20 centimeters) long when they’re adults.

And angels will gladly eat up any fish small enough to fit in their mouths. So tiny 1 inch (2.5 centimeter) fish will end up being snacks when your angelfish become adults.

It’s best to go with fish that are at least 2 inches (5 centimeters) long.

On the flipside, you also don’t want to put angelfish in with big whoppers like jaguar cichlids, Oscars or redhead cichlids.

These big bruisers might not be able to eat an angelfish in one gulp, but they could definitely beat up an angelfish enough to kill it.

 

Aggression Levels

You’ve got to balance out how aggressive your angelfish are with how aggressive their tank mates will be.

Don’t let the pretty fins fool you, angels can be big bullies that terrorize meek fish.

But on the other hand, they can also be the victims of bullying, especially when it comes to fish that are notorious fin nippers, like tiger barbs or serpae tetras.

So you want fish that aren’t total wusses, but that also aren’t homicidal maniacs.

It’s good to stay with fairly peaceful community fish and stay away from anything that has a reputation for aggression, like convict cichlids.

 

(source: https://www.buildyouraquarium.com/angelfish-tank-mates/ and https://modestfish.com/angelfish-tank-mates/)