Angelfish Care & Species Guide

The angelfish is a freshwater fish of the cichlid family. There are two types of angelfish: freshwater angelfish and saltwater angelfish. This guide will focus on freshwater angelfish.

Angelfish are popular among aquarists because of their unique arrowhead bodies with beautiful, flowing fins. Although angelfish are usually peaceful, the fish are known to prey upon small fish and fight amongst fish of their kind, especially during breeding season.

~Can kuhli loaches live with angelfish?~

Yes, kuhli loaches can live with angelfish. In fact, kuhli loaches are one of the few species that can cohabit peacefully with angelfish. Kuhli loaches are peaceful bottom-dwellers, so they’ll mostly mind their own business stay out of the angelfish’s way.

Moreover, kuhli loaches and angelfish have similar preferences, so you should be able to fulfill their needs easily. Both species also love plants, which is fantastic because a heavily planted tank will provide a lot of hiding spaces for the kuhli loaches and prevent the angelfish from becoming too territorial.

To keep them both happy, make sure they have ample space and adequate food. You might need to monitor the tank dynamics regularly, but your kuhli loaches and angelfish should be able to live together peacefully.

~Can angelfish live with oscars?~

No, angelfish can’t live with oscars. Both angelfish and oscar fish have territorial and aggressive tendencies, so keeping them in the same tank will result in conflict.

Moreover, oscars are significantly bigger than angelfish and are seen as the more aggressive fish between the two. The brutish and fast-swimming oscars might see the smaller and slower angelfish as intruders and attack them. This dynamic might eventually stress out both the angelfish and the oscars.

Instead, try housing your oscars with laid-back fish that will stay out of their way but are still able to hold their own against aggression.

~Can I keep just one angelfish?~

Yes, you can keep just one angelfish. If you only have a small tank available or if the angelfish is very territorial or aggressive, then it’s a good idea to keep them alone. Just make sure to provide its tank with lots of plants and decorations to interact with to prevent it from getting bored.

Angelfish are still social animals, so most angelfish thrive better when they have friends. You should try to keep five to six angelfish in a 55-gallon tank or bigger. If your tank is smaller than that, you should keep a pair of angelfish.

Lastly, you can also consider keeping a solitary angelfish with other fish species, such as loaches and kribensis, as tankmates.

~How do you calm angelfish down?~

You can calm angelfish down by:

- Not overcrowding the tank

-Maintaining good tank conditions

-Not disturbing their tank too often

-Providing them with enough food

-Providing them with plenty of plants and decoration to interact with

-Giving them 6 to 8 hours of darkness to rest

-Separating those that are particularly aggressive

-Separating breeding fish as they are prone to stress and aggression

Take action immediately as soon as your angelfish start exhibiting aggression. You’ll notice them fin-nipping, lip-locking, chasing other fish around the tank, or other similarly erratic behaviors.