Angelfish are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful fish you can keep in a tropical freshwater aquarium. But are angelfish aggressive? Unfortunately, that is true; angelfish can be a bully if kept with the wrong company.
However, don’t despair if you have your heart set on keeping angelfish. You can still house Angelfish in a community setup, as long as you choose your tankmates carefully.
In this detailed compatibility guide, we introduce you to 29 of the best angelfish tank mates and show you how to ensure peace and harmony reign in your aquarium.
What Makes An Ideal Tank Mate For Angelfish?
This section of our guide looks at what to consider when choosing an ideal tankmate for your angelfish. But do angelfish really deserve their belligerent reputation?
Are Angelfish Aggressive?
>Angelfish are members of the cichlid family of more than 2,000 species of freshwater fish. Cichlids generally have a reputation for being aggressive creatures. However, angelfish are quite peaceful, as long as they are kept with species of similar temperament and size.
Feeding and breeding
Like many species of fish, your angelfish is more likely to become feisty when feeding and during spawning, when the fish become very territorial. During the breeding season, you may need to move the angelfish pair to a separate spawning tank where they won’t feel threatened by their tankmates.
Space invaders!
Too many fish in too little space is a recipe for fighting and fin pinching. Therefore, to reduce the likelihood of aggression in the tank, it is important that you do not overcrowd the fish.
When stocking your tank, follow the general rule of thumb of one inch of fish per gallon of water, or one inch of fish per two gallons if you have large, especially messy fish. The small 2-inch juvenile angelfish you bring home from the fish store have the potential to grow up to six inches long and eight inches tall, so remember to keep that in mind when deciding how many fish you have room for in your aquarium.
Angelfish can live for up to ten years when kept in the right conditions, so providing a large enough tank or being prepared to increase in size as the fish grows is crucial.
What Makes An Ideal Tank Mate For An Angelfish?
aquarium level
Angelfish spend most of their time swimming in the upper part of the water column near the surface.
Therefore, it makes sense to choose tankmates that are in the lower regions of the tank. This will prevent the fish from encroaching on each other’s space and will also go a long way in preventing fights over food.
Similar water parameters
Angelfish come from the tropical rivers of South America, specifically Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, and various river systems in Brazil, including the Essequibo River, the Oyapock River, and the mighty Amazon as well.
The water in these habitats is warm, typically in the range of 78° to 84° Fahrenheit. The preferred water hardness for the species is between 8 and 8 dKH, with a pH in the range of 6.8 to 7.8. Therefore, the fish you choose as tankmates for your angelfish should share the same or very similar water parameter requirements.
Size
As mentioned above, angelfish can grow to be six inches long and eight inches tall when fully mature. And not only space can be an issue here.
Angelfish will eat any fish that is small enough to fit in their mouths, which rules out nano-fish species like Endler’s carriers, some rasboras, and also very small tetras. For that reason, I recommend that you choose tank mates that are at least two inches long or more.
On the other hand, angelfish can also be victims of bullying. Therefore, avoid including very large species such as Oscars, redhead cichlids, and jaguar cichlids, all of which are more than capable of hitting an angelfish to death.
aggression levels
Although angelfish are generally not looking for trouble, you should consider which species of fish may trigger aggression in your angels.
Card-carrying pliers, such as tiger barbs, certain tetras, and the Skunk botia, should be avoided, as should any species that has a reputation for aggression.
29 Best Tank Mates For Angelfish
In this part of our guide, we introduce you to 31 of the most suitable tank mates for angelfish.
1. Corydoras Catfish (Corydoras Sp.)
- Care level: easy, beginner
- Temperament: Peaceful (keep in schools of 5 or more)
- Size: 2-4 inches
- Diet: omnivorous
- Minimum tank size: 20 gallons
Corydoras catfish hail from South America and share similar water parameters as angelfish.
These cute and active catfish spend most of their time foraging around the substrate, cleaning up food debris and occasionally coming to the surface for a breath of air.
These fish are completely peaceful, happily minding their own business and interacting with their own kind at the bottom of the tank. In the wild, corys live in huge schools, often numbering hundreds of individuals. In captivity, it is essential that you have at least five fish, preferably more.
2. Dwarf Gourami (Trichogaster Lalius)
- Care level: easy
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Size: 3.5 inches
- Diet: omnivorous
- Minimum tank size: 10 gallons
Dwarf gouramis come from Southeast Asia and enjoy water conditions very similar to angelfish.
I have several different colored dwarf gouramis in one of my aquariums, and have kept them with Angelfish in the past with no problem. These delicious fish are beautiful to look at and are peaceful with their own kind and with others in their community.
3. Black Skirt Tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi)
- Care level: easy
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Size: 2 inches
- Diet: omnivorous
- Minimum tank size: 15 gallons
Black Skirt Tetras are an unusual and little-seen member of the tetra family that make a lovely addition to a community tank. These peaceful fish do best when kept in a school of at least five individuals.
These tetras hail from southern Brazil and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures and water conditions, making them ideal for life in the Angelfish setting.
4. Bleeding heart tetra (Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma)
>
Bleeding Heart tetras hail from the upper Amazon River basin and share the same dietary and water condition requirements as angelfish.
These tetras are peaceful, schooling fish that can be shy if not kept in a group of at least six individuals. Bleeding hearts tend to roam the bottom to middle areas of the tank, hiding among plants when they feel stressed.
Boeseman’s Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia Boesemani)
>
Boeseman’s rainbowfish begin life as a rather dull gray color with a yellow tail. But that changes as the fish mature, transforming into a stunning iridescent blue on the front of its body and neon yellow on the back.
These fish are peaceful, although they occasionally argue with each other. Although they prefer hard water in their natural environment, the specimens you purchase are captive bred and will acclimate to milder conditions.
6. Bolivian Ram (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus)
>
Bolivian rams are a peaceful species of small cichlids that hail from the Amazon River basin in Bolivia and Brazil, sharing similar conditions to angelfish.
These are very popular aquarium fish that are easy to keep and peaceful with others. The Ram’s beautiful, bright colors make for an impressive display in any community tank.
7. Common Plecostomus (Hypostomus plecostomus)
- Attention level: moderate
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Size: up to 24 inches
- Diet: omnivorous
- Minimum tank size: more than 30 gallons
The Common Pleco is a peaceful, bottom-dwelling, armored catfish that spends most of its time grazing on the algae it finds growing on the surfaces and panes of the tank.
Plecos get along well with other fish, although they can be belligerent with others of their own kind and do best as a single specimen in the community.
8. Bristlenose pleco (Ancistrus plecostomus)
>
The Bristlenose Pleco is a peaceful member of this bottom-dwelling catfish family and can be distinguished by the fleshy tentacles on its face. Like other plecos, Bristlenose is a useful worker in the aquarium, eating algae and cleaning glass and other surfaces.
Although Bristlenose plecos are peaceful with other fish, they should be kept alone as they can be aggressive towards other plecos.
9. Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi)
- Attention level: moderate
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Size: 2 inches
- Diet: omnivorous
- Minimum tank size: 20+ gallons
The brightly colored cardinal tetra is native to the upper Orinoco and Negro rivers of South America. These peaceful fish inhabit the upper to middle areas of the water column.
In the wild, cardinal tetras live in huge schools, often containing hundreds of fish. Captive cardinals should also be kept in large groups so that the fish feel safe and do not become stressed.
10. Discus fish (Paracheirodon axelrodi)
- Attention level: Difficult
- Temperament: generally peaceful
- Size: 5 to 7 inches in diameter.
- Diet: omnivorous
- Minimum tank size: 75 gallons
The majestic discus fish comes from the lower Amazon river basin, where the current is very slow and the temperature is at the upper end of the angelfish’s tolerance.
Discus fish require pristine water quality to thrive, so be prepared to clean your tank and maintain your filtration system regularly. These are school fish that should ideally be kept in groups.
11. Electric Blue Ram (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi)
- Attention level: Difficult
- Temperament: generally peaceful
- Size: 2 to 3 inches
- Diet: omnivorous
- Minimum tank size: 20 gallons
Electric Blue Rams are dazzling fish that bring a brilliant burst of metallic turquoise color to the aquarium.
These fish are bottom dwellers that are generally peaceful, although you should only keep one male specimen in the tank as these fish are very territorial. Blue Rams tolerate the same water parameters as Angels and should do well in a community tank.
12. Guppies (Poecilia reticulata)
>
Guppies are incredibly popular life carriers that many people love to have in their aquarium. These live little fish come in a wide range of colors and breed easily, so chances are you’ll never need to buy more once you introduce a small school of males and females.
These fish are peaceful within their own kind, and will not bother your angelfish, as the guppies are most likely too busy breeding to pay attention to other tank residents.
13. Ax fish (Gasteropelecus sternicla)
>
The Hatchetfish comes from Brazil, Guyana and Suriname. These peaceful little fish are a very unusual addition to the community aquarium with their hatchet-shaped bodies and silver color.
Hatchet fish are considered to be the only true «flying fish» as they move their large pectoral fins to help them fly through the air, which they do to hunt flying insects. It goes without saying that you need a tank with a tight-fitting lid or slide if you want to keep these fascinating fish.
14. Keyhole Cichlids (Cleithracara maronii)
>
Keyhole cichlids are often overlooked as community fish, largely because they lack the vivid colors of others in the cichlid family.
However, these fish remain attractive and interesting, forming monogamous pairs within a sandbar. Once the fish have formed pairs they can become territorial, so be sure to provide plenty of hiding places within the tank that divide the space into separate ones.
15. Cichlid kribensis (Cleithracara maronii)
- Care level: easy
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Size: 4 inches
- Diet: omnivorous
- Minimum tank size: 20 gallons
Kribensis cichlids are pretty fish that bring a charming presence to a community tank. Kribs are peaceful, spending much of their time at the bottom of the tank, hanging out among the plants.
If you keep kribensis in small groups, you can be sure that pairs will pair up and start spawning. Both parents care for their eggs and fry, and the sight of the female escorting her brood of tiny fry around the tank is a delight!
16. kuhli loach (Pangio Kuhlii)
- Attention level: intermediate
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Size: 3 to 4 inches
- Diet: omnivorous
- Minimum tank size: 20 gallons
The Kuhli Loach is a peaceful, worm-like loach that hails from Southeast Asia.
You can keep these loaches in groups, although they are just as happy when kept alone, spending their time foraging in the substrate and among your plants. Although relatively hardy, Kuhli loaches are partly scaleless creatures, and that can leave them vulnerable to attack by parasites and disease.
17. Lemon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon
>
The Lemon tetra is an extremely attractive tetra that makes a beautiful addition to the community aquarium. These are curious and confident little fish that are a popular choice for beginner tanks.
These tetras come from the Tapajós river basin in the Iquitos region of the Peruvian Amazon, where they are found in huge schools, thousands of individuals. For the Lemon tetra to be happy and prosper, it must be kept in a school of at least six people.
18. Mollies (Poecilia sphenops)
- Care level: easy
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Size: 3 to 5 inches
- Diet: omnivorous
- Minimum tank size: 20 gallons
Mollusks hail from South America and have long been extremely popular aquarium fish, largely because they are so easy to keep and also because they spawn easily.
Mollies come in several varieties, including Sailfin, Balloon, and Common Mollies. These life carriers can be gold, orange, red, black, silver, green, and rust-colored, as well as striking combinations of all of them.
19. Otocinclus catfish ( Paracheirodon innesi)
>
The otocinclus catfish is a bottom-dwelling fish native to South America, primarily from the freshwater rivers of Venezuela and northern Argentina.
These tiny catfish are not only cute and highly attractive, but these lively creatures are also useful to the hobbyist as they are voracious algae eaters.
20. Platies (Xiphophorus maculatus)
- Care level: easy
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Size: 2.8 inches
- Diet: omnivorous
- Minimum tank size: 10 gallons
Platis are a wonderful fish for beginners. They are tolerant of a wide range of water conditions, as well as being peaceful community fish and ready breeders.
Most hobbyists keep dishes in large groups of various colors to create a spectacular display as the fish cruise together around the middle and upper areas of the water column.
21. Praecox Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia praecox)
>
Praecox is a species of dwarf rainbowfish that hails from the lush jungle streams of western New Guinea and the Mamberamo region of West Papua.
These little fish are intelligent, beautiful, and lively, spending their time swimming in the upper to middle areas of the tank. Praecox Rainbow Fish is not recommended for beginners as these fish are extremely sensitive to unstable water conditions.
22. Ram Cichlids (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi)
>
The Ram Cichlid is a perfect cichlid for a beginner as it is one of the easiest cichlid species to care for. Rams also come in a range of beautiful colors that really enhance your tank.
This species of dwarf cichlid is very peaceful in nature and you can have one or a pair. However, if you want to have two males you will need a large tank as they are somewhat territorial.
23. Rummy-nosed tetra (Hemigrammus bleheri)
>
Rummy-Nose Tetras are cute, lively little fish that make a good addition to a well-established, peaceful community tank.
These fish need very stable water conditions to thrive and are very sensitive to water pollution. If Rummy-Nose Tetras become stressed, they will lose most of their color until conditions improve.
24. Rubber-nosed pleco (Chaetostoma formosae)
>
The beautiful rubber-nosed pleco comes from the Orinoco River in eastern Colombia. These bottom-dwelling fish are generally peaceful, although they can be quite territorial with other species of plecos. Also, the Rubbernose pleco is not averse to eating fry and very small fish.
These fish require pristine, well-oxygenated water.
25. Silver dollar (Metynnis argenteus)
- Care level: easy
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Size: 5 to 6 inches
- Diet: omnivorous
- Minimum tank size: 75 gallons
Silver Dollars are peaceful schooling fish that do best when kept in groups of five or more. If you only have one fish and it doesn’t provide hiding places or shelter, the silver dollar can become lonely.
The silver dollar is a wonderful community fish when kept with other large, peaceful species, although very small fish will likely be eaten by the large silver dollars.
26. Synodontis catfish (Metynnis argenteus)
>
Synodontis catfish are perfect for beginners as these fish are incredibly hardy and easy to care for, although they do require a large tank to house them.
In their natural environment, Synodontis are primarily scavengers, eating whatever edible morsel they can find. These bottom dwellers generally do well in community tanks and can be kept in small groups.
27. three-spotted gourami (Trichopodus trichopterus)
>
The three-point gourami is a large gourami that is often recommended for beginners because it is so easy to maintain.
These hardy fish can tolerate a wide range of water parameters, including those preferred by angelfish, and are a peaceful species that do well in a community setting.
28. Zebra loaches (Botia striata)
- Attention level: intermediate
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Size: 3 to 4 inches
- Diet: omnivorous
- Minimum tank size: 30 gallons
The zebra loach is a beautifully patterned, active fish that enjoys socializing with its own species, as well as other peaceful species of loach.
These fish do best in groups of five or more, such as having them in pairs or small groups; the dominant fish may become aggressive towards others.
29. Swordtails (Xiphophorus helleri)
- Care level: easy
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Size: up to 6 inches
- Diet: omnivorous
- Minimum tank size: 20 gallons
The North and Central American Swordtail is a spectacular looking fish that is a favorite of hobbyists around the world. Super easy to maintain and beautiful to look at, the Swordtail is the perfect addition to any community tank.
You can keep Swordtails in colorful groups, even though they are not naturally fish.
In conclusion
Angelfish ar
