Angelfish care guide

Plan a tank with angelfishSee all tank mates

Angelfish quick facts

• Long fins attract fin nippers.

Tank setup

One angelfish or a pair needs at least a 29-gallon (110 L) tank, and a group of five or six young fish needs about 55 gallons (208 L). Pick a tall tank with 45–50 cm (18–20 in) of water depth, because adults are taller than they are long. Tall plants, driftwood and gentle water flow suit them best.

How many angelfish in a tank?

The smallest common tank that suits angelfish is a 29 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.

Numbers are bioload limits only. Males fight, so keep one male unless the tank is large and well planned.

Water parameters

Keep them at 24–29 °C (75–84 °F), pH 6.0–7.5 and 3–12 dGH. Tank-bred angelfish adapt to most tap water as long as it stays stable. Change 25–30% of the water each week to keep nitrate low.

Best tank mates for angelfish

These popular species share angelfish' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 38 good matches.

• Nerite snail

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)

• Bristlenose pleco

  12 cm (4.7 in) · 22–26°C (72–79°F)

• Assassin snail

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)

• Ramshorn snail

  2 cm (0.8 in) · 21–27°C (70–81°F)

• Malaysian trumpet snail

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 20–27°C (68–81°F)

• Mystery snail

  5 cm (2 in) · 21–26°C (70–79°F)

• Kuhli loach

  9 cm (3.5 in) · 24–27°C (75–81°F)

• Boesemani rainbowfish

  10 cm (3.9 in) · 26–29°C (79–84°F)

Avoid keeping angelfish with

• Betta fish: Betta fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like angelfish, mistaking them for rivals.
• Cherry shrimp: Angelfish eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
• Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Angelfish 24–29°C (75–84°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
• Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Angelfish 24–29°C (75–84°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F).
• Neon tetra: Angelfish can eat neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
• Tiger barb: Tiger barb is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of angelfish.

Feeding

Angelfish eat almost anything. Use a good flake or small pellet as the staple and add frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp or mysis a few times a week. They also hunt any fish or shrimp small enough to swallow.

Behavior

They are calm most of the time but set up a pecking order, and a bonded pair claims part of the tank and chases others away, especially when spawning. Grown angelfish eat neon tetras and other fish under about 4 cm (1.5 in). Keep them away from fin nippers like tiger barbs and serpae tetras, which target their long fins.

Breeding

Buy about six young fish and let pairs form on their own. A pair cleans a vertical surface such as a broad leaf, slate or the glass and lays a few hundred eggs, which both parents guard. Eggs hatch in about 2–3 days and the fry swim a few days later. Young pairs often eat their first few spawns, which is normal.

Tips from experienced keepers

• Buy angelfish at a similar size so one doesn't grow up to bully the rest.
• Choose tank mates longer than about 5 cm (2 in), such as larger tetras, corydoras and bristlenose plecos.
• Never keep them with tiger barbs or other fin nippers.
• Use a tall tank with at least 45 cm (18 in) of water so adults can spread their fins.
• Expect a spawning pair to guard a corner hard. Give other fish enough cover to stay out of the way.

Sources

We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.

• seriouslyfish.com
• fishbase.se
• aquariumcoop.com
• en.wikipedia.org
• fishkeepingworld.com