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I've had a two angel fish for 8 months now and they were about quarter size when i got them now they are about 2 thirds grown and they have got on really well with each other until now, one of them which is slightly smaller suddenly for no reason at all attacked quite viciously the larger one and tore all its fins and made lacerations all over its body and now its cowering in the corner. but the thing is they were both eating together at the bottom of the tank just 10 minutes before the attack happened , i removed the aggressor but if i re-introduce it is it likely to happen again and is there anyway of stopping it happening again if it is going to attack.

My tank is a 4 foot 240 litre set up, planted at the side and back with large plants, plenty of wood and rock. so i don't think that a lack of space is the problem.

Any help would be Appreciated

I've noticed that cichlids especially change temperment as they get older, or mature, and I believe this could be what has happened to you. My silver angel has gotten a little more ornery towards my marble angel in the past few months. It's not like anything you say, just a little bit of good natured chasing, but that all depends on the individual fish. I had bought them a third once, and he was just nasty and relentless at that. I took him back to the lfs because I like my planted tank to be on the more docile side.

There is no real good way of preventing an attack (or predicting if it will happen again) that I am aware of, besides seperating the two. If it happened once, it could happen again. At the very least, I'd seperate them until your injured angel is well on the mend.

Hope that helped

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Its possible you have one fish impatient for the other to mature. Have you noticed the aggressor spending much time cleaning vertical surfaces lately? If yes, its thinking about spawning, and may be irritated the other fish is not cooperating. Yes, it sounds absurd, but I have seen my male angels poke at and prod the females, as if bullying them into getting to spawn.

I would separate the fish and condition them well before attempting to reintroduce. Do so when you will be able to observe regularly every hour or so, for a couple of days at least. Watch to see if they appear to want to be compatible or not. Its possible they will get very chummy or not.

I've read even bonded pairs sometimes break and "divorce" never to peacefully coexist again, so be careful.

You may wish to try having about 6 and let them choose compatible partners. Usually works. Once you have a pair or two, move the rest out.

Maybe they are both males and are starting to fight over territory

i had almost the exact same thing happen, i tried rearranging the tank, adding more hiding spots ect, but in the end i had to move one of them, i put thetimid angel in with some keyhole cichlids and shes very happy.