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Angelfish from good stock are very hardy... Your LFS might have gotten a few bad shipments and had a lot of returns and therefore had to put up that notice... Or they could simply mean that they're not the best fish to cycle with, which they are _not_.

Personally... I would not recommend them to a beginner as they require a fairly large tank (30g tall for a pair) and they tend to either pester or be pestered by a good deal of fish.

Oh that's not good news Sneaky_Pete I am sorry to here that. I would not say mine were tiny when I got them but they were small I would say they were around 1 1/2 inches across the body not counting fins or tails. I must have been very luck given what happened to you. Here is a photo for you to see two of my angels.

tessa38uk attached this image:


http://www.greenspersonalprinting.com/

Well, The only reason I say so is because I bought 1 little angel, it died of spironucleus which infects the swim bladder. Little angels are notoriously susceptible to this. I bought another, it also died. My sister had 2 little angels both died shortly after. She had 2 more, lost 1 and 1 survived for about 1 month. I bought my angels at the 15 dollar price size ( 2 inch body diameter). They are doing great. I would say just dont count on tiny angels to make it all the time. They are susceptible to many diseases and infections large angels arent. Keep your water super clean and your fish stress free if possible if you insist on buying tiny angels.


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Sorry Sneaky_Pete I have to disagree I brought 4 little angels which grew very quickly. In a matter of 2 weeks they doubled in size and they are well on their way to becoming adult size and I have only had the a matter of around 6 months. The large ones can be a bit pricey so that's why I went for small ones thinking they will grow and my god have they grown. They are very beautiful fish but can be a bit nasty to each other as they get bigger but nothing to major. They will see other fish of as well if the get to close but like I say nothing to major it depends on the fish I suppose.


Last edited by tessa38uk at 20-Oct-2004 03:46

http://www.greenspersonalprinting.com/

In my experience, it is better to buy angels larger, like 50 cent peice size. They are much hardier by this age, and will be tough as nails. I have had no sickness or troubles with my 2 larger angels. Super hardy healthy happy fish!
I would say a beginner could do these fish well, just dont buy the teeny tiny little angels.


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I normally wouldn't recommend them for beginners, but if from hardy stock (especially if locally raised), and in a large enough tank, they would work. It's a shame Keyhole Cichlids aren't more available; I find them to be a little hardier, and easier than Angels.

I suspect that the LFS is just trying to warn people that the aquarium should be cycled before putting angelfish in. While angelfish are pretty hardy and adaptable, I wouldn't cycle a tank with them.

If you have the tank space I'd say give them a try When I was growing up my dad always kept angels in his 55g, so I had no worries when I purchased my first. Then I started to read things online like you mentioned, but I'm happy to say my first is still with me.

Good luck.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

IMO Angelfish are pretty sturdy. They do require a larger tank than alot of beginners start with but that's about it.

They are perhaps not as forgiving as livebearers but very delicate is an overstatement. They do okay in almost any kind of water (hard, soft high Ph, low Ph.) They eat all kinds of food from frozen shrimp and bloodworms to pellets and flakes. They aren't any more suseptible to water quality issues than Tetras, in fact probably less so.

A good beginners fish if you have a large enough tank.

If you want one get one, Mike

I noticed under the profiles, that it says Angelfish is a good beginner's fish. However, my LFS always displays a sign on the Angelfish tank that says "These are very delicate fish and require a well-established aquarium." I am confused!

I agree that the tiny ones are rarely a good idea - anything under about an inch and a half in diameter is asking for trouble. Sometimes it works out but IME most of the tiny ones are happy to die off at the slightest provocation.

Angels are rather like otos - some people have a lot of trouble acclimating them and a lot of people have some trouble, but once they're settled and still alive, they're well-nigh impossible to kill.

-Molly
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Wow, I guess I got lucky...both of mine were tiny when purchased but have done very well. The black lace in particular has grown like a weed

tessa38uk your angel on the right is similar to my second; this pic was taken a week after I bought it:

Theresa_M attached this image:


Last edited by Theresa_M at 20-Oct-2004 16:29[/font]

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Beautiful angels everyone!!
It was a shame my bad luck with them, as they are so super cute as young ones! Its hard to resist the little ones isnt it?


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Actually my first experience with angels only lasted 1 DAY! that right, I put him in tank, made sure he cliamtised and all, he was about 50cent piece size, as soon as i put him in, within 15 minutes, my male sword tail started attacking him, going for kill shots at his side gills, constanly chasing him, in vain i fished out my sword tail put him in a GLASS! for a minute hoping hed stress, popped him back in tank and agian he went at the angel, constantly without fail, and i was running late for work, so I left, hoping eventually torment would subdue, I got home that night, and the angel was dead! Whats interesting, the sword was significantly smaller than the angel and its suprising he didnt fight back at ALL!!

theresa, if i were you i wouldnt put the lip-licking smiley next to a reference to how fast your fish as grown, haha, if i didnt know better i might think you were going to eat him

I have to agree with angels not being so hardy when they're small, although the original 2 I bought were quite small, are now big and beautiful fish and very healthy, I've also got another 2 that have grown up nicely but to get that second pair I lost 3 small angels over time for no apparent reason I actually doubted the quality of stock that was available at the time?
But once they get to a decent size then I've found them to be a very hardy fish.

Yes they are very alike Theresa_M but that one is totally different on the other side it has yellow, black and white strips a bit like the black and white one there in the pic (is yours the same?) I will try and get a pic of it if I can.

http://www.greenspersonalprinting.com/

i wouldnt put the lip-licking smiley next to a reference to how fast your fish as grown, haha, if i didnt know better i might think you were going to eat him

lol It was acutally in reference to his ummm...healthy appetite

that one is totally different on the other side it has yellow, black and white strips a bit like the black and white one there in the pic (is yours the same?)

Wow, that's interesting, I never really checked. The tank that angel is in sits on a half wall between rooms, making it a bit difficult to photograph. I'm very curious now though to see if the patterning is the same on both sides.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is water at the bottom of the ocean

TESSA!!! Your angels are gorgeous!