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I've had these 2 marbled angels for about 6 months, and all of a sudden, they've started fighting, and behaving similarly to "Kissing gouramis". They have some wild behavioral spurts and start locking lips aggressively at random times. One of the angels is bigger than the other as well...

Is this a sign that they are both males, or are is the male just trying to get the female to breed... I'm not sure which genders they are, but they seem to be a pair, always hanging around each other. You can see my stocking in my profile.

So what do you all think is happening, and what solution(s) do you have in mind?

Thanks,
fishnewbie

Angels can do that,males and females in some cases can show high levels of territoriality, often getting worse if they pair off or are getting ready to breed.. Some people have individual angels that cant be kept with other fish, but most have fish that squabble occasionally. It really depends how sustained these attacks become or if any fish shows signs of injury or stress.Big tanks, lots of visual barriers , or seperation are the only real solutions.

Alright well thanks.

I haven't noticed any physical damage so I hope this is just a phase...

What size tank are they in.

angels are best kept alone in tanks from 20g to 40g and anything above it's best to keep them in trios or more.

if it keeps happening - probalby wont one will kill the other once big enough so :-

either split them up
upgrade or tank to something bigger

what could try now is moving some tank decorations around this sometimes breaks up they little teritories

Hope this helps. any more questions just ask.
Shekoi

Last edited by shekoi at 14-Oct-2005 06:17

www.blooming-brilliant.co.uk

It's a 90 gallon so space definately should not be an issue. Maybe I'll get another... Now I've noticed their fighting has become more persistant. I may end up just waiting it out and see what happens.

Maybe once I get some more plants in they'll get less territorial. Right now they still always hang around each other so I'm guessing they're a pair and the male must want the female to breed.

How big is the tank the Angels are in & what are the tankmates?.

Angels tend to fight a bit with lips locked together, but if you don't see any marks on their skin, you don't have to worry much, but if you see marks, it's better to remove them or arrange the tank decorations, to break the territories.


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Have you recently added fish to the tank. I notice my larger cichlids trying to reestablish dominance by locking lips and pulling everytime a new fish is added. I never seen a fish be killed by this however. I'd just wait it out unless the fish start to attack other parts of the body other than the lips.

mine do that also...an after awhile they stop...i know it happens after the female has laid eggs

Yes, you are right NoFear1419, mine also lock their lips & fight a bit when they have eggs.


http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.geocities.com/s8xi5heh/classic_blue.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buzaqq/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com