Angelfish tank mates: safe picks and fish to avoid
8 species from the AquaLog care guide · Updated
In short: Good angelfish tank mates are peaceful fish too big to swallow and calm enough not to nip its long fins: rummynose and diamond tetras, pearl gouramis, Bolivian rams, corydoras and bristlenose plecos. Avoid small fish like neon tetras, fin-nippers like tiger barbs and serpae tetras, and shrimp.
The angelfish grows to 15 cm, needs at least 200 L and is rated semi-aggressive in the AquaLog care guide, at 24–30 °C and pH 6–7.5. Seriously Fish notes that it is generally peaceful but may eat small fish such as tetras. Its tank mates have to avoid two problems: being eaten, and nipping its long fins.
How we chose these fish
We picked each fish by hand, then checked it against the care data: its temperature and pH ranges overlap the angelfish's, it is not on the angelfish's avoid list, its own avoid list does not name the angelfish, it is too large to be easy prey, and the stocking checker flags no conflict.
The species
| Species | Min. tank | Temperature | pH | Temperament | Group | Care level | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rummynose tetraHemigrammus rhodostomus | 90 L (24 gal) | 24–28 °C | 5.5–7 | Peaceful | 8+ | Intermediate | Named as a good angelfish tank mate. Larger than the neon tetra the angelfish's avoid list names, and a tight school. |
| Diamond tetraMoenkhausia pittieri | 110 L (29 gal) | 23–28 °C | 6–7.5 | Peaceful | 6+ | Beginner | At 6 cm, larger than the small tetras angelfish eat. Peaceful, and its own avoid list is fin nippers, not cichlids. |
| Pearl gouramiTrichopodus leerii | 110 L (29 gal) | 24–30 °C | 6–7.5 | Peaceful | 1 | Beginner | A peaceful 12 cm gourami with the same pH range. Its avoid list names aggressive cichlids; the angelfish is rated semi-aggressive. |
| Bolivian ramMikrogeophagus altispinosus | 110 L (29 gal) | 23–29 °C | 6–7.8 | Peaceful | 2+ | Beginner | A peaceful dwarf cichlid that keeps to the bottom. Its avoid list is aggressive cichlids and fin nippers, not angelfish. |
| Keyhole cichlidCleithracara maronii | 150 L (40 gal) | 22–28 °C | 6–7.5 | Peaceful | 2+ | Beginner | A calm, shy cichlid that shares the angelfish's pH range. Both it and the Bolivian ram are kept in pairs, so in most tanks choose one or the other. |
| Sterbai corydorasCorydoras sterbai | 90 L (24 gal) | 24–30 °C | 6–7.5 | Peaceful | 6+ | Beginner | Corydoras are named as good angelfish tank mates, and the sterbai's 24–30 °C range matches the angelfish's. |
| Bronze corydorasCorydoras aeneus | 75 L (20 gal) | 22–27 °C | 6–7.8 | Peaceful | 6+ | Beginner | Corydoras are named as good angelfish tank mates. Keep the tank at 27 °C or below, the top of the bronze's range. |
| Bristlenose plecoAncistrus cirrhosus | 110 L (29 gal) | 22–28 °C | 6–7.8 | Peaceful | 1 | Beginner | Named as a good angelfish tank mate. A peaceful grazer that keeps to wood and glass. |
Which fish should not live with angelfish?
- Small fish it can eat: the neon tetra (3.5 cm) and guppy are on the angelfish's avoid list. The ember tetra, chili rasbora and pygmy corydoras each list the angelfish to avoid.
- Fin-nippers: the tiger barb is on the angelfish's avoid list, and the serpae tetra lists the angelfish to avoid. Seriously Fish describes both as poor matches for slow, long-finned fish such as cichlids. The black skirt tetra lists long-finned fish to avoid.
- Shrimp: on the angelfish's avoid list. That includes cherry shrimp and Amano shrimp.
- Aggressive cichlids: the convict cichlid is rated aggressive and lists community fish to avoid; the oscar lists anything it can swallow.
What about discus?
The angelfish's care data names the discus as a good tank mate, and their temperature ranges overlap at 28–30 °C. But discus need 28–31 °C, a group, at least 250 L and are rated advanced, so we left them out of a first community. Mix them only if you already keep discus well.
How to stock an angelfish tank
- Keep schooling tank mates in the group size shown; the table gives each one.
- Plan for adult sizes: a shop-sized angelfish grows to 15 cm.
- Use plants or wood to give tank mates cover.
- Run your choices through the stocking checker and read how to choose compatible tank mates.