Angelfish Tank Mates
Short answer: the best angelfish tank mates are Dwarf gourami, Bristlenose pleco, Molly, Mystery snail, Bronze cory, Kuhli loach. Angelfish need 75–86 °F (24–30 °C), pH 6–7.4 and at least 55 gallons.
Angelfish care at a glance
| Adult size | 5.9 in (15 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 55 US gallons |
| Temperature | 75–86 °F (24–30 °C) |
| pH | 6–7.4 |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
| Swims in | Middle |
| Group size | Can be kept singly or in pairs |
| Care level | Moderate |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (26)
- Dwarf gourami
- Bristlenose pleco
- Molly
- Mystery snail
- Bronze cory
- Kuhli loach
- Kribensis
- Pearl gourami
- Swordtail
- Three spot gourami
- Discus
- Rainbow shark
- Red tail shark
- Siamese algae eater
- Common pleco
- Clown loach
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Glass catfish
- Sterbai cory
- Congo tetra
- Upside-down catfish
- Firemouth cichlid
- Boesemani rainbowfish
- Bolivian ram
- Bala shark
⚠️ Possible with caution (20)
- Guppy — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller guppy (6 cm), especially at night.
- Harlequin rasbora — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller harlequin rasbora (5 cm), especially at night.
- Platy — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller platy (6 cm), especially at night.
- Nerite snail — Very narrow shared temperature range: Angelfish 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Nerite snail 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Otocinclus — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller otocinclus (4 cm), especially at night.
- Panda cory — Very narrow shared temperature range: Angelfish 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Cherry barb — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller cherry barb (5 cm), especially at night.
- German blue ram — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller German blue ram (5 cm), especially at night.
- Glowlight tetra — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller glowlight tetra (4 cm), especially at night.
- Honey gourami — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller honey gourami (5.5 cm), especially at night.
- Rummy nose tetra — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller rummy nose tetra (5 cm), especially at night.
- Zebra danio — Very narrow shared temperature range: Angelfish 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Zebra danio 18–25 °C (64–77 °F).
- Sparkling gourami — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller sparkling gourami (4 cm), especially at night.
- Black neon tetra — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller black neon tetra (4 cm), especially at night.
- Bloodfin tetra — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller bloodfin tetra (5.5 cm), especially at night.
- Forktail blue-eye — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller forktail blue-eye (6 cm), especially at night.
- Lemon tetra — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller lemon tetra (5 cm), especially at night.
- X-ray tetra — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller X-ray tetra (4.5 cm), especially at night.
- Convict cichlid — Convict cichlid is aggressive; angelfish may get into fights with it.
- Odessa barb — Very narrow shared temperature range: Angelfish 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F).
❌ Not recommended (25)
- Cherry shrimp — Angelfish will hunt and eat cherry shrimp.
- Betta fish — Betta fish often attacks long-finned, colourful fish like angelfish.
- Fancy goldfish — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Angelfish 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Fancy goldfish 20–23 °C (68–73 °F).
- Neon tetra — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat neon tetra (3.5 cm).
- Tiger barb — Tiger barb is a known fin-nipper and will shred the long fins of angelfish.
- Oscar — Oscar is aggressive and much larger than angelfish; it will bully or injure it.
- Pea puffer — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat pea puffer (3 cm).
- Amano shrimp — Angelfish will hunt and eat Amano shrimp.
- Celestial pearl danio — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat celestial pearl danio (2.5 cm).
- Chili rasbora — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat chili rasbora (2 cm).
- Ember tetra — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat ember tetra (2 cm).
- Endler's livebearer — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat Endler's livebearer (3 cm).
- Black skirt tetra — Black skirt tetra is a known fin-nipper and will shred the long fins of angelfish.
- Cardinal tetra — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat cardinal tetra (3.5 cm).
- Serpae tetra — Serpae tetra is a known fin-nipper and will shred the long fins of angelfish.
- White cloud mountain minnow — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Angelfish 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs White cloud mountain minnow 14–22 °C (57–72 °F).
- Electric yellow cichlid — Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid: it needs hard, alkaline water and an African-cichlid community, and is too boisterous for angelfish.
- Pygmy cory — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat pygmy cory (3 cm).
- Paradise fish — No comfortable shared temperature: Angelfish 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Paradise fish 10–22 °C (50–72 °F).
- Peppered cory — No comfortable shared temperature: Angelfish 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Buenos Aires tetra — Buenos Aires tetra is a known fin-nipper and will shred the long fins of angelfish.
- Gold barb — No comfortable shared temperature: Angelfish 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Gold barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Rosy barb — No comfortable shared temperature: Angelfish 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Chinese algae eater — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat — flat-bodied fish like angelfish are frequent targets.
- Jack Dempsey — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and much larger than angelfish; it will bully or injure it.
How many angelfish per tank?
55 gal 75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with angelfish?
Good matches include Dwarf gourami, Bristlenose pleco, Molly, Mystery snail, Bronze cory, Kuhli loach. They share a temperature range with angelfish (75–86 °F (24–30 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with angelfish?
Avoid Cherry shrimp, Betta fish, Fancy goldfish, Neon tetra, Tiger barb, Oscar.
What size tank do angelfish need?
We recommend at least 55 US gallons for one angelfish, more if you add tank mates.
Can angelfish live alone?
Yes. Angelfish do not need a group, though they can be kept with compatible tank mates.
Note: Compatibility depends on individual temperament, tank size, decor and how fish are introduced. Our verdicts use conservative rules applied to published care data (see methodology). They are guidance, not a guarantee. Quarantine new fish and watch for chasing, torn fins or hiding.