Are you thinking of getting a 55-gallon aquarium? That’s a great idea! A 55-gallon tank is a perfect size for keeping angelfish. But how much angelfish can you keep in a 55-gallon tank?
The answer to that question depends on a few factors, including the size and age of your fish, the other fish in the tank, and the plants and decorations in the tank. But in general, you can keep about six adult angelfish in a 55-gallon tank.
In this article, I’ll cover everything you need to know about keeping angelfish in a 55-gallon aquarium, including how many fish you can keep, what size fish you can keep, and what other fish you can keep with your angelfish.
How Many Angelfish Can Live in a 55-Gallon Tank?
A 55-gallon tank can accommodate up to 4-6 mid-sized angelfish. If you want to keep more than 5 angelfish, I recommend getting a larger tank. Soft water is ideal for angelfish.
However, if you’re just getting started in the hobby, I recommend keeping it to a pair of angelfish. You can gradually add more angels as you become more confident and familiar with the process.
Unfortunately, angels are cichlids, and cichlids are known for being aggressive. So, if you don’t provide them with enough space, they will become aggressive toward each other and may start to fight.
To avoid this aggression, you need to give your angelfish plenty of hiding places and cave-like structures where they can retreat when they feel threatened.
I recommend using live plants and driftwood to create these hiding places.
Is a 55-Gallon Aquarium Large Enough for Angelfish?
Angelfish are large cichlids that can grow to about 3-4 inches long. So, a 55-gallon aquarium will provide pretty good growth potential for them.
Ideally, every adult angel needs 10 gallons of water, so a 55-gallon tank can comfortably accommodate 4-6 angels.
What Angelfish Species Are Best for a 55-Gallon Tank?
It’s tricky to say which type of angelfish is best for a 55-gallon community tank since it ultimately depends on the individual fish.
However, I tried to narrow it down to a few good choices. Water parameters (water quality), care level, and gravel filters determine the number of fish varieties you can put in your 55-gallon tank.
Some of the best angelfish for a 55-gallon tank include:
- Zebra Angelfish
- Black lace angelfish
- Blushing angelfish
- Golden marble angelfish
- Silver angelfish
- Koi angelfish
What Angelfish Tank Mates Can I Get for a 55-Gallon Aquarium?
When choosing tank mates for your angelfish, it’s important to remember that they are aggressive cichlids. So, you must choose fish that can hold their own against the angels.
For example, avoid fish with fancy fins or long fins, as they will be easy targets for the angels. Instead, choose fish that are similar in size and aggression level to the angels.
Some good tank mates for angelfish include:
- Boesemani and Praecox rainbow fish
- Corydoras catfish
- Dwarf gourami
- Bristlenose plecostamus
- Zebra and kuhli loaches
- Ram cichlids
- Platies
- Swordtails
- Mollies
- Guppies
- Rainbow kribensis cichlids
- Keyhole cichlids
- Zebra danios
- Tetras
- Discus fish
How Many Breeding Pairs of Angelfish Should I House in a 55-Gallon Aquarium?
You can keep two breeding pairs of angelfish in a 55-gallon tank. However, I recommend keeping only one pair if you’re just starting out.
Breeding pairs of angels can be quite aggressive and often fight with each other if they don’t have enough space. So, it’s important to provide them with plenty of hiding places and cave-like structures where they can retreat when they feel threatened.
Also, females can be quite aggressive while protecting their eggs and fry. Therefore, you should remove any non-breeding fish from the tank before the female lays her eggs.
How Many Juvenile Angelfish Can I House in a 55-Gallon Aquarium?
You can keep between 5-6 juvenile angelfish in a 55-gallon tank. Juvenile angels are quite active and playful and need plenty of space to swim around. They also need plenty of hiding places where they can retreat when they feel threatened.
As they grow older, the angels will start to become more aggressive, and they will need more space. So, you should upgrade to a larger tank when the angels reach adulthood.
How Do I Calculate Angelfish Tank Size?
For the calculation, we will use 12 square inches of surface area per inch of fish set by acclaimed aquarist Dick Mills.
To calculate your tank’s total surface area, you’ll need to measure the width and length. Once you have those numbers, multiply them together to find the surface area. You don’t need height for this equation.
To find out how many inches of angelfish your tank can accommodate, divide the surface area by 12. To fit an inch of fish in a mid-sized tropical aquarium, you’ll need 12 square inches for each inch of the fish.
To finish, determine how many angelfish the tank can hold by dividing its size above by 12, which is the average height of an adult angelfish. (Total inches of angelfish/12 = the total number of angelfish the tank can hold.)
For example, a 35-gallon tank 24 inches long and 12 inches wide has a surface area of 288 square inches.
Then, 288 square inches/12 = 24, meaning your tank can accommodate 24 inches of angelfish. In other words, it can hold two 12-inch angelfish or four 6-inch angelfish.
The table below shows how many angelfish you can keep in various-sized tanks:
| Surface Area (in square inches) | Number of Angelfish |
|---|---|
| 300 square inches | 2 angelfish |
| 450 square inches | 3 angelfish |
| 600 square inches | 4 angelfish |
| 800 square inches | 5-6 angelfish |
| 1000 square inches | 6-7 angelfish |
FAQs
What Tank Size Do I Need for One Angelfish?
You need only 10 gallons of water for one adult angelfish. This is because angels are large cichlids and need plenty of space to swim around.
Can I Keep 10 Angelfish in a 55-Gallon Tank?
You cant keep 10 angelfish in a 55-gallon tank. Ideally, you should only keep 4-6 angels in a 55-gallon aquarium.
What’s the Minimum Tank Size for Angelfish?
A rule of thumb for American freshwater angelfish is 10 gallons per fish. So, you would need a 20-gallon tank to keep a pair at the bare minimum.
However, I’d recommend getting a 29-gallon tank, so they have plenty of space to swim and be comfortable.
How Many Angelfish Should Be Kept Together?
You should keep five or six angelfish together. These guys are social creatures and do best in groups.
Last Words
Angelfish are beautiful creatures that make a great addition to any aquarium. They are relatively easy to care for, but providing them with enough space to swim and hide is important.
When housing multiple angels together, be sure to give them plenty of space and hiding places to avoid aggression.
Also, use caution when adding other fish to the tank, as angels can be quite aggressive.
I hope this article has helped you better understand how many angelfish you can keep in a 55-gallon aquarium. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
