Tank-mates for angelfish missing a fin

We recently adopted two angelfish, Tootie and Fluffy. They were previously living in a 6g tank with about 14 other fish (can't recall the exact number - but too many fish for a 6g). Anyhow, amoung the previous tank-mates included serpae tetras, odessa barbs, tiger barbs, one corydoras, and one  kuhli loach.

One of the angelfish, Tootie, is missing most of one of her ventral or pelvic fins - not sure what you call it - but it is the long fin that hangs down toward the front! I know that it is hard to tell if a loach did this, or if another fish did this - plus, given the close quarters in which they were living - who knows what kind of chaos happened in there!

Anyhow - we are considering putting the angelfish in the 55g, either alone, or with five zebra loaches. I was also considering putting the kuhli loaches in as well (we have adopted more to up their group), but I am worried that maybe the loach was the culprit in fin nipping.  

Again - I realize that the fin nipping could have been the result of too many fish in close quarters. So, really, I am just hoping someone can guide me in the right direction. Tootie is missing most of this fin - so, might it be best to have an angelfish only tank (i.e. no loaches), where she is missing this fin? I am assuming Tootie's fin will not grow back?

We have two empty tanks here -  a 55g and a 50g (soon to arrive!), so, having one tank dedicated to these two angelfish is not a major problem at all. I just want to do what is right for these two guys especially Tootie, where this fin is pretty much gone!

The biggest suspects are the tiger barbs, the other angel and good, old fashioned ammonia, which can take ventral fins off.
Ventral deformities are common on fish kept in bad conditions.
But tiger barbs are trouble if kept in groups of under six.

Thought a bit more about that. Maybe the fish never had complete fins? It isn't uncommon to see deformed angels in pet shop tanks - the breeders often don't care about them, they just count them for sale. When you are picking angels, you should have en eye out for what you want, shapewise. But if the previous owner had them in a 6g, that person wasn't putting a lot of thought into fish choices. He/she could easily have bought a deformed angel.
The fish is handicapped, but should be able to function really well.

I picked up some young angelfish at an auction last September and several of them were missing one of their ventral fins as well.

Apart from Gary's suggestion about the fish being deformed from birth, it cal also be that they have suffered from high ammonia and this seems to create the same effect as a breeder told me.

Anyways, if the fish is otherwise healthy it can live as long as any angel!

Thanks for the replies Both angels seem very healthy, and I have grown attached to them quickly. I do have to get them out of this 10g asap. Just have not decided on the best tank....we have two empty 55g tanks here, one will be dirted, the other sand. We can get the tank with sand up and running much faster when compared to the dirt tank, so I am thinking that will be their home. We have decided to put the zebra loaches in the sand tank as well. So, as long as they behave and don't nip at my beautiful angel babies, this just may work!

My loaches sometimes go for the ventral fins of the angels but never anything serious.

Biulu wrote:My loaches sometimes go for the ventral fins of the angels but never anything serious.

You must know me well enough by now to realize that if the loaches go for the angels fins - I will lose it!

Interestingly enough, our black skirt tetras nip at each other on occasion, yet that doesn't bother me too much. The tequilas show a little aggression every so often as well, but nothing alarming...just looks like natural "who is the boss around here" stuff! Also, the gold barbs get very aggressive when "doing there thing"...now that one does bother me as one of our females was killed during this process.

I just want my angels to be happy and feel safe. They are so graceful...and so darn adorable and full of personality!

I know you like the characters of your fish, and angels are among the most endearing of fish. They are smart little things, and very responsive. They become quite tame. Of all your fish, those are the ones that make the best longterm pets. I remember some of the angels I had as a kid as well as I remember some of the dogs, believe it or not.

GaryE wrote:I know you like the characters of your fish, and angels are among the most endearing of fish. They are smart little things, and very responsive. They become quite tame. Of all your fish, those are the ones that make the best longterm pets. I remember some of the angels I had as a kid as well as I remember some of the dogs, believe it or not.

I can see how you would remember your angels as Tootie and Fluffy are truly unique! Fluffy really acts like a puppy dog, when I enter the room, fluffy begins to "freak out" in a very cute way...he actually splashed water on the floor when I came in today! Tootie is more reserved, but the most interesting thing happened yesterday - when I fed them, Tootie grabbed my finger (though gentle). So, today, I took a catfish pellet and held it in the tank...Tootie came right up and began eating from my hand! I was actually able to pet him without him caring!

I love these guys...I feel like they are going to start talking to me soon....how weird would that be?!

That's very interesting about your angels. Mine has yet to show much personality except for shyness. He is growing well though and is still the newest member of the tank.

Starfish wrote:That's very interesting about your angels. Mine has yet to show much personality except for shyness. He is growing well though and is still the newest member of the tank.

Maybe your baby is taking his time to show his true colours, waiting to feel confident...or, maybe he is just shy by nature?! I have certainly learned that fish do indeed have separate temperaments and behaviours, which to me, translates into personality!

Our two are in a 10g right now by themselves, which must feel like paradise after sharing a 6g with so many other fish! Their personalities are shining through, and I don't want to lose that when we add them to the 55g. I do, however, have a new thought, which starts with adding the 11 corydoras in with the two angels into the 55g.....

Lone angels can be less sociable - they are a shoaling fish except when breeding. A group of six is a lovely sight, although the males scrap and that's no fun to see.
Angels in a 55 gallon with corys would be great. There's be room for another 20 fish in that set-up.