angel fish…
Traci, While it may be that you have 2 males and they are getting territorial as they mature, with the larger one being dominent and the most aggressive (as they may behave in the manner you describe), its also quite possible that you have a pair bond forming between a male and female. The larger (male) would still retain his aggressiveness (even against heterospecifics such as your Mollies) as he would be establishing his breeding territory in this case — and wouldn’t want any other fish within his area.
If the latter is the case, as very well might be, you should soon see the pair cleaning off a spawning site, if the smaller Angelfish (female?) does not back down from this lip-locking spawning ritual and both Angels accept each other as partners. As I did first mention it though, this lip-locking behavior may just be aggression between 2 males — only time will tell, which should prove to be shortly.
At this time, I would give them a surface as an egg depository in close proximity to where he (larger Angel) is mostly staying/guarding in anticipation to them spawning. This surface, such as a length of slate or rock, etc., should be set up against the aquarium wall at a 75 o angle to the horizontal, unless you don’t mind them spawning on a plant leaf or filter tube, should it come to that. At this same time you might want to plan what you will do if and when eggs are laid (remove all other fish except for the other Angel, remove the eggs to a hatching tank, remove the possible pair to a tank of their own). Ray
Category: Philippines Internet Koi Society
