Large Angel Question

MadReefer19

New member
Hi everyone,

I had a quick question.

If I have 2 large angels in my tank and they get along does that mean that they are male and female? The one is about 17 cm and the other about 10 cm.

Thanks.
 
Just a follow up on this question. My 2 angels are still getting along peacefully. Does this mean that they are just being civil with each other or does it mean that one is female and the other is male?

My small angel is 4" and my large one is 6.5". They are gettin on like a house on fire so it would be interesting to find out.
 
It has nothing to do with gender and large angels are very difficult to sex. They're different species and therefore, there's no reason for one to be female and another male because they don't need to attract each other to mate. The difference in size is likely indicative of age.

Odds are one individual is dominant and the other has accepted its lower status, as stated by Carrots in a previous post.
 
I am trying to find out because lately the whole hybridizing topic has really fascinated me. Because I was trying to understand if they are spawning naturally in captivity or how is it done? The Goldflake x Trimac hybrid is one example that comes up, however, recently the Goldflake x Griffiths & also the Armitage Angelfish.

So in my mind the larger of the 2 is the male and the smaller is the female? Or how do they do it in nature and how could it be simulated in captivity?
 
Hybridization is a very rare phenomenon. What normally happens is 2 fish of different species and from different seas meet at a boundary between those 2 seas. That space can be referred to as a hybrid zone. The fish may choose to reproduce there with a different species because both species realize that neither can properly survive in that area on their own; therefore, they choose to mix their genes to produce an offspring that might be able to. Those offspring don't develop into reproductive individuals though. The hybridizing process prevents them from passing on their genes and that's why populations of hybrids aren't found in the wild.

Angels grow at different rates depending on the species. Having one that's bigger than the other has zero relevance to sexing the individuals in your tank. That could work with conspecifics (same species), but it's extremely unlikely with different species. Unfortunately, it's also very unlikely that you'd be able to hybridized your fish.

Keep in mind that gametes are specific in most cases to a species. Even if your fish lay eggs and the male attempted to fertilize them, the sperm receptors on the egg would not even match the shape of the sperm. It's like a lock and key mechanism. If you put the wrong key into the lock, the lock won't open. Put the wrong sperm shape onto an egg and the eggs and sperm will just die without fertilization occurring.
 
I have never found either of those to be too terribly aggressive. ...not like a passer or anything. I would have given compatibility in a suitable sized tank about a 90% chance.
 
@mike61289

Thank you so much for your insight on hybridization. It does leave me with question marks though.

There has been significant work done by Bali Aquarich as well as RCT with regards to hybrids.

I am not trying to hybridize my angels. I am just fascinated with how some breeders are able to simulate the hybrid zone in captivity.
 
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