Regal Angel "Pair": Experience / Thoughts on Aggression & Options

[naterealbig]

Looking for input from those experienced with large Angels.

Bought a "Bonded Pair" of Regals (~6", Maldives), and quickly realized not only are they not a bonded pair, do not get along at all. Angels have been in display for 5 days now. Male eating like pig. Female eating but is still being pretty picky. Male chasing female ~ 60% of the time. To the point the female just paces back and forth in the tank trying to avoid the male. Male nips 'at' female but he doesn't actually 'land' any of the nips. No wounds, no mangled fins.

Of course, I'm concerned the aggression will gradually get worse. Also with the chasing from the male, the female has become less interested in food as most of the time she's actively avoiding the male who swims throughout the tank.

I've got a couple options (and another separated Regal pair (that also wasn't a "pair", but another story I'll avoid for now)) but wanted to get your take. I'm focusing on the 2nd pair, as they are in my display (no other fish) and are not separated. My thought as a first swing here is to corral the aggressor (male) into a small area of the display and allow the female to roam and hopefully establish some territory/confidence, and have some time/space to begin feeding better than she is currently.

Let me know if you think this is the right first move, and also any other tips/tricks/methods that have worked for you with same-species Angels. Has anyone had success with same-species pairs being able to 'work out' differences?

Thanks.

 

[MnFish1]

Looking for input from those experienced with large Angels.

Bought a "Bonded Pair" of Regals (~6", Maldives), and quickly realized not only are they not a bonded pair, do not get along at all. Angels have been in display for 5 days now. Male eating like pig. Female eating but is still being pretty picky. Male chasing female ~ 60% of the time. To the point the female just paces back and forth in the tank trying to avoid the male. Male nips 'at' female but he doesn't actually 'land' any of the nips. No wounds, no mangled fins.

Of course, I'm concerned the aggression will gradually get worse. Also with the chasing from the male, the female has become less interested in food as most of the time she's actively avoiding the male who swims throughout the tank.

I've got a couple options (and another separated Regal pair (that also wasn't a "pair", but another story I'll avoid for now)) but wanted to get your take. I'm focusing on the 2nd pair, as they are in my display (no other fish) and are not separated. My thought as a first swing here is to corral the aggressor (male) into a small area of the display and allow the female to roam and hopefully establish some territory/confidence, and have some time/space to begin feeding better than she is currently.

Let me know if you think this is the right first move, and also any other tips/tricks/methods that have worked for you with same-species Angels. Has anyone had success with same-species pairs being able to 'work out' differences?

Thanks.

I do not believe that you can quickly tell if a pair is ' bonded or not' - chasing is common among bonded pairs as well. However, am curious how big your display is? When I had a pair of gold flake angels - they often chased - often stayed apart - and if I hadn't know they were 'bonded' I wouldn't have known. However, the 'spats' never resulted in injury - and they also often did spend time together - how large is your tank - I would think you would need 300 gallons or larger for 2 fish that big. Additionally how long have you had them - and what other fish?