Tropical Fish Keeping - Aquarium fish care and resources - Angelfish eating Guppies while alive

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Angelfish eating Guppies while alive

I have a 29 Gal, freshwater tank, semi-planted with a HOB Aqueon filter and canopy lights T8/15W and a LED light bar (white/blue). The water stays at about 76* and have a bubble want for aeriation. The ph is about 7.6, amonia was about .5, but just did a partial water change, nitrate = 0 and nitrite = <30. It's been setup for about 6 months. I kept 2 Koi Angels, 1 Marble Angel, 1 Black Angel, 2 German Rams and 8 Fancy Guppies. Last week I noticed that the tails on the guppies were getting frail and parts of them were missing. I figured I have tail rot. I was getting ready to start some treatment for it, but last night while I was staring at my tank I saw the bigger angelfish take a bite out of the tail of one of my guppies. I went upstairs for 30 seconds and by the time I came back all four of the angelfish were eating the one guppie's tail. I then realized that most likely the culprit of the guppies tail tearing were the angelfish. I quickly removed the guppies and placed them in my little spare tank where I keep a bule betta. I realize now that angels get really big and my 29 gal will not be big enough to keep 4 of them. That is besides the point thou, I will have to make arrangements to donate them shortly. My thing is, is it normal for angels to attack guppies like that?

yes, this is normal. Any fish that is the same size or smaller than a male guppy is at risk of being eaten.

Very normal - big fish eat little fish. If your trying to breed guppies or other live bearers, you need another tank. Other wise, the guppies will be considered food by larger Angel fish.

perhaps try feeding them lol?

I personally never had an issue with angles bothering any other fish of mine. Mine left my endlers completely alone and also to my disappointment they were too lazy to do much of anything about endler fry. But fish vary and it can depend on the individual fish.