Since tropical freshwater angelfish typically occupy the middle of the water in the tank, you should tankmates for them that predominately stay in the upper or lower levels of your home aquarium. This will add movement to both the top and bottom of the tank, and there will be less chance that your fish will fight with one another. Angelfish should also be kept away from fish that could harm them, as well as fish that they could harm. Angelfish tankmates should also be healthy, to avoid infecting your angelfish or any other fish in the tank.
Angelfish are considered mid-level aquarium fish. This means that they generally stay away from the tops and bottoms of aquariums. They can typically be found swimming somewhere in the middle of the tank.
Tropical aquarium fish that occupy the upper levels of the tank often make good angelfish tankmates. These types of aquarium fish usually dwell near the top of the tank, and many of them have upturned mouths for feeding off the top of the water. Fish that swim near the top also help add color and movement to this often forgotten area of an aquarium.
Hatchet fish are often considered one of the best angelfish tankmates. These fish do typically swim near the surface of the water, however, they have been known to jump out of tanks. An aquarium top is usually recommended if you get hatchet fish. Pencilfish and dwarf gouramis also typically make decent angelfish tankmates.
Bottom dwellers are also recommended as angelfish tankmates. These types of aquarium fish often have mouths that are facing down. This helps them eat food from the bottom of the tank, and many of these fish will help keep your aquarium clean as well.
Small catfish often make popular angelfish tankmates, since they are typically non-aggressive bottom dwellers. Although many cichlids are aggressive, many tank aquarium owners find that the dwarf cichlid is a little less aggressive and can be housed in the same tank as angelfish. Loaches are also acceptable tankmates.
Some angelfish are aggressive, and they should not be housed with smaller fish that they can harm, like neon tetras. On the other hand, there are some fish that are infamous for nipping at long trailing angelfish fins. Barbs and Siamese fighting fish are two examples, and these fish will usually not be good angelfish tankmates.
All angelfish tankmates should be healthy. They should show no signs of disease before they are added to an angelfish tank. These types of fish can often pass on disease to all other fish in the tank, including angelfish. Some of these aquarium fish diseases can be hard to control.