Can Altum Angel and Blue Back Blue Eye Live Together?

Altum Angel is a moderately assertive species (5/10), while Blue Back Blue Eye is peaceful (2/10). This modest difference means Altum Angel may occasionally assert dominance over Blue Back Blue Eye.

Altum Angel and Blue Back Blue Eye both frequent the Middle (Open Water) region of the setup. This overlap can increase competition for space, so providing ample room and cover is important to keep both species comfortable.

There is a critical concern: the Piscivore (Eats small/nano fish) behaviour of one fish directly conflicts with the Nano / Bite-sized (Predation Risk) trait of the other — piscivorous fish will prey on nano-sized tank mates..

Additional behavioural considerations to keep in mind: Hyperactive swimmers can stress shy, slow-moving species through constant motion. Shrimp eaters may also prey on very small nano fish.

Worth noting: Blue Back Blue Eye is a known jumper, so a tight-fitting lid is essential.

The safe temperature window for both species falls between 27°C and 30°C. Aim for the midpoint of this range (around 28.5°C) for optimal comfort.

The pH requirements of Altum Angel (4.5–6.5) and Blue Back Blue Eye (7–8.5) do not overlap, making it impossible to satisfy both species simultaneously.

Hardness requirements are incompatible: Altum Angel needs 1–5 dGH while Blue Back Blue Eye requires 10–30 dGH.

Crucially, these species require different water types — one needs freshwater while the other requires brackish conditions. This is a hard barrier to keeping them together.

To house Altum Angel and Blue Back Blue Eye together, plan for an aquarium of at least 400 litres with a minimum length of 120 cm. This recommendation combines the stricter species minimums with a community-load allowance so the pairing has realistic long-term space and filtration headroom.

Providing a mix of open swimming space and sheltered areas with rocks, driftwood, or plants will keep both species comfortable and allow natural behaviour.

Specific environmental needs for this combination include: Sand (Sifters), Driftwood (Digestion/Hiding), Leaf Litter/Blackwater, Plants - Floating. Meeting these requirements will help both species thrive.

Both species do well with low (still water) water movement, so a standard filtration setup rated for the tank volume should suffice.

Altum Angel and Blue Back Blue Eye are the kind of pair that can look acceptable in a shop but become a maintenance problem at home. The main risk is not a single number in the chart; it is the way incompatible behavior, water needs, or pressure on space compounds over time once both fish are established in the same tank.

Feeding time deserves special attention with this pairing. Altum Angel is a known shrimp eater and may prey on small invertebrates or nano fish like Blue Back Blue Eye.