Angelfish Courting/Fighting

Question
Karen,

I have a pair of golden angelfish that I have had roughly a year and a half and were purchased as juveniles. Somehow, I managed to get a breeding pair and they have gone through 4 spawnings (although only 1 actually produced fry). Today though, I have noticed what seems like extremely aggressive behavior from the male toward the female. He has been nipping her to the point that I can see marks on her scales and she didn't rise to the top of the tank for their last feeding! It doesn't seem like courting behavior and I haven't seen them lock lips this time around. Do they sometimes just turn on each other??!

Answer
Hi Sara-Kate,
Sad but true, sometimes a long-term angelfish pair will turn on one another. I'm not sure for the reason. Perhaps they want to "split-up" in the sense that one of the angels wants to find a different mate. Perhaps they have recognized that their spawns have be relatively unsuccessful so they feel a need to get rid of the other.

If the aggression continues (likely) you should try to separate the two for their own safety.

Sorry for the bad news but I hope this helps!
Karen~