Most bottom dwelling fish like your corys will be fine. That said, your veil angelfish will be difficult to house with certainty with most other fish. It could be fine, or it could be a problem and you won't know till you try. Guppies and Mollies are not atypical tank mates but your angel might be the aggressor against those or you could end up with some fin damage. /shrug will be up to you if you want to give it a go.

 

This.
But, most depends on the actually fish and its demeanor. I've had some that did not care in the least about other fish, and other that hounded fish until they died. This is a give it a go thing. Just go onto it with the knowledge that something could go awry depending on the size of fish you chose.

 

I've ended up keeping my single angelfish with a group of 9 black skirt tetras. I haven't seen any fin-nipping but then my angel has standard fins. The trick is to get enough tetras in there that they are busy bothering each other and leave the angelfish alone. Blacks skirts seem to be more mild in temperament than say, the serpae tetras. I used to have some of those and they were mean! I've seen people have tanks with angelfish and ram cichlids, I always thought that looked like a nice combination but haven't tried it myself.

 

I kept my single angel with cories and a school of rummy nose tetras - no issues among any of them.

 

I would try a species of tetra that's robust and/or fast. Rummy noses are awesome, or a school of emperor tetras. I'd avoid species that could be prone to fin nipping.

 

My one angelfish is in my 125g with diamond tetra . Not really a fan of big tetra due to there eating aggression but diamonds are amazing in a 6ft tank . I am not a fan of keeping big fish in small tanks due to the lack of swimming space, just not a fun visual IMO . Anything small that you put in that tank isn't going to have much room away from the angel.

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I'd second @minorhero's suggestion of guppies or mollies, or other peaceful livebearers. Not only are they not likely to bother each other, but the livebearers' fry will supply a nice source of live food for your angel. I shoot for 3 or more females to one male to provide a steady supply (and in this era of #metoo ensure the females aren't continually harassed)

If your angel is mild-tempered, cardinal tetras should be just big enough not to be eaten, and as others have said in a large enough school shouldn't display any fin nipping. A heavily planted tank will give them plenty of places to hide if needed, and angels love tell reedy plants like vals or something similar to weave through.

As in any community tank, you'll just have to do your research on the best tankmates, then give it a go & see what happens. Even if the angel's fins do end up getting nipped, they'll grow back soon enough after you remove the offender/s. I had a pea puffer that overnight went from nice to nasty--chomping on the fins of all 11 of my angels, and even some of the male guppies. Once I rehomed the puffer, their fins all grew back and it was a peaceable kingdom once again....

Keep us posted on how it turns out, and share a photo of your angel!

 

Angels, like most cichlids, very in behavior.
You will have one person say they have had neons with their group for years without predation and another say that the Angel ate/harassed them within moments of being put into tank.
My Angels and discus ( and my 6-8 inch geophagus-- have you seen a geophagus mouth open wide? Could fit a 4 inch tetra in there) ignore smaller fish. Ive had the same group of rummy-nose and green neon's with my discus for several years. They co-habit peacefully.

What temperature do you have your tank set at? Most Angels are kept at around 78-84 (84 being wild Altums, not scalare). I think that is a bit high for live-bearers long-term.

I would try a group of Rummy-nose, green neons, or Lemon tetras-- all these can take higher temps required of Angels.
You could also confirm the sex of your Angel and get a male or female to get a pair. In that case, I would only add bottom fish ( or none at all).

 

Would emperor tetras not be good at 78-80 degrees? I think a group of emperors with an angel would look stunning, but if the emperors wouldn't be happy...

 

In my 60g planted tank I have 4 Angels, 2 Corys, 6 Neon Tetras, and 6 Swordtails. They all more or less get along. Now the Angels will 'spar' with each other and the male Swordtail's will do the same with each other - everybody wants to be BOSS. But no one is harmed in these challenges. The Angels don't bother the Neons and except for newborn fry that zip swim, there are Swordtail fry in there that swim right by the Angels as if they were much bigger than the tasty, delicious morsels that they are!

 

The Altums were at 84 when juveniles, now they are at 80-81 degrees as sub-adults/adults. If I were to breed them I would again increase temps.

I didn't realize that Guppies could go up that high? -- Well, then that would be fine-- at 78- 80. Which really is the sweet-spot for scalare, not too low to keep up metabolism and growth, and not too high to do the opposite.

 

Thank you all for your helpful input and tank mate suggestions! I have not made any decisions or additions just yet, I am taking my time and trying to be as informed as I possibly can before I add anyone in. My 40 gallon runs at 80 degrees for those who asked. I really like the emperor tetra idea, they are quite attractive (thanks for the suggestion!).

I haven't tried my hand at a "planted tank" just yet (please don't crucify me) but I do have very tasteful large reedy grass artificial plants in the tank that the angel loves to swim through (they are at least 16/18" tall).

I will post a picture of my beautiful angel soon!

Thanks again and Happy Holidays to all!

 

My opinion. Angles are normal warmer water and softer. That is NOT the optimal water conditions for swords and guppy. Sorry but a swordtail and a angelfish wouldn’t even cross my mind as suitable tank mates. Apisto’s, Lemon tetra, bleeding heart, glowlight tetra, gold/brass tetra etc along with a horde of rasbora would all work, swordtails I wouldn’t even consider.

 

I like the idea of Rasboras, I think they'd look really good with angels. You can't go wrong with some Apistos either!

 

I've got four swords in with an angel. Everyone seems fine and they certainly get along fine. I've also got two kuhli loaches(keeping an eye out for atleast one more) three otocinclus, and seven red eye tetras. All of these fish are getting along fine. Very low/no aggression tank. The tetras which I've read can be nippy have not been for me at all.

My water parameters are

Temp 79
Ph. 7.2
Gh. 60
Kh. 30-40

Is there anything I should be looking at? This is a newer setup. Started nov 10th. Two of the swords are mature from another aquarium and two are jeuvenile(three female one male). The mature female sword has dropped fry twice now since being in this tank. And the angel is a juvenile too. I want to make sure these fish stay healthy and happy.

Hopefully this can give the OP some ideas of fish that atleast for me are working with an angel and maybe I get some advice if something seems inappropriate. I do have a well cycled 10g quarantine tank running and a 20g I could start up if I determined I needed to make some changes.

Lastly I'd be curious of some opinions on this angel dilemma I am currently presented with. A friend would like to gift me a mature angel to add to my aquarium. He had both parents and bred/raised this fish. He currently has it with another mature angel in the exact same 45g bowfront tank i have. He wants to rehome it because it gets picked on by his other angel. My concerns are the disruption this could cause to my young aquarium which is ticking along just fine right now. Plants/fish growing and everyone healthy and happy. Would I be insane to consider trying to add this fish? Wouldn't do it for atleast another month. I'd want my tank to mature a little more and some better cover to grow in too. I've observed this angel it's a big fella, beautiful fish. Seems peaceful/submissive in its current situation but who knows how that would go in my tank?

We really wanted to have two angels and had bought two unfortunately one was sick from the get go(internal parasites I think) I kept him quarantined and treated him with what limited meds we have in Canada and unfortunately lost him. Since then I'd kind of resigned myself to having one. Content in the thinking that it would be the most peaceful arrangement for a community aquarium of my size.

Certainly interested in any thoughts/opinions. I really don't want to put undue stress, injury, or death onto my current tank inhabitants.