Angelfish Breeding

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

amacnair

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 7, 2012
34
0
0
Canada
My angels laid eggs last night for what I believe is the first time. They are in a 45 gallon in which they are the only water column fish. I'm not really sure what my next step is. Do I continue tank maintenance (water changes, etc)? Some of the eggs have started to turn white, which I have been informed is fungus on eggs that are not fertile. Is it possible that some eggs will still be fertile or is this batch going to be a write off? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
Well, the first batch all turned white with fungus and did not survive. However, they are trying again as I type this!


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

ImageUploadedByMonsterAquariaNetwork1350518685.130814.jpg
 
Here is here mate! Sorry for the bad quality cell phone pictures.

Thank you for the compliments! They are in a 45, and they are the only two water column fish in there right now. Is that enough room?


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

ImageUploadedByMonsterAquariaNetwork1350561187.140502.jpg
 
Too much current in a breeding environment can lead to infertile eggs. You can also add some methylene blue to prevent the eggs from fungusing.
 
I am running a fluval c4, and a fluval 206 on this tank. That's probably too much current? Any way to reduce that without reducing my filtration?

Thanks for the tip!


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
Hmmmm...

Ok so a few things. First, if it was their first go then Romeo may not have been up to his task the first time out. If it happens again then it's time to have a heart to heart talk with him and get her a new mate ;-)

Second - the eggs appear to be unfertilized. Viable, fertilized eggs can turn white too as fungus spreads to them but those eggs are not showing that yet, I assume this was 24-36 hours after spawn? longer and they'd show cottony growth.

Breeding Angels in a community tank is tricky. If you are content to eventually have them raise a handful of littluns naturally for the heck of it just keep doing what you are doing.

DO NOT use Methylene blue in that tank! Other fungicides (I always stuck with Maroxy but hate to put anything in my show tanks) that won't wipe out the bio-filter and stain everything would be better. MB is excellent, it also stains like crazy - the silicone at your seams and everything else.

Here is a suggestion.... put the expensive hi-tech breeding surface I use in the tank (4" clay flowerpot, $1.99). I boil them after each spawn has hatched and swam away and once before I ever use it in case I get lucky and one has a bad chemical in it. Eggs and wigglers stick to them very well.

When one of my pairs lays I wait about 30 minutes then pull the pot out and stick it in a 2.5 or 5G hatching tank with water from the breeder tank. I use the pot to hold down an airline so that the airstone is 3" or so from the pot, egg side facing air bubbles, and get a nice steady stream of bubbles to keep oxygenated water circulating over the eggs but not a real turbulent stream, if some eggs start to pull off then too much air. Leave the eggs that come loose alone, if they are viable they will be fine.

I keep my hatching tanks at 80 or above - my garage is hotter than 80 most of the year so ambient temp works for me in Texas. I add a half cap of Maroxy or drip in some Methylene Blue to keep fungus from attacking unfertilized eggs and spreading to the viable ones - happens in a flash with warm water. Couple days later I have wigglers and couple days after that I have free swimming fry. I give them live baby brine or newly hatched Moina once they are free swimming. After that first feeding I siphon NOT NET them into a pitcher and into a 10G with a sponge filter.

So... we may have different objectives. You may think "Wow, it would be cool to watch them raise some fry and see some little angels in my tank".... and you would be absolutely correct. I am after 98% hatch/survival rates and 300-800 fish per spawn. It all depends on what your objective is but this should help you a bit.

Good luck!
 
Wow, that was incredible thank you. They are in a community ish tank. It's them and a few bottom feeders. So it would be neat to have a few survive. However, next time they breed I think I will do what you have suggested to see if I can raise them. Thank you again!


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com