Angelfish layed eggs! I'm clueless!!!

[ThaDude]

The only thing I have experience breeding is Convicts.

Right now, I have 2 angelfish in a 20 tall.
(It is also inhabited by ??snails??, Hatchetfish, Neon Tetras, Rummynose Tetras, Bleeding Heart Tetras, Glowlight Tetras, & Emerald Catfish)

I let the water get real low (due to neglect). I think I triggered a "dry season", and about a week after I re-filled I noticed that there were a WHOLE BUNCH of baby snails about to hatch on my filter intake.

Well, while passing by & scoffing at the snails, I suddenly recalled what I'd seen & read about Angelfish spawning on vertical surfaces. I took a closer look, and sure enough they're eggs! A WHOLE BUNCH too!!

They all look white & a couple are fuzzed out, but a couple are still translucent.
I cannot tell for the life of me if they have been fertilized or not.


The one I suspect layed the eggs (as she is fanning them as we speak) is a large Gold Pearlscale (4"-6" I think)

The second angelfish is rather small (2" MAYBE) & is black veil/marbled. I have no idea what sex it is, or if it is even capable of fertilization yet.


Now for all the questions... Is the lil one capable of fert yet?
Could the Fry even survive in this environment (with all the other fish)?
How do I go about finding a proper mate for this angelfish if the lil one can't fert yet?
What kind of setup is effective for breeding angelfish?

Ideally I would LOVE to sell the fry, but I'll use them as piranha feeders if sales aren't possible.

Also if you have any suggested reading on rearing these fish, it would be greatly appreciated.

All help is greatly appreciated!!! This is so exciting!

Here's some pics I snapped.
Sorry for quality/lighting, they were taken in haste.
(water looks tannin-stained - it's just the lighting. It's clear as day in there)

 

[Loves severums]

Is the lil one capable of fert yet?
the little one is the female
Could the Fry even survive in this environment (with all the other fish)?
no
How do I go about finding a proper mate for this angelfish if the lil one can't fert yet?
buy 6 let them pair up
What kind of setup is effective for breeding angelfish?
20 tall

 

[ThaDude]

It's my impression the large gold pearlscale is the female.
(seeing as how she is caring for the eggs.)

The other angelfish has been staying clear on the other side of the tank.
I have no idea whether the little one is male or female.

 

[Loves severums]

can u get a better pic of them?

 

[ThaDude]

If you click the pictures they will enlarge.

The full tank shots show the size comparison.

Once the sun goes down I'll be able to get a couple better shots.
(Chances are the pearlscale photos will have some plants in the way regardless, as she is tending to the eggs, & the plant is in the foreground.)

 

[ThaDude]

Here's a shot I managed to get quick of the lil guy, the marbled/black veil.

You'll notice how the tailfin has long points coming from it.

(Photo was brightened/contrasted with photoshop.)

 

[Loves severums]

I have each of my pairs in a 20H. They get an average 20% water change daily unless they have eggs or are going to lay that day. I keep them at 82 degrees. I give them 3 feedings a day of a mix of a good quality flake, frozen blood worms or brineshrimp, black worms, and occasionally diced earthworms if i have been fishing. You need a thin peice of slate placed up against the glass at a 45 degree angle or a flowerpot with the opening facing the bottom. Now you have to wait, they'll soon stay around the future laying site and you'll notice their vents coming out. The females will be larger and rounded and the males will be smaller and pointed. It takes 1 or 2 spawns for them to get the hang of it to fan and protect the fry. If you want to raise the babies with tank mates I would recommend removing the pot/slate and putting it into a 5g-10g tank with an air stone close but not touching the eggs. You could also add methylene blue to prevent fungus outbreaks. Once the fry hatch it take 3 days for the fry to begin free swimming and another 2 days for them to eat of their yolk sac. 1 day before they are done eating their yolk sac you'll want to make some brine shrimp eggs so they'll be ready when their finished with their yolk sac. Then give them small amounts of baby brine shrimp 3-6 times a day till the 2nd week. Then you can start feeding finely crushed flake food or microworms. Continue feeding till they get about a pea sized then i cut out the bbs. From here on out raising them is pretty self explainable.

if u have any more Q pm me.

 

[Loves severums]

Here's a shot I managed to get quick of the lil guy, the marbled/black veil.

(Photo was brightened/contrasted with photoshop.)

male

 

[ThaDude]

I got in close & took a look - The marbled looks like the 'ballpoint pen tip' people speak of.

Their diet has consisted of Nutrifin Flake, & "glass worms" (mosquito larve)
(with the occasional nibbling of bottomfeeder tablets.)

Both of their breeding tubes are out, but the 'male' seems to have been shunned to the other side of the tank. Then again, the female won't let anyone near the eggs.
I highly doubt any fry will come from this batch, as they are 90% white, but it's still exciting none-the-less!
I'm looking on CL for some tanks.. worst come to worst, I'll have to get rid of the fish in my 40 gal.

Could the fry survive with a Dragon Goby?

 

[Loves severums]

^no