Angelfish

BECKIN1507

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Feb 8, 2011
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Somerset
I bought a tank last wed, in the tank was 3 angelfish, a bala shark, 2 plecs and 2 neons. 1 of the angel fish just laid eggs on the side of the tank. Was very interesting to see, the other angelfish was sort of guarding her, then she ate them! Why would she eat them? I don't think they've ever laid eggs before, the person who I had them off probably would of told me. Not sure what to do with the pair now, should they be in a tank on their own?
 

D-MAC

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Jul 24, 2009
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www.danditropicals.co.uk
If you want to have any chance of breeding them they will need to be housed in a tank at least 24"x18"x12" by themselves...They stand no chance with other tank mates...They can eat the eggs due to immaturity as a pair...Also if they feel the eggs are threatened by others they can have a tendency to eat them first.
 

jimmywr

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Jul 15, 2010
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nsw some where on the central coast
Hi my angles are in a commuity tank they lay on a glass magnet cleaner after they lay i take the magnet out with eggs on it and place in 2 foot tank
Then i put a air line in tank not over magnet but near it
Normally after 5-6 days they will become free swimming then you will have to start feeding live brine shrimp for about 2weeks until you can get them to eat flake
hope this helps
 

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Art_Gal

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Jun 23, 2011
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New Jersey
I've had angelfish for several years now and I've raised angelfish fry on a few occassions. In fact, I have a groups of angelfish fry that are 10 days old right now. They are with their parents in a 20g and I'm trying to get the parents to raise them (as opposed to eating them).

Normally if the parents are "inexperienced" they will eat the eggs the first few times they spawn. At some point once they get comfortable with spawing, they may not eat the eggs and the eggs will become wigglers and then go freeswimming. At this point, it isn't uncommon for the parents to eat the freeswimmers (again, this is usually inexperience on their part). Mine ate their freeswimmers when they were 4 days old. This is why many people artifically hatch the eggs. I just decided to see if they would learn how to be parents, which is why I didn't pull the eggs. They spawned a couple of weeks ago and now the fry are 10 days old and the parents have a small group left (they ate a lot of them, but they left some as well). If yours are spawning in a community tank, its very likely that they'll eat the eggs themselves because they don't want the other fish to eat them. It's sort of a mentality of "I'll eat them, before YOU eat them" frame of mind. If you want any chance of them spawing and surviving, put them into a 20g and let them go at it. Added: I see you're in the UK so you don't go by gallon measurements as we Americans do. D-Mac has provided great info for you and what size tank you would need.
 
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BECKIN1507

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Feb 8, 2011
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Thanks for all the info, I've never kept angel fish so really haven't got a clue what to do. When will they be ready to lay eggs again? The plan was to move all the fish in this tank in to my large 5ft when I had to rehomed my jack dempsy's and tin foil barbs. Then my breeding group of L134's was going in this tank. My other half won't let me keep the 3ft and 4ft running so I'll have to try and convince him to set up a 2ft. They're quite large will that be big enough? Thanks again for your help. Very cute pic
 

macvsog23

Pleco Profiles Team - RIP FRIEND
May 1, 2009
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The egg eating is a natural part of parenting many organisms eat the young if they are being threatened, it is a good use of protein and saves any wasted energy on the young. Evidence suggests humans did this when a cold winter or bad harvest came along.
 

Art_Gal

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Jun 23, 2011
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The tank size that D-Mac mentioned is the same tank dimension that I have my pair in right now (with their fry). Once the pair get the hang of it, they can lay eggs every 1 to 2 weeks (and they can lay A LOT of eggs). My last spawn was 164 babies. This one is much smaller because mom and dad ate a bunch. If they didn't, I probably would have had over 200 babies :whistle:
 

BECKIN1507

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Feb 8, 2011
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That's great then, I'll get the two foot set up and cycled. Didn't plan on breeding angels but if that's what they want to do I'll give it a go. What's the best decor to put in the tank? Should I be feeding them anything special? Or just the usual flake, pellets ect? Thanks again everyone
 

Art_Gal

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Jun 23, 2011
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If you're looking to breed them, most breeders go with a bare bottom tank. My tank was not intented for them to breed in, so I have gravel and fake plants. They say a lot of the fish get stuck in the gravel and die but again, I was really looking to breed them. I feed mine good quality flakes (I buy from http://www.angelsplus.com/FlakeAngel.htm but a good quality flake will do) and I feed them some bloodworm once per week. I wouldn't use pellets, they like flake. And a heads up, they can be a bit tricky to keep healthy. They like warmer water and a lower ph. I've had some for over 4 yrs now that have never been sick once. I've had others that were just difficult to keep healthy. I live in fear of my angelfish getting sick. It seems like its a long and difficult road to recovery when they do get sick. You may want to visit www.angelfish.net. Its an amazing angelfish forum with lots of very knowledgable breeders and hobbiests.
 

BECKIN1507

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Feb 8, 2011
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Thanks for all the info. I haven't had chance to move them yet, they laid more eggs in the community tank yesterday on a glass cleaner thing but the male and female just ate them. :cry:
 

Mooo

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Aug 11, 2010
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I have bred a few angels, first few spawns get eaten, they have to learn not to eat them, this comes with practice, & the fry do get trapped in the gravel, if they find a place to settle at night before the lights go out, you loose less overnight to gravel, The fry need to be not fed, first few days after swimming, Then feed live BBS(baby brine shrimp) a few days after swimming free..I have had success feeding only bbs for the first few weeks, then introduce simultaneously with bbs, some yummy tasting crushed flake(Sera Vipan), .works for me..:clap: