Any angelfish experts out there?

[GrubbyGirl]

OK, I have to own up and say I think I've been a bit dim. I inherited an angelfish with a tank I bought. I decided to add another (a small baby). The baby is now 2/3 the size of the adult. About a week ago I saw the smaller one chasing the adult and nipping the sides and fins. The bigger one seemed to be hiding in the plants. I assumed what I had was 2 males and the smaller of the two was now maturing and that was causing the problem so I seperate them and put the bigger one in with my L200s until I could figure out what to do.

That was a week ago and today I have gone to the L200 tank to find one of the plants (silk) covered in eggs. So, for any experts out there have I interpreted breeding behaviour wrongly as bullying? If I have I'm not sure what to do. I presume putting her back into the community tank will mean that if they do breed the other fish will just eat any eggs/babies, but the L200 tank isn't really ideal for a pair of adult angels and I have plans to put L400's in there at the weekend. What to do??

 

[Lornek8]

I guess it would depend upon how much you want to breed angels. If you really want a go at it you could get a new tank for them. If you're just casually interested in poosibly getting something out of them you could put them back into the community tank & whatever makes it, makes it. What's in the community tank?

 

[foti]

i would have to say that it sounds like you have a good problem !
and as Lorrnek8 said get another tank or just put her back in to comunity tank what eva makes it makes it !lol
ps these guys will do one of 2 things they will eat the eggs or raise them then they will probably eat them!
but if they are good parents they will protect them ! so if they are boss in comunity tank you will have baby angels!

 

[GrubbyGirl]

I really don't want another tank but what I may do is add the male to the tank the female is in a few weeks time and let them have one go relatively unhindered. After that they can go back into the community tank. I noticed this morning she has eaten the eggs

 

[foti]

she knew that they were not fertilised so its fine
im sure your l numbers helped!
rhey might need to be moved if you want them to have a chance
i think that in your comunity they will be fine once again what is it stocked with?

 

[GrubbyGirl]

she knew that they were not fertilised so its fine
im sure your l numbers helped!
rhey might need to be moved if you want them to have a chance
i think that in your comunity they will be fine once again what is it stocked with?

I have redline torpedos, a few corys, 1 pearl gourami, german rams and some L114's and a L190. Probably more that I have forgotten.....but all good egg eaters I am sure!

 

[BeavisMom62]

I can't say that I'm an angel expert, but I have done some reading on them. I have four in a 65 gal tank. I got four to begin with then one died. Then I bought another one and after keeping her in QT for a month and added her to the tank, she and the black marble paired up immediately. Just recently, I noticed that they had laid eggs on the silicon seal in the corner of the tank. they've done it twice, but ate the eggs both times. I've read that with immature angels, they will eat their eggs the first couple of times before they let any hatch. Then, I noticed one of my other angels must have been inspired by the hormones in the water and she laid unfertilized eggs on the other side of the tank. Of course she ate those!

An interesting mating behaviour that I've noticed and even saw on YouTube was the jaw locking. They almost look like they are kissing but their mouths lock together. It was pretty cool.

I'd also read, if you want to breed angels, to put a piece of slate or something similar in the tank and they will hopefully lay their eggs on it. Then you remove the slate to another tank, making sure that there is an anti-fungal in the tank along with an airstone to simulate the cleaning of the eggs that the parents would do if they were present. Otherwise the eggs will fungus and die.

I believe, but as I said I"m no expert, that even if you have two males being aggressive towards each other, they won't hurt each other. I see mine chasing and nipping each other frequently, either the parents are protecting their eggs or protecting their territory, but theyve never injured each other.

 

[Brengun]

I had a really choosy female who wouldn't mate with just any old male angelfish.
I thought I finally had her a mate when they did the lip locking thing and bred some eggs. Unfortunately the eggs turned out infertile and then the male started bashing the female like it was her fault. Sheesh!

I went out and bought another male (even better looking to my eye) and put in with her and it was love at first sight. They laid eggs, hatched fry and were model parents until the fry were free swimming. Then they sort of got upset at the fry escaping all the time and accidently swallowed quite a few of them. Having plecos in the bottom of the tank really wasn't helping their stress levels either so after the fry eventually all disappeared I moved the pair to their own 80L 2ft tank, complete with a little ehiem canister 2213 with a sponge fitted over the intake.
They spawn quite regularly now and free swimming fry are surviving in my frysaver away from a tempting parental swallow.

BTW it does take at least 5 days as wrigglers on a flat anubias leaf with eggsacs to become free swimming so be patient and try not to disturb the parents as they will launch themselves out of the water at you and nip any fingers that enter the tank. :lol: