Q&A for How to Breed Angelfish

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  • Question
    I have a community tank. Will the other fish eat my angel's eggs?
    Community Answer
    Yes - if not when they are eggs, definitely once they become free swimming. Get a separate tank for them, or a divider.
  • Question
    Do Angelfish eat their own eggs?
    Community Answer
    Yes, they might eat their eggs if they are stressed or feel threatened. There are also times when first time parents eats their eggs. They'll learn how to breed properly over time.
  • Question
    At what age can angelfish be sold?
    Community Answer
    If you are selling them to a person, a 4-5 centimeter body is the best size. If you're selling them to a pet store, ask them what size they prefer.
  • Question
    Is it necessary to keep an angelfish with its eggs, or should I separate them?
    Community Answer
    No, it is not necessary, but it is highly recommended so the parents do not eat their fry. It is typical that they will eat their eggs the first couple of spawns, but after that, they will usually raise them by themselves.
  • Question
    Do you need to separate fry from parents?
    Community Answer
    You do not need to; however, if you'd like to raise them without the parents, you may. Angelfish are naturally great parents, so leaving them alone with the fry is my suggestion.
  • Question
    What is the best temperature for the eggs?
    Community Answer
    80-82 degrees is best, they hatch quicker in warmer temperatures (but do not go over 82 degrees).
  • Question
    How do I stop my breeding pair from eating the fry when they are free swimming?
    Community Answer
    You have to separate the fry into a smaller tank and feed them baby food till they get of right size.
  • Question
    How can I tell a live egg from a dead one?
    Community Answer
    If the eggs are bad they turn white, while if they are good they will stay a brownish-gray color. If you got a good pair they will remove the white eggs, if not a turkey baster will do the job.
  • Question
    While the parents are taking care of the eggs, can the aquarium lights be turned off at night?
    Community Answer
    Yes, it's best to maintain a regular night/day schedule for the fish, especially when caring for young.
  • Question
    Does a female ever fill up with eggs and not lay them? She just swells up.
    Community Answer
    Angelfish shouldn't swell up. No fish should. If you have a fish swelling up and floating (not dead, but seems to not be able to get down), it may have swim bladder disease.
  • Question
    Why do my angelfish spawn die after two days?
    Stephy14wp
    Community Answer
    Temperature might be affecting them, or you might be feeding them wrong. Try the foods and temperatures recommended in the article.
  • Question
    How often do angelfish spawn?
    Community Answer
    Angelfish can spawn almost every 7 days if the eggs are removed and raised artificially.
  • Question
    Why does my male angelfish guard the fish eggs?
    Community Answer
    That's his job, plus if you have other fish in the tank they will eat them. It's best to have them in their own tank or put a divider in.
  • Question
    Would a community tank be affected by the birth of the eggs from the angelfish pairing?
    Community Answer
    You may lose the eggs to the other fish or the parents may eat them due to the stress of danger. Fish will usually treat fish eggs as food. During spawning, angelfish may also be incredibly territorial and aggressive to other fish.
  • Question
    How do I control the temperature of my fish tank?
    Community Answer
    You can control the temperature of a tank with a heater or a chiller that you can usually buy at the pet store.
  • Question
    How big should angelfish be before allowing them to breed?
    David Birch
    Community Answer
    6 - 7 months old is a normal age for adulthood on angelfish, size really doesn't come into it.
  • Question
    How do I prevent fungus from growing on the angelfish eggs?
    Community Answer
    Some angelfish take care of the eggs themselves and watch over their eggs to protect from fungus while some may lay their eggs in a high water flow area. Water flow helps limit the ability of fungus to settle on the eggs. Fungus is more common in water with higher pH. If you lower your pH, fungus is less likely to attack so strongly. Some aquarium chemicals made to lower pH can help in this case and can help control fungus.
  • Question
    What do you feed newly-hatched baby angelfish?
    Community Answer
    You can feed them BBS (baby brine shrimp) or microworms. Over feeding BBS can cause swim bladder disease in some species.
  • Question
    What do I do if my angelfish's eggs are white?
    Community Answer
    If an angelfish's eggs are white within 24 hours, that usually means they are unfertilized. The parents will usually remove those eggs.
  • Question
    When can I take the eggs from the parents to raise them myself?
    Community Answer
    Right away after the male has stopped following the female over the eggs to fertilize.
  • Question
    Do angels breed in a community tank?
    Amit Watwe
    Community Answer
    Yes. My breeding pair spawned thrice in the community planted tank. Unfortunately, the babies were eaten, so it is better to keep the pair in their own tank.
  • Question
    Does it hurt to put decorative gravel in the bottom of the breeding tank?
    Community Answer
    You should not use any kind of gravel in the breeding tank.
  • Question
    I've had my angelfish eggs separated from the parents for two days, and most of them have turned white. Why?
    Community Answer
    They have fungus or bacteria. You can put antifungals and antibacterials in the water.
  • Question
    Can my angelfish have babies if there is no male?
    Community Answer
    Female angelfish can lay eggs without a male, but they will not hatch without a male present to fertilize them.
  • Question
    Is it normal for angelfish to lay another batch of eggs while they still have 1/8" to 1/4" fry in the tank?
    David Birch
    Community Answer
    Yes, it is, but be careful as the fry might eat the second batch of eggs. Move the second batch to a smaller nursery tank.
  • Question
    Do I take the male or female angelfish from the tank in order to stop breeding?
    Community Answer
    It does not matter. If you isolate one from the other, they will not be able to fertilize the eggs due to external fertilization and no breeding.
  • Question
    How much water is needed in the tank for the angelfish babies?
    Community Answer
    Newly-hatched fry will only need a 1-gallon tank as they will still be attached to their egg sack, but after they become free-moving (after about 4 - 6 days) they will need at least 10 gallons for an average-sized clutch, 20 gallons for ultimate growth. The tank should be a little bigger if you wish to raise the fry with the parents.
  • Question
    How big do they need to be in order to breed?
    Community Answer
    They will typically need to be 2" to 2 1/5". Angelfish that are average size and more mature will be more prone to breeding.
  • Question
    At what age are angelfish old enough to breed?
    Community Answer
    In great care and conditions, angelfish could be able to breed within seven months of age. With poor care, it could take much longer or may not happen at all.
  • Question
    Is it necessary to maintain light at night when an angel fish is still on the spawning process?
    Community Answer
    No, a good day-night cycle is always a good idea in a fish tank, even when the fish are spawning.
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