Angel Eggs

[nostorey]

I have two Angels in a 37 gallon tank. . One of them keeps laying eggs and will not let the other one around them. I know there is a chance that they are both females. Is this common for a Angel to lay eggs with out a mate ? Going to knock down the eggs to end the fighting. Is it to late to try to find a mate the egg layer is about 6 inches fin tip to fin tip.

 

[Straydum]

yes it is heard of that females spawn even in the absence of a male. though it is also common and the female (egg layer) would defend her eggs even against her mate. this defending however would not be as aggressive as compared to defending against another fish which is trying to feast on the eggs.

in your case if both angels are really females, then even if you try and introduce another male, he would only be driven away and the male would only see the eggs as food.

i suggest you hold the eggs and watch whether they turn white within say, 24 hours from spawning. white eggs are unfertilized and probably dead. if the whole spawn in white, you probably have two females, if not, you'd have a pair.

 

[nostorey]

Thank you

 

[Ludwig Venter]

Very difficult to distinguish sex in Angels except when they are spawning. Male "ovipositor" is thin and pointed at the bottom, whilst the female's is a bit thicker and uniform. If male and female, they would both be "ripe" at the same time thus showing their ovipositors, but if only one displays, it's likely that you have two females. I,ve had an instance where one female actually did have two males fertilizing the eggs. Had to remove one eventually due to the male to male fighting.