Angelfish Breeding

[AdamM]

Im just about to purchase a tank (180L) and want to put a few angels in there, i do not however want baby angelfish and i know that its near impossible to tell the difference, is there anything i could do?

Adam

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum Adam.
It is not much problem keeping angels from reproducing. Any time there are other fish in an angel tank, the fry won't stand much of a chance anyway.

 

[AdamM]

Thank you for such a rapid reply, what kind of fish would be appropriate for that size of tank with, say 2-4 angels?


Thanks

 

[nmonks]

Don't bother with "2-4" angels; this usually doesn't work. Keep either one angel, a mated pair, or a group of six (or more). The problem with smaller groups than six is once you get a pair -- and you likely will -- in a small aquarium the pair will become highly territorial and bully the remaining angels. Each pair holds a territory around 30 cm radius around their chosen spawning site, usually an upright tree root in the wild.

Angels mix with all kinds of stuff, but because they are healthier at relatively high temperatures, it's best to chose fish that enjoy such warm conditions. Examples of good tankmates include most gouramis, Corydoras sterbai, bristlenose cats, clown loaches, silver hatchetfish, rummy nose tetras, and Celebes halfbeaks. On the other hand, avoid species that need relatively cool water, such as danios, neons (these will be eaten anyway), and most Corydoras. Obviously choose tankmates appropriate to your aquarium size. In general, when keeping angels or any other centrepiece fish it is best to keep them with a single big (12+ specimens) school of schooling fish and a single species of bottom feeder. If you have small groups of lots more fish, the tank tends to end up looking chaotic, and you don't get the contrast between a tight school of fish and the smaller group of centrepiece fish.

Cheers, Neale

 

[freerunner416]

Hi Adam,

The other option you have is to get the four angels and if you get a pair that spawn you can then sell them on. If you buy them small it will take a good while for them to mature and then pair up. You may even decide to get another tank to allow them to breed and see if you can raise the fish.

What Oldman47 says is true. If you have other fish in the tank the eggs/fry (if they last that long) will dissapear quite quickly.

I have 6 angels with two of them paired up. Their eggs last anything from 2 hours to a week. Depends where they lay them and if i keep lights on or off. once they are free swimming i try to catch and move to a fry trap but this has never proved successful!! Maybe one day i will get another tank and try to raise them

Any way - good luck with your tank and your fish. Angels are a good choice and fun to watch.

C

 

[AdamM]

what kinds of fish could i keep in a 180L with 1 or 2 angels, 3-4 bamboo shrimp and a small school of oto's??? what kinds would eat eggs if they pair? and can i keep 2 angels if they dont pair?

 

[nmonks]

I have to say, I wouldn't mix Otocinclus with angelfish. As you hopefully know, Otocinclus have a semi-parasitic streak to their nature. I've observed this myself when they attacked an Awaous goby. They are certainly known to go for discus. Angels would be at risk, in my opinion. Paraotocinclus seem to be rather safer, so are worth getting instead.

Cheers, Neale

 

[AdamM]

im looking for some sort of bottom-feeding algae eater, how would 2 BN cats fair in 180L?

 

[nmonks]

They'd fair just fine.

Cheers, Neale