Angelfish--

[Booboo puppy]

I have recently acquired several young Koi angelfish--although I do not intend to breed them, I am just curious as to what age they might starting pairing off? I did a quick read through the fish index, but didn't see an answer.

 

[Tolak]

Usually around 9 months of age.

 

[kribensis12]

How big are they at nine months?

 

[Tolak]

Usually half dollar to dollar body size, but there are exceptions. I had a couple of blacks pair up at just about 9 months, barely bigger than a quarter body size. They did produce a viable spawn, but were really aggressive towards each other except when actually spawning. I've also had fish, mostly golds & silvers, that tend to grow faster than the rest of the spawn. Give them enough tank space & they will hit dollar body size in about 7 months.

 

[Booboo puppy]

Hmmm. Mine aren't nearly that old yet, but a couple of them tend to stay off by themselves in one of the corners. Thank you for the information.

 

[bingy_bong]

I have some wild angels i bought from my lfs 3months ago. Now that they are about 2 1/2'' - 3'' inches in bodysize (excluding any finnage) they have started to really tear across the tank at each other one miniute and then the next they are all peiceful again. I have also noticed that the last band on their body has become alot more vivid and the black dot behind thier eye is also more vivid as well. THey shove each other into the corners of the tank one miniute and chase any of the others right away. But the next thing they are at the corner with the ones that they have chased away .
Are they starting to pair up or are they fighting?



sorry for interupting his thead, but i thought that i was experiencing the same sort of occurrances

 

[Katchan]

bingybong your going to hate this reply, could be either or both depending on sexs LOL

terrirotial displays are mostly chasing, usually towards on part of the tank consistantley for the dominant fish

mating displays usually show lots of flashing sides to each other, maybe some lip lock, not usually any chasing around the tank

HTH

@TOLAK, its been my experience that blacks grow slower than other colours, what are your thoughts (this could be why the blacks mated smaller)

Andrew

 

[bingy_bong]

Thanks Katchan, i will be keeping a close eye on them for the next few weeks and maybe keep an eye out for some more wilds the same size
Would my 300 litre support 10 Angels? Its bare, excluding equipment?

 

[Katchan]

I wouldnt personally, while the oft said one angel per ten gallons rule (which I dont hanker with) would say yes (almost) since you would be wanting pairs to form, once the start forming there is a good chance your going to run out of space real quick. So maybe a yes is if you had somewhere to rehouse/rehome if you got any geting the raw end so to speak.

Andrew

 

[Tolak]

@TOLAK, its been my experience that blacks grow slower than other colours, what are your thoughts (this could be why the blacks mated smaller)

Andrew

Yes they do grow slower, I've been breeding hybrid blacks for a while to try to get around this. DD blacks grow very slow, and seem to have weaker spawns. My hybrid pair throws 25% golds, which grow slightly faster on the average than the 75% blacks from the same spawn.

Taking longer to grow means they do get to sexual maturity at a smaller size. They do get to normal angel size, they just take a little longer.

 

[Birdie]

Usually half dollar to dollar body size,

So how big are dollars and half dollars then?

Clueless European who has never visited the USA ( but who is contemplating keeping angels)

 

[Tolak]

http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_coin_sizes