Breeding Angels

[fishyguy43]

Hi all Ive bin breeding tropical fish for about 5 years now and have had sucess with all but 1 fish angels. i tried once about 2 years ago and they didnt breed. Now about 9-10 months ago i bought 5 young show quality "one day will be" Marbal Angels, i got these thinking theyd pair off in 4-5 months from now and i can start breeding them. Well 1 died during a power outage so i bought another one a smokey angel the same size and age. Now its bin 10 months and they still havnt paired off. Any ideas guys??? i do weekly water changes keep my ph at 6.7, 0 amonia, 0 nitrites, and the temp i keep at 79 F i brought the temp up and down a few times trying to get them to pair up. THXS for any help

 

[big mick]

Mine paired up on their own, how big are they?

 

[Fish_Mike]

Well, if they've been in your 20 gallon all this time, then they are most likely stunted and no matter how clean your water is, are quite unhappy, which would explain them not pairing off.

 

[Tolak]

4 angels that age in a 20 gallon is approaching the point of serious overstocking. It will work for a pairing situation if only those fish are in the tank, and it is a 20 high, not long. I've done it before short term, a few weeks, to get a breeding pair, long term means a lot of stress. That tank would be suitable for a pair long term, if it is a 20 high, and they are standard fin. Veils do better in a 29.

http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/breedi...%20seasons.html is a good article on simulating seasonal changes that will induce fish to spawn. Doing daily water changes of 20%, with the last couple of gallons a few degrees cooler is often all that is needed. Don't be neat with it, get that water to slosh around in the tank.

What are you feeding them, and how do you keep your water at that pH?

 

[fishyguy43]

Its a 20 high, and i know ppl say its small for the angels but there the only ones in the tank and they have plenty of room to swim i was planning on moving a mated pair into another 20 that i have waiting but untill they pair off they have to stay in there 20 high. Im feeding them Frozen brine, O.S.I spirulina flake food, a blend of foods tht my lfs makes, and frozen blood worms on occasion. I feed 3 small feedings a day.

 

[Waterloo Kid]

When people overstock their tanks, it's rarely a 'room to swim' issue. Generally it's got more to do with the tanks biological load limit and fish territory. If you say the water parameters are fine (what's your nitrate reading? It's the nitrates that usually give away an overstocked tank.) then it's probably a territory thing. They might have enough room to swim around (although in a 20 I doubt it) but there probably isn't enough room for a pair to get remote from the others and bond. There's enough room for 4 people in a decent sized room but you try and get a girlfriend with your mates looking over your shoulder!

WK