Female Angel Dead! Hob Filter The Culprit

[bmcelfresh]

Word to the wise, if you have a HOB filter do not use it with breeding angels. I found my female this morning stuck in the syphon. The pair was cleaning the syphon to lay eggs, so I assume that she got caught. We're sad as we have had the pair for about four years.

 

[Katchan]

While it is possible that the angel did get stuck to the filter and die, I've had bristle die inside intake tube before , is it possible that the fish died of other causes and got stuck/sucked onto the intake after death? I had a pair of what I thought were angels ready to breed and the female stressed the male to death sometime during the mating prep, while I hadnt had him for 4 years (only 18months) I sympathise with your loss.

Andrew

 

[kribensis12]

It had to be sick to get stuck to a filter. They arent powerful enough to suck a healthy fish to the intake tube. I have stuck my finge next to my filter and I barely felt any suction and It works extremely well.

 

[bmcelfresh]

I am confused as they have laid eggs on the syphon before with no problems. The only thing caught was her long tail, so that is why I thought that was the culprit. Also, no signs of sickness. I would not think she was stressed as except for a couple of other much smaller fish the pair were the only ones in the tank (29gl). Also, they have been tank mates from day one. Bought them together (very small), and they have been together for four years. Took about a year for them to pair off though.

I think I am through with the angel fish breeding. Did not buy them for that purpose it just happened (lol).

 

[Tolak]

A healthy adult angel will not get stuck to the intake of a hob filter. Even if some of the tail got pulled in by the intake the fish could easily enough swim off. If the tail got hung you would be wondering why a piece of tail was missing on your fish.

Angels are cichlids, and even though they are breeding pairs that can get along for quite a while that cichlid behavior sometimes surfaces. Angels have been known to kill a mate out of the blue for no apparent reason.