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Ok I just bought my Marble Veiltail Angels 2 weeks ago.
(they are a breeding pair, approx 1 yr old)
They acclimated quite well but still seemed palish, I assumed still adapting to their new surroundings., have been eating high protein foods.. 2 days ago I did a 15 gal water change (in 40 gal tank) using water I treated and aged for a week and half degree higher then tank temp..

Tonight (approx 9:45pm) I fed them and sat down to watch..
I noticed first, they are showing beautiful vibrant color.. Now GOLD-ish, with black stripes and almost look vibrant. They ate and soon as the food was gone, they went at it, shaking funny at each other (shimmying maybe a better term ?) and lip-locking etc, then they stop, back off, shimmy, and lip lock again.. Been over 10 minutes now...

Are they fighting or mating ? They don't appear to be hurting each other but I've seen oscars lip-locking before and they sure weren't mating.. So thinking of that I'm kinda worried too.. These angels constantly chum around together in the tank 24/10 so unusual if they scrapped ?

I am crossing my fingers here !!!

Please share your thought, think a few in here have breeding angels please share your experiences.
Thanks !
DaFish

The Amazon Nut...

I think that they are fighting, but if you don't see any marks on their scales, it's not something serious. Just give them some time to settle & if they're a pair, they might lay some eggs & raise the fry.



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Not to worry; I've had pairs lip lock even post/prior intercourse. Don't sweat it. My only concern is that a 40 gallon may be a bit low for these fish, but if they're happy, I don't see any problem. Consistency is the best way to ensure continued spawning.

Last edited by Cup_of_Lifenoodles at 22-Oct-2005 01:10

Hi, I have angelfish that have laid eggs today.

The female is a gold normal tail that i bought about three months ago, the male is a zebra vailtail with blue shimmer, he has only been in the tank for about 3weeks and is a fair bit younger than her.

They chose to lay the eggs on an Anubia leaf that is in the top of the tank, i only added this recently on a piece of driftwood.

The water is well filtered, i use a Aqua one 103 internal power head, Aquaclear 200 HOB and a Hydor prime 30 cannister, its kept at 6.6-6.8ph with a temp of 26-27, i do 40% water changes every week.

I feed them wardleys tropical flake in the morning, bloodworms in th evening. about once a week a add live freshwater shimp that i catch locally, they are dwarf only about 25mm fully grown, and also live mosqutio fish.
I also added live baby brine shrimp after they were showing breeding signs because i have betta fry at the moment.


I believe there are few things that i have done to induce breeding;

Adding the Anubia (good leaves for eggs)

Feeding live shrimp and mosquito fish

Feeding baby brine shrimp.

Ok, that was quick, EGGS !!

at least 150-300 eggs stuck to the glass in the tank.
I am freaking right out !

I am leaving this batch in the tank for now to learn the cichlid parenting skills.. It is cool seeing them tending to the eggs.

The Amazon Nut...

Congratultations & i agree with you to leave the eggs & eventually fry with the parents. They might eat them for the first few times, but eventually they'll raise them. Just remember to keep a night lamp at night, so they can keep an eye on them.


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Congratulations!!!

Well this is what happened to me, maybe it can help you, first time they mate, they had the same behavior you mention, but this was more kind of a dance. Which they never did again btw.

First time, the eggs hatched they only lasted 2 days, they ate them, the female did, and it was heartbreaking watching the male trying to keep her away from doing it.

Second time, eggs hatched and became free swimmers and everything was great, till one morning all the fry was gone! I don't know if they ate them or if any other of the tank fish did, which I doubt because they are really aggressive with any fish that comes even as close as half the tank distance from their breeding leaves.

Third time, free swimmers and even 4 days more where they grew besides their parents, till this time my tank REALLY needed a water change, so I separated the fry from the parents to a smaller tank in which they are growing fine.

As soon as I took the fry from the parents next day they laid again, today I have hundreds of recently hatched fry.

It's becoming apparent that they are mastering the fatherhood process because they also manage to have more and more fry each time!

I've read a lot about the subject lately, and most of the breeders recommend to take out the eggs and rise them in separate tanks, I wouldn't do this because I'm not aiming to do business with them for me is just a kick to be able to see the whole process, and you know what they say, if they breed, they are happy, so I guess it takes my mind away from the constant tank condition worries.

Thanks Falstaf ! To you as well

Your notes will help, I appreciate it !

"the female did, and it was heartbreaking watching the male trying to keep her away from doing it." - that would have been very disappointing to watch, the poor guy

4 days after they hit the free swimming stage is the right time to move them ? How many angel fry in your small tank ?

"today I have hundreds of recently hatched fry." - OMG !!

"I wouldn't do this because I'm not aiming to do business with them for me is just a kick to be able to see the whole process, and you know what they say, if they breed, they are happy, so I guess it takes my mind away from the constant tank condition worries" - exactly and good point. It's very rewarding to see eggs/fry from the fish and it says they are happy and healthy. Not a business for me either..

Although I wouldn't mind some business.. I sell plants when I have spare to local aquarists thru a local buy/sell site and hopefully any extra fish can sell there. Would put back into costs and treats for the fish !

The Amazon Nut...

"4 days after they hit the free swimming stage is the right time to move them ? How many angel fry in your small tank ?"

Well this is the first time I took them out from the parents there are about 50 little guys in the smaller tank, and they seem to be doing ok, the breeder sites that I mentioned before say that you can take them from the parents as early as eggs. so I guess 4 days is more than enough.

Yup that store credit always comes in handy! most of these 50 ones are going to friends tanks and a few to my LFS, i have no idea how many of the new generation will make it, but i'll have to find out soon what to do with them, i'm running out of space and tanks.

"i'm running out of space and tanks." - ok Falstaf we have something in common LOL.. I have a 10gal empty and may remove them when they're wigglers. Just got back from the fishstore, bought a sponge filter rated for 10g, and some Hikari First Bites.. Don't really want to do the brine shrimp thing just yet but someone local has microworm cultures.

I have 2 spare tanks will be 3 next week and storing a 30g long up north.. Just no room, will set up one 10 for now. Will drop the sponge filter into the main tank to start seeding shortly.

The Amazon Nut...

Have they hatched yet??

I also forgot to mention, that they move the fry around. Yup mine have 3 spaces, they lay their eggs in a Rubi amazon sword leave, as soon as the hatch, they move them on to another more horizontal leave of the same plant, and at night they move then to the tank corner on to the glass. I don't know if all angel fish do the same, but just in case you look and they are not in the original spot, just follow the neurotic father


I'm thinking of setting a 20G bow front tank that has been empty for a while, i have the equipment and all, what i lack these days is time to take care of all the tanks!, Still it would be cool to watch at least 3 or 4 generations grow up. After that is the circle of life!

I've had a bit of bad luck, don't think this time I will get a hatch. Most of the eggs white and some fungus, maybe 30 eggs left if lucky. I'll keep leaving them in next batch but may pull some eggs out.

Have some things ready for next time... Fixed up a 10g, bought a sponge filter, hikari first bites, just have to get some meth blue but may have an alternative (anti-fungus med) around.

Disappointed but realize first batch hardly ever makes it.. Plus I was able to observe some interesting things.

Edit: And thanks for checkin up on me

Last edited by DaFishMan at 23-Oct-2005 19:50

The Amazon Nut...

Awww, well don't worry they will learn

Good thing is that you are ready for the next one!