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To make a long story short, I purchased three angels recently. Two were constantly harassing the third, so I removed the third from the tank. Alas, the leaf cleaning began last night and now I have angel eggs!!

My question: The eggs were laid on a plant right next to the intake hose of my AquaClear 500 powerhead filter. Can I move the plant to the other end of the aquarium? Will the eggs be okay if I leave them? The leaf on the plant is swaying quite a bit due to the stream of the filter. HELP!!! how long til they hatch?

If you can cover the intake with a sponge do that. The current will if anything help the eggs develop and hatch.

The parents will probably move the wigglers around so even if you move the eggs they might move them back to that area once they hatch. which should be in 2 days or so depending on temp.

Good luck, Mike

Thanks Mike! I just bought these angels about two or three weeks ago. Had no intention of breeding them. Started reading up on them some more in the last week (after the territory issues) and discovered that leaf-cleaning was a sign of spawning to come. And sure enough. It sounds like I should just leave them, huh? I am worried they won't even make it anyway, it's a community tank. No real aggressors, but still, a lot of fish. I hope they make it - I love my angels! Thanks for the advice

Personally I moved the object the eggs were laid on as well as the parents to a "nursery tank". Putting a sponge over the filter intake will prevent them from being sucked up, but it won't perevent other fish from having them as a little snack (if you have any other fish that is). If a separate tank is not possible, you might get lucky enough that the parents will fight off any other fish... or hand for that matter ... that will try to go near the fry.

The eggs should hatch within 2 or 3 days. The fry will only be little wriggling specks on the bottom of the tank for I believe the first week, maybe longer (I don't remember exactly). During that time they will feed off their tolk sacks, and the parents will move them around to different spots in the tank. That's to keep them clean, like changing their diapers Once they are free swimming they will start to feed off of things like live brine shrimp and very finely crushed flakes.

Don't be disappointed if this batch of eggs doesn't make it. Angel pairs often aren't often successful in their first couple attempts. They'll most likely try again in about a month.

You were really lucky to have your angels pair off and spawn so quickly. Good luck!

><>Dani<><

Last edited by gartenzwerfe at 01-Nov-2004 20:28

The day after I posted this topic, the eggs disappeared from the leaf.........should I assume they are in the stones on the tank bottom or just "gone"? It's weird - I had NO plans to breed these fish, but once I figured out what was going on (leaf cleaning, etc.) I was really excited. Now I am bummed. Next time I will know to move them to a nursery. Would you put the parents in the nursery with them?

they have been eaten most likley by the parents as soon as they think the eggs are threatened and can't defend them they will eat them there selfs

The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an bacon and egg breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

If you want to hatch the next batch yourself, move them. If you want to try to get the parents to raise them get them their own tank.

If you intend to hatch them yourself there are some things you'll need to do.

You'll need a small tank & heater, air pump, air stone, sponge filter, and Methy-blu.

Get the sponge filter going in an established tank so the bacteria can colonize it.

When the Angels lay fill the small tank with new water the same temp as the parent's tank. Add the Methy-blu.

Put the airstone on the bottom, weight it down with a rock.

Take the leaf with the eggs on it and position the leaf near the airstone so that the bubbles cause it to flutter in the current. You will need to keep it in place with rocks.

Day 2 they hatch into wigglers. There will be some eggs that turn white and get fuzzy, the wigglers will get tangled in it but once the become free swimming they'll get loose.

5 days after they hatch they'll become free swimming and you'll have to feed them. Baby Brine Shrimp is the best thing. Put the colonized sponge filter in at this time.

Good luck, Mike

I had no intentions whatsoever of breeding this pair, but since they spawned only two weeks or so after buying them, I think that is a good sign. What is methy-blue? Where do I buy it? Does the tank need to be big or would, say, a 10 gallon suffice for one pair of adults and fry?

Methy-blu is an anti-fungal that is safe for eggs and fry. I got it a my LFS.

IMO a 20 high is the minimum for a pair of Angels and a 29 is even better.

Keep in mind that Angel fry grow into Angelfish and there could be about 150 of them if things go well. You are going to have to think about more tank space if you intend to raise them to the point that your LFS is going to want them.

At dime size 150 angelfish will overstock three 29 gallon tanks. Also your LFS is probably not going to want 150 fish all at once.

On the other hand raising them is alot of fun and worth the effort if that's what you want to do.

I say go for it. Add tanks as they grow and have fun.

Good luck, Mike

"Add tanks as they grow".......I have spent $1,750.00 on two tanks (72 gallon and 60 gallon hex high) this year so far...that's probably enough for now LOL!! BUT, I suppose a little 29 gallon high wouldn't hurt. I really would love to breed those angelfish, but you have given me food for thought - what in the heck would I do with 150 of the little dears?! Thanks for the response on the methy-blue. I had never heard of that before.

I would suggest a 20 long personally. This gives the fish a bigger surface area. Generally speaking surface area is more important than gallons. I would also suggest getting a twenty long with an iron stand. This will allow you to put two 20's (one on top and one on bottom) in the same space as a single twenty. I would also suggest not adding gravel as it will only get in the way. You'll have to do at least a 30% water change every day on the grow out tanks. In my experience leaving the babies in with the parents allows them to grow faster but in a community tank you will lose a lot more. However, they don't need their parents to survive. Another suggestion I will make is to order your baby food from here http://www.kensfish.com/kensspecialtyfood.html]http://www.kensfish.com/kensspecialtyfood.html[/link]. Go to the third option down it's called decapsulated brine shrimp. This is what I started feeding my baby Jags and they love it. The jags also grow just as quickly as using hatched brine shrimp without the hassle of hatching brine shrimp. The absolute key to the whole process though is big sponge filters which I would suggest ordering from [link=sponge filters]http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=22217;category_id=1725[/link] and air pumps from [link=air pumps]http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=19745;category_id=1625[/link]with these hose splitters [link=hose splitters(2 per tank) and water changes. Hope this helps.

Last edited by lil-fishy at 09-Nov-2004 22:31

So you cut back on food, clothing, disconect cable (you won't have room for a TV anyway) and add tanks.

Have fun, Mike

Don't forget I'll be disconnecting the internet, also, and therefore would have no way of updating you!! I don't know, I'd need to think about this. 30% water change daily could get real old real fast. I guess it just depends on how much you have your heart set on it. Mine was very set on it til I read this. Thanks for the advice, I do think I may try it someday (probably when I am retired in 2032 and have lots of time for it)