How to breed angelfish
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Angelfish, commonly known as the British Angelfish, is scientifically called *Pterophyllum scalare* and belongs to the cichlid family. These fish are well-known for their unique breeding behavior. Unlike many other fish species that simply lay eggs and leave them, angelfish are devoted parents who actively care for their offspring. However, they are very sensitive during the breeding process. Any disturbance can cause them to become stressed, leading to tragic outcomes such as eating their own eggs or fry. Therefore, providing a quiet and undisturbed environment is crucial for successful breeding.
To begin with, if you're an angelfish enthusiast looking to breed them, the first step is selecting compatible pairs. This process takes time and patience. It’s best to keep several males and females together in a tank and observe their interactions. When two fish consistently swim together and establish a territory, chasing away others who enter their space, it's likely they’ve formed a pair. Once a pair is identified, they should be moved to a separate breeding tank or isolated from other fish to avoid disruptions that could interfere with their spawning.
Next, preparing the breeding environment is essential. A spawning medium, such as a vertical tube or a flowerpot, should be placed in the tank to give the fish a surface to lay their eggs on. If no specific structure is available, they may lay eggs directly on the glass walls of the tank. Before spawning, the fish will clean the chosen spot by nibbling at it to remove any debris. You’ll notice the female’s vent becomes swollen, indicating she’s about to lay eggs within a few days. During spawning, the female lays the eggs, and the male fertilizes them by releasing milt over them. The pair then guards the eggs together, using their fins to circulate water around the clutch and removing any dead or diseased eggs. Each spawn can contain anywhere from 300 to 1,000 eggs, depending on the health and size of the parents.
After hatching, the fry will have a yolk sac for nutrition and limited swimming ability. The parents continue to protect them, gently guiding any strays back to the group. About a week after hatching, when the yolk sac is gone, you can start feeding them brine shrimp or other small plankton. It's vital to maintain a stress-free environment, as any external disturbance can cause the parents to eat the eggs or fry, leading to failed breeding attempts.
Once the fry grow, they can gradually transition to adult food. With proper care, including clean water, good oxygenation, and regular feedings, they will develop into healthy angelfish within five to six months. Additional precautions include removing the parents after spawning to prevent them from eating the eggs, disinfecting the eggs with solutions like methylene blue or malachite green, and keeping the incubation area clean with gentle water flow. Dead or unhealthy eggs should be removed promptly to protect the rest of the clutch.