Carol, and all those interested: I'll have some baby angel pictures posted later today Carol, I tested the water a day after the bio-bag change and the results are: 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate (as always), and a pH of 7.0 So far no ammonia or nitrite spike, thanks God! If there is no ammonia or nitrite spike one day after a bio-bag change, does that mean that there will be none? Or could there still be a spike, even a couple of days after the bio-bag change? I really hope that this is it and that my babies are safe. Carol, my angels are already able to eat small bloodworms and small brine shrimp. I also finally got them to eat flakes broken into smaller pieces So, they finally eat everything I think the worst and the hardest work is behind me! But I've gotta tell ya ... these little guys were **** of a job! I think I'll loosen up on the water changes ... can I Carol? Please? (LOL)
OK ! I got some pictures! BUT ... they're still not very clear because the angels are too small to take accurate pictures. I wish I had one of those professional cameras that can take clear and accurate pictures of tiny objects. Anyway, this is the best I could do for now:
Last edited by Isabella; September 23rd, 2007 at 12:45 AM.
Isabella your babies are absolutely beautiful!!!!! You can look at them and see your reward for all those horrible water changes LOL. You could loosen up on the water changes without a problem, just keep testing that water. And if you haven't had a spike by now I don't expect one. Congratulations Angel Mommy!!!!
Carol
OK then, I will loosen up on the water changes. Will definitely keep testing the water to see how often the water needs to be changed in order for nitrate to be at 0. I think even with less frequent water changes, like every 2-3 days (50%), it would still be possible to keep nitrate at 0. But we'll see - after all the fish won't always be in a nitrate-free water, so they have to get used to at least some nitrate at some point. I can't predict what kind of people will buy my angels and how they'll be taking care of them. Anyway, yes the water changes were definitely worth it And considering that they were fed on frozen bbs, not the live one, I guess it is a success as for me. I've never even raised any fish before! You have no idea how much I've come to love them! I SO DON'T WANT TO GIVE THEM AWAY
when all your little angels were nibiling at your finger it reminded me of my grandmathers angels (unfortanity they died of old age they were like 14-15 years old)
yes at some point they will get used to some Nitrates, the point of keeping them so clean is because their little fins are still growing very fast and they need pristine water to do that without bending or distorting. your doing a great job, keep it up!!
Carol
Congratulations on a gorgeous bunch of babies, Isabella. They are breathtaking. I wish I had an angel tank! I can see why it would be hard to think of giving them up. Just think though, there will be another spawn and then you will have this experience to look forward to again and you can watch this miracle happen to more "little angels".
what adorable babies! I hope to be adding some angels to my new tank after it has cycled. Is the only way to get a breeding pair to buy several and see if they pair off?
Well, this is the way that increases the changes of giving you a pair. I must have hit the jackpot, lol, because my 2 angels were the first and only angels I ever got. When they grew up it turned out they're a male and a female. I must have been very lucky. You can buy 6 angels and when two have paired up, return the rest back to the store, or give them to whoever wants them and is able to take good care of them. Let your LFS know that you'll be returning the angels to make sure they'll take them back. In how large a tank do you want to pair them up?
The reason I say "6 angels" is that with 6 angels you should be able to get a pair (very high chances of it).
I have a 29 gallon. I'm in the middle of setting up..not cycled yet so it will be a while before i can get them, just thinking ahead. I guess if I got them small 6 would fit ok until I figured out who the pair was. Any favorite plants for the angels? I'm sure I'll be posting tons of questions after I get them I've had fish for years growing up but now I want to experiment with live plants, raising fry, bigger tanks etc.
Well thanks for your help and good luck with those babies!
Manicivy angels spawn at about 8-10 months old so their pretty close to their adult size. You can't tell their gender until they get ready to spawn. I have had 4 adult angels in a 29G temporarily and it was a little crowded. Out of 4 you should be able to get a pair then take the other two back or by then you may be so attached to them you get another tank MTS (Multiple Tank Syndrome) will set in. Resistance is futile
Carol
LOL, you will haha It's not so hard! All you really need is a mated pair. When they mature, they spawn like crazy. My pair lays eggs about every 3 weeks - don't know how to stop them if I wanted to, lol. If you want a real success and to see the parents raise their babies, get a separate tank just for the mated pair (I'd suggest at least 30 gallons), feed them well, keep them in warm temperature (at least 79F), and sooner or later they will spawn in such conditions. Also, have only a sponge filter in a breeder tank because it won't suck the fry in once they go free-swimming.
P.S. The reason I suggested at least a 30 gallon tank is because it would be a good size tank to raise the baby angels into adolescence in it. If you get something smaller, you'll soon find the angels growing too large for it, and you'll need to get another larger tank to move them. But if you get a large tank right away, you're saving yourself a lot of trouble.
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Carol, I tested the water a day after the bio-bag change and the results are: 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate (as always), and a pH of 7.0 
So far no ammonia or nitrite spike, thanks God! If there is no ammonia or nitrite spike one day after a bio-bag change, does that mean that there will be none? Or could there still be a spike, even a couple of days after the bio-bag change? I really hope that this is it and that my babies are safe. Carol, my angels are already able to eat small bloodworms and small brine shrimp. I also finally got them to eat flakes broken into smaller pieces 
I've had fish for years growing up but now I want to experiment with live plants, raising fry, bigger tanks etc.
lmao