Breeding angelfish isn’t difficult, but has many different ways to breed them. I will not be going over specific kinds of angelfish breeding, but how to breed the species of angelfish as a whole.
Requirements
Sexing
Male and female angelfish look quite alike, it is quite hard to sex them while they are young. The easiest way is to see which one lays the eggs, though this is a very slow strategy. When the angelfish are mature, look at their stomach and there will be a pipe like object. A male will have a pointy one, while the female will have a cylinder like tube.
Breeding(Eggs)
You can buy an angelfish pair, or a group of angelfish. If you had a 75 gallon tank, you could do a group, though a pair would be better off in a 40 gallon. Once you bought the angelfish and have them in your cycled tank, you must have patience. Patience is the key. Look for the male attempting to breed, and eventually the female will lay the eggs on the plant or pillar you put in for them. There will be many eggs most likely, then the waiting game starts again.
Tankmates(Fish & Invertebrates)
There are 2 paths that you can take after the eggs are laid, most people breeding for profit immediately take out the eggs and put them into another tank. This may prevent the angels from maybe eating their own fry, but can also be risky. If the water temperature is off, even by a little bit- there is some risk. In the other tank, a 5 to 10 gallon would be the best(if you take out the eggs), there are not many options. But the one that seems the best to me is shrimp. Shrimp will not eat the eggs, but will take out(and most likely eat) the dead/bad eggs.
In the main tank, it doesn’t seem likely that you will be able to put in much. I wouldn’t risk anything, not shrimp, or a pleco.
Raising the fry(main tank)
If you had the eggs in the main tank, and let them hatch there, do not be afraid when the angelfish are ‘eating’ their fry, then spitting them out. This is teaching the fry how to swim. Over time when the angelfish get older and larger, they should be moved to a separate tank, a grow-out tank, so they won’t eat the eggs.
Raising fry(egg tank/shrimp tank)
When the angelfish hatch from their eggs, take them out and put them to a grow-out tank. I would not risk the fry eating the rest of the eggs. They will grow up a bit harder, but will have a higher chance to survive.
Thank you for reading! Good luck in your fish adventures! -FishBoy101
Requirements
- The tank requirements are a bit murky, but 40 gallons for breeding seems to be a good tank size.
- You want a slightly acidic ph, 6.8 to breed angelfish is the best way to go.
- The amount of angelfish is up to you. You might want a breeding pair, or just some assorted angelfish, but having 1 male in a tank is better than 2- the males could spar and make their purpose to spar, not breed.
- Sponge filtration is the way to go, if you do a hang on the back filter, the fry may be sucked into the filtration system.
- A heater which you can change at will is the best. 80 fahrenheit or 26 celsius is the best for breeding angelfish.
- Water changes are optimal, though be careful not to hurt the eggs when doing so.
- Get some ‘tall’ plants, or a pillar-like item, the female angelfish will lay the eggs there when they believe it is ready for the eggs to be laid.
- Of course a light, and depending if you are breeding for profit, or breeding for the joy of it, substrate is optional.
Sexing
Male and female angelfish look quite alike, it is quite hard to sex them while they are young. The easiest way is to see which one lays the eggs, though this is a very slow strategy. When the angelfish are mature, look at their stomach and there will be a pipe like object. A male will have a pointy one, while the female will have a cylinder like tube.
Breeding(Eggs)
You can buy an angelfish pair, or a group of angelfish. If you had a 75 gallon tank, you could do a group, though a pair would be better off in a 40 gallon. Once you bought the angelfish and have them in your cycled tank, you must have patience. Patience is the key. Look for the male attempting to breed, and eventually the female will lay the eggs on the plant or pillar you put in for them. There will be many eggs most likely, then the waiting game starts again.
Tankmates(Fish & Invertebrates)
There are 2 paths that you can take after the eggs are laid, most people breeding for profit immediately take out the eggs and put them into another tank. This may prevent the angels from maybe eating their own fry, but can also be risky. If the water temperature is off, even by a little bit- there is some risk. In the other tank, a 5 to 10 gallon would be the best(if you take out the eggs), there are not many options. But the one that seems the best to me is shrimp. Shrimp will not eat the eggs, but will take out(and most likely eat) the dead/bad eggs.
In the main tank, it doesn’t seem likely that you will be able to put in much. I wouldn’t risk anything, not shrimp, or a pleco.
Raising the fry(main tank)
If you had the eggs in the main tank, and let them hatch there, do not be afraid when the angelfish are ‘eating’ their fry, then spitting them out. This is teaching the fry how to swim. Over time when the angelfish get older and larger, they should be moved to a separate tank, a grow-out tank, so they won’t eat the eggs.
Raising fry(egg tank/shrimp tank)
When the angelfish hatch from their eggs, take them out and put them to a grow-out tank. I would not risk the fry eating the rest of the eggs. They will grow up a bit harder, but will have a higher chance to survive.
Thank you for reading! Good luck in your fish adventures! -FishBoy101
