Prevent Angelfish pairing

[Wickette]

I recently got some baby angelfish. Is there a way to prevent/reduce the odds of them from forming breeding pairs before the behavior starts (without messing with water parameters)? Maybe by adding larger or lots of small tank mates?

 

[ProudPapa]

I've only kept them as singles, but I'd be very surprised if adding any other fish would have an effect.

 

[TClare]

No I don't think it would be possible to stop pairs forming, unless you end up with all the same sex.

 

[SparkyJones]

No I don't think it would be possible to stop pairs forming, unless you end up with all the same sex.

this is correct. It's impossible. once they mature, if you have males and females they will pair and the female will claim territory and spawn.

I recently got some baby angelfish. Is there a way to prevent/reduce the odds of them from forming breeding pairs before the behavior starts (without messing with water parameters)? Maybe by adding larger or lots of small tank mates?

The moment a female matures you will notice the dynamic change in the tank from the hormones released, the males will get "uppity". Generally, she'll pick the strongest male, and he'll keep the other males away from her and the spawning area so she'll be kind of stationary at the spawn site and he'll be working offense to keep other males away.

best prevention is to identify pairs when they appear and move them to a spawning tank you have set up, and determine who is the female, then remove her and rehome her.if you are used to seeing the pair, you may be able to tell the male from the female though in which case, you'd remove the female and rehome her.

Pairs work best with their own tank, a 29g is pretty perfect for a single pair to live and spawn in.

In the wild, adult males and juveniles cruise around together, when a female matures she breaks off from the group and claims territory and males follow to spawn, strongest usually wins her heart.
A group of juveniles, a group of males, a group of males and juveniles works, because thats the natural order of things for them, The females at maturity break off, set up a territory and get really defensive and when she picks a partner, they both get territorial about it.

Best way I know to keep the peace is to not have females, males will just have their pecking order and follow the leader . Also to not attempt keeping a pair or spawning in a community tank. Pairs should have their own tank, it's less stressful for them and the rest of the fish. the pair is going to be on the defensive and in attack mode most of the month with about a week off between spawns. It just doesn't work except if they are alone. A M/F pair in a 29g tank though looks really nice though. Lean up some slate rocks on the glass and they will get used to laying eggs there every time, and you can decide to remove them and destroy it or use the eggs for food fr your other tanks or decide to let them raise them, it just gives you options, but a breeding pair isn't going to play well with other fish, and a female is going to want to spawn and pick a male if available even if alone, when water is right she's going to want to put down eggs roughly every 15 days unless they are raising fry. There's just not a lot of peaceful time between spawnings for other fish to do well, the pair will eventually either kill them or stress them to death.

There's no way to stop them, the females want to reproduce, it's their mission and will et aggressive and territorial about it, the males aren't as "deadly" as females but the longer they are paired, the more they will learn about aggression to threats from the female and he will learn his job from her.

 

[Wickette]

this is correct. It's impossible. once they mature, if you have males and females they will pair and the female will claim territory and spawn.


The moment a female matures you will notice the dynamic change in the tank from the hormones released, the males will get "uppity". Generally, she'll pick the strongest male, and he'll keep the other males away from her and the spawning area so she'll be kind of stationary at the spawn site and he'll be working offense to keep other males away.

best prevention is to identify pairs when they appear and move them to a spawning tank you have set up, and determine who is the female, then remove her and rehome her.if you are used to seeing the pair, you may be able to tell the male from the female though in which case, you'd remove the female and rehome her.

Pairs work best with their own tank, a 29g is pretty perfect for a single pair to live and spawn in.

In the wild, adult males and juveniles cruise around together, when a female matures she breaks off from the group and claims territory and males follow to spawn, strongest usually wins her heart.
A group of juveniles, a group of males, a group of males and juveniles works, because thats the natural order of things for them, The females at maturity break off, set up a territory and get really defensive and when she picks a partner, they both get territorial about it.

Best way I know to keep the peace is to not have females, males will just have their pecking order and follow the leader . Also to not attempt keeping a pair or spawning in a community tank. Pairs should have their own tank, it's less stressful for them and the rest of the fish. the pair is going to be on the defensive and in attack mode most of the month with about a week off between spawns. It just doesn't work except if they are alone. A M/F pair in a 29g tank though looks really nice though. Lean up some slate rocks on the glass and they will get used to laying eggs there every time, and you can decide to remove them and destroy it or use the eggs for food fr your other tanks or decide to let them raise them, it just gives you options, but a breeding pair isn't going to play well with other fish, and a female is going to want to spawn and pick a male if available even if alone, when water is right she's going to want to put down eggs roughly every 15 days unless they are raising fry. There's just not a lot of peaceful time between spawnings for other fish to do well, the pair will eventually either kill them or stress them to death.

There's no way to stop them, the females want to reproduce, it's their mission and will et aggressive and territorial about it, the males aren't as "deadly" as females but the longer they are paired, the more they will learn about aggression to threats from the female and he will learn his job from her.

I originally asked because I wanted to keep just 3. Which obviously is a bad idea if a pair forms.
Other than a some festivums everything in the tank is much more robust or faster than angel fish. They're only a threat to each other.
Adding a 4th as soon as I find one. Theyre barely 2" now, too small to identify gender but did tried for males.
If it doesn't work there are plenty tanks to move them to. but doing my best to have all stay in 1 tank long term.

 

[TClare]

If it doesn't work there are plenty tanks to move them to

That's always a good situation to be in with angelfish! I like the combination of angelfish and festivums, they often school together in the wild. What other fish do you have?

 

[Wickette]

That's always a good situation to be in with angelfish! I like the combination of angelfish and festivums, they often school together in the wild. What other fish do you have?

My y/o Ctenapoma is my main fish. Huge but excessivly passive. Very old 6 Golden zebra loaches they're husky for loaches, not aggressive but they swim all over fish to check their bodies for food stresses out fish that get close. Had 6 bleeding heart (now have 3). The Tetra's are 6yo , past captivity life expectancy. 3 have died 2 months apart, 1 is beginning to look rough. BUT I have 5 new BH Tetra's in quarantine as well as 1 more Ctenapoma. Once I get my 4th angel, the tank will be full stock.
Getting the 2 festivums costs as much as all the other fish combined. Hard to find local.

I would've loved to stick a rainbow cichlid ,some honey or thick lipped gourami, maybe a school of rainbow fish or skirt Tetra's but I think it's already plenty for a 4ft tank. I love the angels, never owned one in the 27years ive kept fish. They are so friendly and out going it's amazing.

I quarantine tetra came down with ick so it'll be a while till they move in.

 

[TClare]

My y/o Ctenapoma is my main fish. Huge but excessivly passive. Very old 6 Golden zebra loaches they're husky for loaches, not aggressive but they swim all over fish to check their bodies for food stresses out fish that get close. Had 6 bleeding heart (now have 3). The Tetra's are 6yo , past captivity life expectancy. 3 have died 2 months apart, 1 is beginning to look rough. BUT I have 5 new BH Tetra's in quarantine as well as 1 more Ctenapoma. Once I get my 4th angel, the tank will be full stock.
Getting the 2 festivums costs as much as all the other fish combined. Hard to find local.

I would've loved to stick a rainbow cichlid ,some honey or thick lipped gourami, maybe a school of rainbow fish or skirt Tetra's but I think it's already plenty for a 4ft tank. I love the angels, never owned one in the 27years ive kept fish. They are so friendly and out going it's amazing.

I quarantine tetra came down with ick so it'll be a while till they move in.

Ah right, I know who you are from another forum!

 

[Wickette]

Ah right, I know who you are from another forum!

I like to ask different questions in different forums. Angels question go in fishlore. Dwarf cichlid in apostoforum, monster sized fish plants in the planted tank
(Everyone has gotten a dose of me in the past month)