Angelfish have become one of the easiest of the egg laying fish to breed. Wild specimens are considerably more challenging and there are still a few species that only on rare occasions spawn in captivity. Domestication has changed this and now most angelfish that have been tank raised all their lives pair up by themselves under the right conditions. The following article contains some of the different methods of breeding angelfish and additional tips that I think will help you.
PART 1: Getting a Breeding Pair
The first decision that needs to be made is whether to buy a proven pair or form one yourself. Proven pairs are ususally very expensive and may or may not spawn for you. The other option is to buy about 6-8 juvenile angelfish and let them pair off by themselves when they grow older. This is the method that most breeders use and is what I will be describing in the next few paragraphs.
A 29 gallon aquarium is ample for a pairing tank with 6 fish. If you have a couple more fish than a 40-45 gallon tank should be ok. The reason that so many fish are required is to increase the chances of having a male and a female. With 6 fish, your chances are pretty good. All angelfish, especially juveniles, are basically impossible to sex. There are no definite character traits that belong to either gender except for a few "maybes" with older, mature fish. The advantages of starting out with younger fish are that they aren't strongly accustomed to previous water conditions, they all get to grow together and the same pace, and they get to establish territorial boundaries; and all of these factors are helpful in forming a pair quickly. If there are too many fish in a small tank, then it will probably take longer to get a pair.
If your main intention is to get a pair and not to have a show aquarium, then a bare bottom tank will be better. This is a tank that contains no gravel or decorations but only the necessary tank equipment such as filters and heaters. This way cleaner water conditions can be achieved and the fish will grow faster. (This is also the cheaper and more economical way) A few potted live plants may be added to a bare bottom aquarium to improve water quality and prevent algae growth. A show tank, one with gravel and decor, can still be used for a pairing tank if the gravel is cleaned 2-3 times a month.
Now is the time when you get to know your fish and ovserve their behaviors as they grow. A varied diet should be give at least 2 times a day. (refer to the "foods" page) If tank maintenance and feeding schedules are followed closely, then your fish will reward you with fast growh.
If your fish were bought when their body size was about a U.S. quarter, they were probably 4-5 months old. Angelfish usually pair up anytime around 9-12 months of age. All the fish that I own, paired up when they were the size of a silver dollar or bigger. Of course, the angelfish variety and tank conditions will have an effect on this as well.
5 MONTHS LATER!!!!!
By this age, your angelfish should be showing a little territorial aggression or just bullying. One behavior that angelfish are known for is lip-locking. This is when two angels connect their lips together fiercely, then back off and flare their fins wide. Angelfish usually show their best colors at this time. It is especially common for two female angels to liplock.
Determining which angelfish are pairing cna be very tricky. If an angelfish is aggressive to all other angelfish except one, then chances are that they are pairing. If two angelfsih always "hang out" together or defend one part of the tank, then they could be a pair. In any situation, it is best to let nature take its course unless the "pair" is hurting the other fish too bad. If you are quite sure that you do have a pair, then an excellent option would be to put a clear divider in the tank separating them from the other fish. At this time, a few spawning surfaces must be placed in the tank. Angelfish prefer to spawn on broad leaved plants such as Amazon Swords, but it is much more convenient to have them spawn on an object that can be easily removed. Pieces of slate (10 X 2) or PVC pipe about the same length can be layed against the side of the tank almost vertically. Now, my angelfish always spawn on the slate even if there are plants in the tank since they have become used to i t and because it is much broader.
All during this time the pair should be fed well. Begin to observe both fish very closely. A good indication that a pair is forming is to see a slight bulge in one of the fish's stomachs. That fish is probably the female and has started to form eggs or roe. The next sign that could occur is the cleaning of a spawning surface. This consists of inspecting and pecking at a particular spawning site. Now start to look for breeding tubes or papilla protruding from either fish. These are located between the ventral and anal fins of the fish and are white in color. The female's tube is larger, and more rounded, and usually comes out first. The male's papilla is slightly pointer and usually comes out a day before the spawning.
If all goes well the pair will spawn soon. It is most probable that the angelfish are a pair but can't be proven until the eggs hatch.
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