Perhaps you are a lucky one
..and have two adult Angelfish that have decided to lay eggs.
Now what?
In order to be increase your chances of them surviving..here are a few tips.
Leaving Angels to Parent raise...
OR
PULLING EGGS & SELF-RAISING..How To's...
Angels breed best at tempatures of 80 -82 degrees...in clean water.
IF you do want to try raising Angel babies..there are two ways you can do it. First of all..fry will not survive in a community tank...either other fish will eat them..or the parents will get so frustrated trying to defend them..they will eat them themselves.
You can allow the parents to raise , but they would need a tank of their own... at least 20 gallons is preferred...with a "bare bottom". NO gravel..as gravel suffocates the fry. They need either a piece of slate, PVC pipe, broadleaf plant, terra cotta pot..something vertical to spawn on. If you have a hang on back filter..a sponge needs to be slipped over the intake valve as to not allow the fry to be sucked up. Most breeders prefer to use a "seeded" sponge filter
( one that has sat in a tank with fish for a month or more) that has the benefecial bacteria needed.
No need to add methylene blue or hydrogen peroxide when PARENTS are raising fry as they will take care of any dead eggs. If you do see white eggs...leave them be...better to not stress the parents by trying to remove them. It is wonderful watching Angels raise fry..so enjoy!
Another way to raise fry....which may result in "higher" survival...is
... pull the eggs & self-raise.
Either way..the fry would also need a tank of their own.
The tank again...needs to be "bare" bottom. You can start them out in a small
5 gallon..but eventually for growth & health..will need to move them into much larger. You will also need a "seeded" sponge filter ready for when they become free-swimmers.
You begin by removing the spawning material very slowly ( w/ water from the original tank) and gently place into new tank that has been filled 1/2 w/ treated water...same temp. as original tank. I also use 1/2 parent tank water..as this has given to more favorable results. Be careful not to expose the eggs to air. Place eggs vertical with an air stone placed 1- 2 inches from them to where the bubbles circulate OVER the eggs for oxygen.
Keep heater at consistent temp. of 80 - 82.
You can use either methylene blue ( enough drops to turn water dark blue) for fungus control..or hydrogen peroxide ( 3%).. it is cheaper & does the same thing. Use 1 capful per 5 gal. You may still have some eggs that turn white/fungus..those are not fertile.
(On day TWO..( of eggs being laid)..eggs become WIGGLERS ( you will see tiny little tails from the eggs..some may start falling off slate)...& that is when you start your DAILY ( "yes"..I said DAILY) water changes of 25% ( using treated water). Be sure to siphon water "slowly"( so as not to get any wigglers) & adding back in same way. If you happen to suck up one..simply take a turkey baster & squirt back into tank. With your daily w/c's the meth. blue or the hydro. perox. will slowly be removed from the tank through w/c's.
At free-swimming stage ( day 5 -7) you begin feeding them the BBS
(newly hatched baby brine shrimp). You'll have to either hatch these yourself..or use frozen BBS...personally hatching it yourself is best.
When feeding the BBS... fry must be fed 3 X a day -for approx.
a month or more. Make sure the bottom of the tank stays very clean with just wiping down with a paper towel...around 15 minutes after each feeding.
Continue with daily w/c's. Also start the seeded sponge filter once all fry are free-swimming.
Here's a few sites that also help explain raising Angels & fry
www.webrbiz.com www.websvirginia.com
Site to purchase BBS cysts( eggs) in bulk for feeding the fry..and also sponge filters pretty cheap...
www.angelsplus.com
Raising fry isn't for everyone...but it sure is exciting trying ..even if you only do it once. Whatever you would decide...
I wish you lots of luck !
Diane ( Dizzie)
