FAQ INDEX
TALL TANKS are best, 16 inches (40cm) or more high. Adult angels won't grow to full
size in short tanks. One pair can do very well in a 15 gallon (57 liter), 18" (46
cm) high tank ... but this size is not standard and is somewhat costly. More economical
are the standard 20H, 16" high (25l, 46cm) and 25G, 20" high (95 liter, 50cm).
These larger tanks may be partitioned with plastic to support two breeding pairs, if you
are going to remove the fry. Use an opaque plastic divider, your parents will be more
relaxed. A cover may be essential: Angels who are into defending their fry may jump out
to get you! I prefer the glass folding type. Angels live normally in dark, murky water,
but a strong light helps with cleaning chores.
Stick a submersible heater low on the rear wall where it won't interfere with
cleaning, and won't crack when water is siphoned off.
I use sponge filters ONLY, two in larger tanks, in the front where they'll be easy to
remove for cleaning. My favorite are the 4x4x4 inch (10x10x10 cm) cube types, available
by mail order from many commercial Angelfish breeders. Most sponge filters work well. I
don't like the 'dirt magnet' corrugated variety -- the poor design plugs up too quickly.
Allow the 'mulm' to build up, for a week, then squeeze out the filter once in the removed
water.
For cleaning waste from the tank bottom, I use a two-foot (60 cm) 7/8" (2 mm)
rigid acrylic tubing wand with 5 feet (1.5 meters) of vinyl "air pump"
tubing. I have some larger bore tubing to speed up water changes, and insert a
coat-hanger wire to get control. NEVER LEAVE SIPHONS OF ANY KIND UNATTENDED, or you'll be
sorry!
The larger-bore rigid
acrylic and flexible vinyl tubing may be purchased at homebrew shops. A great tool for
cleaning the tank bottom can be made from a toothbrush... drill to fit your siphon wand,
and cement in place with epoxy... see the picture on the right. This one is made from a
denture brush, and medium-bore acrylic tubing. When I find a soft used plain toothbrush,
I'll make one using small-bore tubing for fry tanks, and let you know how THAT works.
FAQ INDEX
Topic: Cleaning wand
Author: John
Email: jdrayton@worldnet.att.net
Date: 28 Jun 1999
Time: 18:42:43
Remote Name: 31.jacksonville-08-09rs.fl.dial-access.att.net
Remote User:
Comments
Could you draw a sketch of your cleaning tube. I'll like to make one. I'm not visualizing it from your description.
A picture? OK.
I have this kind of cleaning wand with 3/8" (10 mm) vinyl tubing in larger tanks, and 3/16" (5mm) acrylic tubing for cleaning fry tanks. For large bore vinyl tubing (5/16", ~15mm), I stick in a coat hanger wire to stiffen it up and give me better control when siphoning off the waste from the tank bottom.
Topic: Setting up partitions for breeding pairs
Author: Ellen
Email: AirAngel@fiaaz.net
Date: 03 Jul 1999
Time: 00:10:00
Remote Name: a31.pm3-14.theriver.com
Remote User:
Comments
I tried this in my 50g tank. I had two breeding pairs and no tank space to separate them. I used the opaque dividers that clip onto the inside of the tank - the ones with the small little holes. If you use this type of divider make sure that the ends are TIGHT against the front and back of the aquarium and flush with the base of the tank.
When one pair spawned, the little guys got thru the sides of the divider and swam into the hungry mouths of the second pair. Or they went under the base of the divider where it wasn't fully flush with the tank bottom.
The theory was a good idea, but didn't work out for me. Perhaps if I would have set up the dividers BEFORE adding water and fish, I could have gotten a better seal (aquarium silicone perhaps?) and it would have worked out.
I haven't found a temporary partition that'll keep little tiny guys from crossing over and becoming breakfast. But I do have one old granny fish who thinks that any cross-overs are her own fry!
Topic: fry in a community tank
Author: Eileen Lonsdorf
Email: lons@newnorth.net
Date: 23 Oct 1999
Time: 01:29:43
Remote Name: mino-cas1-cs-10.newnorth.net
Remote User:
Comments
I have a 55 gallon tank with nine assorted (large, adult) angels, a dozen or so tetras, a catfish, and a large pleco. The tank is heavily planted and well filtered. I have several pairs that spawn fairly frequently. The pair that has spawned now (on the filter tube...not the slate of course) has AGGRESSIVELY protected these eggs for three days now (usually they are eaten right away). A few of the eggs are white (but not fuzzy), the rest are clear. I haven't had success ever before in moving the egg spawn to a separate tank, nor have I had success in moving the parents and the eggs (the parents ate them). What are my chances (in this community tank) that these eggs will hatch and the fry be able to hide in the plant growth and make it?
Your chances of raising Angel fry in a community tank are very poor. Any and all other fish, including other Angels, will find any fry a great snack. Young parents often eat the first few spawns; perhaps your water / temperature / health of parents' is not correct, the fry die, and parents just clean up the bodies. Even then, young parents may have to make a half-dozen tries before they figure it out, or they may never get the hang of it. I would rather not perpetuate bad parents, no matter how fancy the strain... but it's your choice.
Also, how can I do water changes without upsetting these wonderful parents??
I'll have to check my pages and see if this is described properly. Use a siphon hose to remove 1/5 to 1/2 the volume. In a planted tank with gravel, replace by pouring slowly into a Tupperware container inside the tank. Or siphon from the supply bucket, if you don't want to stir things up. If your re-supply is very different from the tank water (age, pH, dH, temperature) then siphon slowly from the bucket. My guys seem to like the ride they get when I pour it in all at once -- they frisk around and try to bite the bubbles.
Topic: equipment!!!!!
Author: Tina
Email: tiny_peech@yahoo.com
Date: 29 Dec 1999
Time: 13:59:26
Remote Name: dagger.ab.videon.ca
Remote User:
Comments
What things do I need to purchase i want to breed angels???? I need a list!!
Brian Uphaus puts together a nice list and lots of other good information at his link www.aqualink.com/fresh/z-angel.html. I don't agree with all of it... see my comments below.
The Equipment
The minimum setups required to raise the Angelfish on a small scale, for resale to pet shops in your local area.
1. Two 20 gallon aquariums or larger. Another pair of ten-dollar 10 gallon tanks are VERY handy in my method. You need a hospital or quarantine tank, and a 5 or 10 gallon tank is good for raising fry away from the parents, when you want or NEED to do that.
2. Two air pumps of adequate size. I like WalMart's Aquaculture 2-outlet kind. Cheap, AND they sell inexpensive rebuilding kits. A little noisy.
3. Two 75 watt heaters. Better make that four or five. Set one for 95F for treating sick fish, the rest at 85F.
4. Two outside power filters. Really? What for? I use only the 4x4x4 sponge filters.
5. Several yards of airline tubing. Consider the green silicone tubing... the clear stuff has dangerous chemicals... plasticizers... that can weaken and kill Angels. If you must use the cheap Vinyl kind, boil it in your microwave for 10 minutes first.
6. Two dip nets. One large one small. I use one 7x10", one 4x5".
7. One 2 tube four foot florescent light fixture. Or standard tank hoods, if you have the $$$ and need to worry about appearances. Brian doesn't mention tank covers. Best are the folding glass types, though I also use plastic cut from 2'x4' sheets of fluorescent light diffuser panels. To cut, score and snap over a pencil.
8. One small electric adjustable timer. YES! I set the tanks all on a $5 timer to go on twice a day at feeding times. I ALSO wear a clip-on timer I can set for a few minutes, when siphoning or filling buckets!
9. One five gallon plastic bucket. I use three; one for waste, two for filling.
10. One Two gallon plastic pail.
11. One Ground fault interrupter, plug in type. Mine is wired in at the house fuse box. Be careful not to make a sensitive system that will blow the circuit breaker when you're not at home!
12. One general DH kit for testing. Only if your water exceeds dH of 80 sporadically.
13. One pH kit for testing. Not very essential, if you do frequent changes. Angels can take pH from 5.5 to 8.5 with little problem, but you do need near-neutral pH for new fry. I bought a "pencil" pH meter, but don't use it much. If you use municipal water, call the water department and ask for help. The pet shops will want to sell you lots of kits...
14. Two thermometers. I like an electronic one. I use it a LOT. With some practice, you can simply 'feel' the tank and tell a lot.
15. One box of Rid-x or Fritzyme. ? Never used this.
16. A sponge filter. I say you need three or four of the 4x4x4 type sponge filters. Two per tank.
Brian doesn't mention treating for Chloramines. See my page at websvirginia.com/angels/water for details.
Topic: angel fish
Author:
Email: ecua1974@cs.com
Date: 30 Jan 2000
Time: 14:18:19
hi i want to ask you one thing i have two angel fish and they have had eggs, but as soon as they have them, they eat them, please tell me what to do this is already the second time this has happen, i have a 30 gallon fish tank and together with the angel fish i have six different fishes in there. please help me. thank you
Read Can I raise baby Angels in a community tank? and What's the ideal setup for a breeding pair?
Topic: ARG...
Author: Phoenix
Email: hotkiss_7@hotmail.com
Date: 04 Feb 2000
Time: 00:20:29
I bought an established breeding pair of angel fish. I've had them about a week and they are already laying eggs. My only problem is I can't figure out which is the pair. I have limited it down to 3, but they all have become very aggressive. Will a pair charge each other during mating (the two I suspect to be a pair charge the other ones and the other ones go away. Then those two start nipping at each other, facing each other. I would like to have the parents raise them (the parents are F2 angels, from my knowledge that is the generation after wild caught) but I want to remove the other two, how do I figure out which is the pair?
Watch them closely. Read
Topic: size
Author: katia
Email: mistybleu69@caramail.com
Date: 10 Feb 2000
Time: 17:20:04
Remote Name: modemcable124.134-200-24.mtl.mc.videotron.net
Remote User:
Comments
well all i whant to know is when can u be shure that your litle babys are safe and will servive???
If you are careful, and study this FAQ, you too can raise baby Angelfish!
Topic: breeding pairs
Author: Russ
Email: shmeeee1@aol.com
Date: 29 Feb 2000
Time: 18:00:56
Remote Name: spider-wi063.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:
Comments
Hi, I was wondering if i could have 2 pairs in a 55 gallon tank. Will i be able to let both of the pairs raise their young? Thanks
Probably not. If this works for you, please let me know! Read: What's the ideal setup for a breeding pair?
Topic: spawning
Author: Paulene Blackman
Email: calisto_chick@yahoo.com
Date: 04 Mar 2000
Time: 23:08:46
Remote Name: ch2smc.bellglobal.com
Remote User:
Comments
I am trying to breed angelfish but I am very confused. I know that I have one female and possibly a second my question is that the two that are females are releasing a web like substance I am not sure if that is the eggs that they are laying or what so how can I tell when they have laid their eggs.
Webs? Must be Spiderfish! I've never seen anything like that. Eggs are pin-head size, clear, slightly yellow.
Topic: Water PH
Author: Shannon May
Email: may_tori@hotmail.com
Date: 15 Mar 2000
Time: 20:00:59
Comments
what PH level work the best for breeding angles
See my page on What about water?
Topic:
Author: Steve
Email: Jenath@atu.com.au
Date: 17 Apr 2000
Time: 06:15:18
Comments
Can you tell me the what the detremental effects of adding methylene blue into the tank while the parent's are tending the eggs?
Most breeders say it just isn't necessary, since goodparents are constantly mouthing the fry and keeping things clean. Methylene blue is a poison. It kills the good bugs in your sponge filters. I put in ONE dose in fry tanks and start reducing it the next day by dilution, 1/2 volume per day...
Topic: Tank size
Author: Anne Darragh
Email: Anne_Brian@telus.net
Date: 21 May 2000
Time: 13:52:36
Comments
I'm just startin out - I have a breeding pair of blacks and just bought a breeding pair of silvers. I also have 4 wild silvers which I gather are hard to breed. Someone suggested I divide a tank for the silver pair and the wild angels, and the hormones may stimulate the wilds to breed. How best could I do this? My blacks have a 25 gallon tank now, and I'm trying to get parents to raise babies, but after 7 spawns, the furthest I've gotten is day 4 free swimming ( parents ate eggs, then fry but the reading I've done tells me to hang in there).
Many fancy breeds are totally incapable of rasing their own fry, previous breeders may not have thought this trait was as important as the appearance of the fish. The black and Koi strains I tried couldn't. Now, I only raise strains that CAN still do this: Silver, gold, and German Blue Blushing.
The other problem I had with Koi and Blacks is aggression. They killed each other off before reaching breeding age. I now only raise docile strains.
I have the tall 15 gallon setup you describe, a tall 32 gallon with the wild angels, and a 10 gallon to hopefully raise the next batch of babies in. I suspect if I start gettin good results, I'll stick with with no more than 2-3 pair.
Probably a good idea, 2 pairs (Silver/Gold and the German Blues) give me more fry than I can sell.
Do I need another 20-25 gallon tank now for my new pair? Can I utilize the tall 15 for now or should I mix them with the blacks in a divided tank?
I like tall 15" tanks for pairs. I have kept 2 pairs in a divided 25 gallon tank with an OPAQUE divider... if they can see anything more than shadows, the spawners will work themselves silly in protect mode...
I'm not sure about the parenting abilities of the new fish. How hard shoud I try to get the wilds breeding?
I have no experience with 'wild' Angels, sorry.
The FAQ has helped me so much already. Thanks!
You're welcome.
Topic: buying angels
Author: josh
Email: piggo20@hotmail.com
Date: 19 Jun 2000
Time: 03:26:39
Remote Name: neta.lisp.com.au
Remote User:
Comments
i want to buy some angels and breed them when they mature. could you tell me what size i should buy them at ( i live in australia so pennies and dime size means nothing to me)and how many should i buy is a pet shop ok or should i get them from a breeder
Thanks for the question, I have re-written the ABFAQ to include centimeters and inches thoughout.
