Angelfish aquarium fish: breeding at home is easy! Breeding and raising fry: a description of personal experience with photographs and videos! Step-by-step instructions for breeding angelfish in a community aquarium

It is a generally accepted statement about the benefits of an aquarium in the home: observing the calm and smooth movements of fish in the water has a beneficial effect on a person’s psychological state and has calming properties. All aquarium fish are suitable for the role of “therapists”; angelfish are no exception in this regard. As a rule, the matter does not end only with contemplation of the water world. Sooner or later the desire arises to try to hatch the fry. Reproduction of angelfish is an incredibly interesting process that will interest many.

General information

The keeping of this species of fish in captivity began in 1911. And the first successful experience in breeding offspring took place in Hamburg already in 1914. Then success accompanied the aquarist I. Kvankar. A similar result was achieved a year later by US specialist W.L. Pollin. How angelfish reproduce was known only in Europe: the conditions necessary for spawning for a long time remained secret.

In Russia a long period time could not achieve a positive outcome in the reproduction of angelfish. At home, fry were obtained only in 1928. Success was accompanied by a number of funny accidents: aquarist A. Smirnov did not turn off the water heater before leaving home, as a result of which the water temperature in the aquarium reached 32 degrees. This provoked the beginning of spawning in sexually mature individuals of the described cichlid species.

In cases of angelfish spawning community aquarium, without egg transplantation it will be very difficult to preserve the offspring.

Nowadays, breeding angelfish at home is not particularly difficult. Fish often spawn on their own, without creating special external circumstances, directly in a common aquarium.

As a rule, there are several separate stages of artificial propagation, each of which is very important:

• identification of pairs;
• preparation for spawning;
• angelfish spawning;
• raising fry.

Definition of pairs

To obtain high-quality and healthy offspring, producers must also have these same characteristics. Sexual demorphism in angelfish is weakly expressed, which means that there are no obvious differences between individuals of different sexes. It is especially difficult to distinguish between a female and a male in albino species, as well as fish of golden and marbled colors. This is not difficult to do with standard forms.

Differences between male and female angelfish.

Experts point to a number of signs by which differentiation can be made when these aquarium fish reach the age of sexual maturity:

• females are smaller in size, their body has a somewhat “chopped” build; single front fins; blunt-shaped sexual organ - ovipositor;
• males are distinguished by a larger, rounded body, have a fatty bump on the forehead, forked fins in front, and a pointed genital organ.

You can breed angelfish when they reach sexual maturity, when they become capable of procreation - at the age of one year.

The most effective way is to observe the behavior of sexually mature fish. In this species of cichlids, natural pairing occurs. Being monogamous by nature, they choose a partner from several options. The angelfish that have formed into a union try to stay close to each other, the male individual shows signs of attention and cares for the female.

To carry out breeding work to develop new color forms or consolidate characteristics of interest it is possible to create a breeding tandem artificially. To do this, you need to choose the most prominent representatives and place them in a separate spawning aquarium, where they will eventually begin to reproduce.

After identifying the producers and forming a pair, the transition to the next stage of angelfish breeding occurs.

Preparing for spawning

Breeding animals need to be provided with the most comfortable conditions throughout their lives and fed exclusively with high-quality nutritious food, mainly live or frozen. Since these fish are especially sensitive to temperature conditions, compliance with it is of paramount importance when it comes to the reproduction of angelfish. The temperature in the aquarium must be maintained at 27 degrees.

When using store-bought mixtures, be sure to include live food in the angelfish’s diet.

When choosing a particular type of food for fish that you plan to breed, you need to keep in mind the specific adverse effects of using common and affordable dry food. In case of their constant use adult angelfish are smaller than standard in size, not so intensely colored and lose the ability to reproduce - they are sterile.

Individuals of the opposite sex preparing for spawning should definitely be kept in the same container. In the absence of females, the male does not form viable milk (reproductive products).

If all the above requirements are met, measures can be taken to stimulate spawning. To do this, you need to significantly increase the water temperature - by 4-5 degrees (the maximum permissible value is 32 degrees); carry out regular replacement of a small part of the water - approximately 10% of the total volume - 4 times a week; reduce its hardness by adding boiled or distilled water.

Fish prefer to lay eggs on hard surfaces, so the aquarium should contain large-leaved vegetation or a special pre-mix (plate, cone, bar), which can be made of plastic, wood, baked clay and other materials. In the absence of one, fish can lay eggs on the wall of the aquarium. Then the future livestock will not be able to be moved to the incubator.

Often, ceramic cones or ordinary flower pots are used to set up a spawning area for angelfish.

It is interesting to note that the generally accepted opinion is that it is necessary to use soft water for spawning and rearing angelfish. However, practice contradicts this belief. There is a lot of evidence of successful experience in breeding the offspring of these fish in hard water.

The best option would be if you can separate each breeding pair into a separate container.

After selecting a surface for laying eggs, the family begins to fiercely guard the adjacent territory, and the pregnant female’s abdomen becomes rounded. These behavioral features and appearance directly indicate readiness for spawning.

Spawning process

In most cases, this type of cichlid begins to lay eggs (give birth) in the afternoon, towards evening. The whole process takes a very short period of time and lasts a little less than an hour and a half.

The female, pressing almost closely to the surface, spawns in even rows. The male at this moment repeats the trajectory of the partner’s movement and fertilizes the tightly attached future offspring.

Provided that the eggs are immediately collected and transferred to a separate container, angelfish are capable of spawning every two weeks. In other words, a female’s pregnancy lasts on average no more than 14 days.

Angelfish can easily lay eggs in a common aquarium; if possible, move them to a separate container.

If the spawning pair nevertheless laid eggs in a common aquarium, then it is recommended to remove them and place them in small aquarium. This must be done in order to preserve the masonry from encroachment by other inhabitants of the artificial reservoir; there is no guarantee that the spawning parents will awaken the necessary instincts and be able to properly protect the clutch. In addition, if the larvae, and then the fry, appear in the general aquarium, then preserving them will be almost impossible.

To avoid infection of future fry with fungal diseases, appropriate preparations are added to the water, for example, methylene blue (until the water acquires a clear blue tint) or Sera mycopur (a drop per liter).

It is important to keep in mind that caviar needs a constant flow of oxygen, so it is placed at a distance of approximately 2 cm from the aerator so that air bubbles do not fall on it.

To successfully complete the procedure for moving eggs from a community aquarium, you must comply with next rule: the substrate with eggs should not touch the air even for a split second. Therefore, a glass, cup or container is used, which is immersed in the general aquarium. A surface with caviar is placed there and only then transferred to a pre-prepared vessel.

The question of how many eggs a female lays at a time cannot be answered unambiguously. This indicator is very individual and depends on many external and internal factors. It is generally accepted that the average quantity is 750-900 pieces.

Development of eggs and fry

Clean the clutch by removing unfertilized (white) eggs.

In the period before the larvae hatch, whitened unfertilized eggs must be removed from the incubator, otherwise their presence will cause negative consequences for the entire clutch. If the parents take care of the nest, they carry out this process independently. Otherwise, the procedure must be performed carefully, using a needle or thin tweezers.

On the 2-3rd day, larvae are born, which either fall to the bottom of the container or remain attached to a hard surface using a cord from the egg shell.

On the 4th day, you can already see the head and a small yolk sac in the larvae, through which feeding occurs.

Day 5 is marked by strong elongation of the body, formation of a tail and a significant decrease in the size of the nutritional sac.

Only on the 6th day do the larvae turn into fry. By this time, internal food reserves have been exhausted, the cord breaks, and the fry begin to swim freely.

Depending on the type of angelfish, the entire process of transformation of larvae into fry may vary in duration, sometimes reaching 12 days.

It should be remembered that waste and food debris are removed daily in the incubator to avoid increased ammonia levels and the death of offspring.

Stages of development of angelfish fry from eggs to fully formed fish.

From about 6 days - from the moment of transition to the fry stage - small angelfish need to start feeding. Live dust, Artemia nauplii and similar microorganisms are used as food. The frequency of feeding is 5-6 times a day. As the fry grow, variety is added to their diet (daphnia, ciliates, and others).

Upon reaching the age of one month, the angelfish is gradually transferred to food for adult fish, offering chopped tubifex and small bloodworms as food.

An important condition for maintaining the maximum number of specimens is compliance with certain requirements for the population density of the aquarium. Per 100 liters of water maximum amount monthly/one and a half month old fry is 20 units; in terms of one fish - 4-5 liters.

Reproduction of angelfish at home is amazing interesting process. The mystery of the emergence of new life will leave few people indifferent. The pleasure of observing the metamorphoses occurring with transparent eggs will be a strong impression for the observer and will cause a strong desire to repeat it again. Someone, perhaps these powerful emotions will push towards serious breeding work to develop new and unknown forms of angelfish.

Video on the topic: “Reproduction of angelfish”

An aquarium with fish is very beautiful. Many people want to place a decoration in their home that not only pleases the eye, but also calms them down. nervous system. At the same time, I want to see not just ordinary-looking flocks swimming there, but something interesting and beautiful. One of the fish that is easy to keep, but at the same time beautiful and interesting, is the angelfish.

General form

Angelfish, the reproduction of which interests many aquarists, are representatives of the cichlid family. Their homeland is central part South America. The fish acquired their leaf shape from the fact that they lived in heavily overgrown reservoirs, in which it is difficult to move with a different body shape. In an aquarium, angelfish grow up to 15 centimeters. Under ideal conditions, it can be about 26 centimeters.

At proper care These fish live about 10 years. However, there have been cases where angelfish died at the age of 20 years. This longevity is one of the reasons to choose this particular fish as a pet. And, of course, the lifespan of an aquarium inhabitant in most cases depends on the owner, on how well and correctly he will care for his pets.

Care

Long life of angelfish, reproduction, excellent health depend on many factors. For example, it is very important to support high temperature water – 24-28 degrees. The fish will survive a drop to 18 degrees, but will not feel too comfortable. The height of the aquarium must be at least 50 centimeters, and its volume must be at least a hundred liters. A smaller container is quite acceptable, but then you should not expect the fish to grow large. Water pH is 6.5-7.4. It is also important to choose the right plants for the aquarium in which angelfish live. Reproduction occurs mostly with the help of plant leaves, so they are extremely important. Underwater leaves and twigs must be placed quite densely, while leaving free spaces.

Aquarium equipment

Since it is important for these fish to maintain a high temperature, it is necessary to equip the aquarium with a heater. When choosing, pay attention to the temperature range to which this device can heat water.

In addition, it is necessary to install a compressor, a filter, and a thermometer in order to be able to monitor the temperature. If the aquarium is in the shade, it is necessary to install lighting. It is worth remembering that angelfish are quite shy fish, so you should turn on the lighting carefully or not turn it on at all. It is advisable to cover the top of the aquarium (or purchase a container with a lid), since the fish can jump out of the water.

Feeding

Reproduction of angelfish in an aquarium implies, among other things, the need to feed them properly. However, these fish are not too picky about food. They eat live food well: tubifex, bloodworms and other types of this food. At the same time, they calmly switch to dry food. However, you need to keep in mind that the shape of the body does not allow the angelfish to lift food from the bottom. Therefore, it is best to purchase types of food that will float on the surface and sink very slowly. For proper development For angelfish, the reproduction of which depends on its physical condition, it is important not to overfeed it. They are usually fed twice a day. Keep in mind that these creatures do not understand when they are full. They may eat much more food than they really need. In this case, the fish will become obese and lose their ability to reproduce. To prevent this disease, it is necessary to give them a “fasting day” once a week. This means that they do not need to be fed at all that day.

Pair formation

For those who are interested in breeding angelfish at home, it is very important to determine the sex of the existing individuals. However, this is quite difficult to do with angelfish. More precisely, before the onset of puberty it is completely impossible. The main difference between adults is the dorsal fin. In males it is more elongated. In addition, the number of transverse stripes on it should not be less than 7 for males, and no more than 6 for females.

But even experienced aquarists find it difficult to correctly determine the sex of an angelfish. For this reason, it is recommended to purchase either individuals that have already given birth to offspring, or to take an already formed pair. If this is not possible, you need to take a dozen fry with wide and long fins. Among such a flock there will definitely be representatives of both sexes. These fish will form pairs themselves, giving the owner the opportunity to decide for himself which of them to use for reproduction.

It is not recommended to break up existing couples, as this is a strong stress, after which the fish may never enter into a “relationship” again. It’s easy to recognize a couple - they stick together, the male drives the female into corners, and swim everywhere after each other.

Spawning

It is very important to know that it is necessary to equip a special aquarium for angelfish spawning. Reproduction in a community aquarium is almost impossible for these fish.

It is advisable to feed a couple of breeders with live food for the rest of their lives. IN as a last resort- frozen. Fish fed dry food are often not capable of reproduction; big size, have a pale color.

With proper care, angelfish are able to lay eggs every 14 days. But for this you need to remove the laid eggs.

To stimulate spawning, the water temperature is increased by 2 degrees, and up to 10 percent of the water is changed several times a week. It is advisable to add boiled water with reduced hardness. Aquarium fish Angelfish, whose reproduction interests us, prefer to lay eggs on plants, so the container should contain large leaves, pieces of plastic, and tiles.

Spawning itself most often lasts from 40 to 90 minutes. The female lays eggs on the cleaned surface of the leaf, after which the male fertilizes her. The process is repeated several times; a total of 700-800 eggs can be laid in one clutch.

Incubator equipment

Angelfish, which reproduce almost without human intervention, need help caring for the fry. The fact is that they are able to take care of their offspring independently for only a few days. After this, their parental instinct simply falls asleep. After spawning, they care for the eggs, clean them of dirt, and protect them from fish. Sometimes they continue care until the fry are able to feed themselves. Unfortunately, this happens quite rarely. Often the parents eat their own eggs just a few hours after spawning. This is why it is best to transfer the eggs to a separate incubator.

It is a small aquarium, 50% filled with water from the one in which the parents are kept. The remaining volume is distilled water. The incubator must be equipped with a heater that will warm the water to 30 degrees. An air sprayer is also required. The caviar must be placed in the finished container so that the flow from the sprayer washes it, but air does not enter.

To exclude fungal infection, you need to add methylene blue or special drugs. Duckweed will be useful as a biofilter. In addition, ciliates will breed in these thickets, which are excellent food for fry.

Caring for fry

The shells of the eggs rupture after a couple of days, turning into ropes on which the larvae hang. After 4 days, you can already see the heads and yolk sacs from which the larvae receive food. They move constantly, trying to free themselves.

After a week or two, the fry gain freedom. Now they need feeding. To do this, it is necessary to prepare in advance live food for the fry: daphnia, ciliates, and artemia. Babies need to be fed 5-6 times a day. In addition, you need to place a filter in the incubator, covered with a nylon stocking for safety. The density of fry should be about 2 pieces. per liter of water. If there are more of them, then you need to put them in another aquarium. Before one feeding, change a third of the water, removing the remaining food beforehand.

After 30-45 days, small angelfish acquire a characteristic shape, after which they need to be seated with a density of 4-5 liters of water per fry. Fish of this age are fed small bloodworms, live food, and chopped tubifex. Very soon you can move the fry to a regular aquarium for this species.

Kinds

Angelfish, the care and reproduction of which is not very simple, have several species. The most common of them are: black, gold, white, blue, voile, koi, marbled and red.

All these species differ only in appearance, but maintenance, care, and breeding remain the same for all.

Angelfish are perhaps the most recognizable among aquarium fish OK. The characteristic body shape, reminiscent of a crescent, elegant coloring and relative unpretentiousness ensures their popularity among aquarists of all levels - from beginners to sophisticated professionals. And almost any owner of these wonderful fish sooner or later has a desire to get offspring from them and raise them. The article will discuss the reproduction of angelfish at home.

Sex determination in angelfish and pair formation

Sexual dimorphism in angelfish is not pronounced, i.e. males and females are almost the same in appearance. It is impossible to determine gender before the onset of puberty, and even then it is quite difficult. Aquarists joke about this: “If it swam, it means a male, if it swam, it means a female.” However, in adult angelfish it is possible to determine the sex in most cases, although this can usually only be done by those who know the anatomy of fish well. Let's try to figure out what characteristics determine the gender of fish of this genus:

1. In mature males, there is a fatty hump on the forehead;
2. Males have a more convex pectoral carina;
3. If you look at the fish from the front, then the lower part of its body resembles a wedge, and in the male this wedge is sharp, and in the female it is blunt;
4. The diagnostic sign is the genital papilla (in females it is called the ovipositor) - a growth with an opening located between the anus and the anal fin, through which reproductive products come out. In females it is larger and thicker, while in males it is correspondingly thinner, sharper and directed backwards. These differences are especially clearly visible during spawning, as well as before and immediately after it;
5. The distance from the genital papilla to the anal fin is much shorter in males than in females. In fact, in males the fin keel grows directly from the genital papilla, and since in striped angelfish the papilla is usually located at the base of the central stripe, we can say that in males the anal fin starts from the base of the central stripe, and in females - behind it;

Male angelfish differ from females in having a more elongated, long dorsal fin. In its rear part there are dark transverse stripes interspersed with gaps. The number of these stripes in females is no more than 6, and in males there are no less than 7.

However, sometimes it is impossible to reliably determine the gender of fish based on these characteristics, especially in artificially bred forms with marbled, golden, albino coloring. In such cases, they try to determine the sex of the fish by their behavior when they form pairs and begin spawning in a common aquarium. But this does not always work: in some cases, in the absence of males, females play their role in mating games and spawning, and same-sex couples even lay eggs (which, naturally, remain unfertilized).

Here we can advise the following: if you want to purchase an adult breeder fish, choose an individual with characteristic features and behavior, or a fish that has already given birth to offspring. It’s even better if it’s an established couple right away. If you are going to raise breeders yourself, purchase 8-10 fry with wide and long fins, among them there will definitely be individuals of both sexes, and in the future they will split into pairs themselves, and you can decide which of them to use for further breeding.

Angelfish prefer to form pairs on their own, choosing a partner from several individuals of the opposite sex. But the aquarist may well choose a pair of an existing young specimen. When a male and female angelfish of similar age and size find themselves alone in an aquarium, as a rule, they begin to “build love.” It is not recommended to separate ready-made couples and select other partners - this is extremely stressful for fish, and they do not always form new unions. It is easy to identify a formed pair: the fish stay together, swim in single file, and the male begins to drive the female into the corners of the aquarium.

Raising spawners and preparing for spawning

Fish that are planned for further breeding must be kept in optimal conditions. For angelfish, the water temperature is of particular importance, which should not be lower than 27°C. Second most important factor- quality of food, future producers must eat live food (bloodworms, tubifex, daphnia, etc.) or frozen food throughout their lives. Angelfish raised exclusively on dry food are usually smaller in size, their coloration is paler, and they are often incapable of reproduction.

IN good conditions Angelfish can spawn every two weeks, provided the eggs are removed immediately.

Before spawning, males and females must be kept together, since the preparation of males for spawning and the maturation of their reproductive products takes place only in the presence of females.

Spawning is stimulated by increasing the water temperature by 2°C, frequent changes (3-4 times a week, 10%), it is better to add distilled or boiled water to reduce its hardness in the aquarium. The aquarium should contain large-leaved plants; you can also place a piece of plastic or ceramic tile there on which the angelfish can spawn. Typically, fish of this genus are not placed in a separate spawning tank, allowing them to spawn in a general aquarium.

A pair ready for reproduction can be recognized by the female’s rounded abdomen and changed behavior - future parents begin to zealously guard their territory and clean the surface on which they will spawn.

Spawning

As a rule, spawning occurs in the evening and lasts from 40 minutes to one and a half hours. The female lays eggs on a previously cleaned surface, usually in even rows, the male swims up behind her and fertilizes these eggs, and so on several times, in turn. The total number of eggs is 700–800.

Incubator equipment and egg development

Angelfish, like other cichlids, care for their offspring, but their parental instinct is not so strong, and this care usually lasts only 2-3 days. Having spawned, the spawners begin to protect the eggs from other fish in the aquarium, fan the eggs with their pectoral and dorsal fins, pick up the eggs that have fallen from the substrate and eat the white ones. In some cases, they take care of their offspring until they begin to feed on their own. I must say that this care is very useful for the fry. But, unfortunately, such exemplary behavior is rather an exception to the rule, and usually producers simply eat the eggs a few hours after spawning or after dark. So if you don't want to risk finding out how caring parents are your angelfish, it is better to transfer the eggs to a separate aquarium 2-3 hours after spawning.

An incubator for caviar is prepared as follows: a small aquarium with a capacity of 5–10 liters is half filled with water from the aquarium where the breeders are kept. The second half is added with distilled water. A heater set to a temperature of 30°C and an air sprayer are placed in the incubator, and after an hour, the substrate with eggs is lowered into it so that the eggs are washed by the current from the sprayer, but air bubbles do not fall on it.

To prevent fungal infection of eggs, add methylene blue to the water until it turns intensely blue or Sera mycopur at the rate of 1 drop per liter. It is useful to place small plants in the incubator, such as duckweed or riccia, they will act as a biofilter, preventing the level of nitrogen compounds in the aquarium from jumping when the fry begin to grow quickly. In addition, ciliates and rotifers will multiply in the thickets, which will then become food for the fry. Lighting should be around the clock. Even if there are no plants in the incubator, you should leave the night light on at night.

The next day, the whitened eggs are removed.

Development of fry and care for them

After two days, the shells of the eggs rupture and turn into sticky ropes on which the larvae hang, moving with the help of a tail similar to a flagellum. On about the fourth day, the larvae can distinguish their heads and yolk sacs, from the reserves of which they feed. The larva constantly moves, trying to free itself from the cord that attaches it.

After 7–12 days, the cords break off and the fry begin to swim. By this time, the yolk sac is almost empty, and it is time to start feeding the fry. It is impossible to fully feed them with egg yolk and dry food, so live food is prepared in advance: ciliates and daphnia are bred, and on the 5th day after spawning, they begin to incubate artemia. The fry are fed 5–6 times a day. Now you need to place a small filter in the aquarium, and to prevent the fry from being drawn in, the lower part of it is covered, for example, with a nylon stocking. If there are a lot of fry, some will need to be removed from the aquarium; their density should now be no more than two per liter of water, otherwise the level of ammonia and nitrites may rise sharply. Water changes are carried out once a day by a third, before feeding, after removing the remaining food from the bottom with a siphon.

In about a month or a month and a half, the fry will acquire the shape characteristic of an angelfish, after which they will again need to be seated in a container at the rate of 4–5 liters of water per fry. At this age, they are fed with chopped tubifex, small bloodworms, they can begin gradually accustoming them to live food, and after a short time they can be placed in a common “adult” aquarium.

As you can see, breeding angelfish is a troublesome, painstaking, but very interesting task. Even if you don’t get everything right the first time, you will have a chance to try again, because a couple of healthy fish in good conditions spawn often. And sooner or later, the persistent aquarist will be able to boast of a flock of bright young angelfish, which he raised from eggs. Now all that remains is for them to find new house, thereby increasing the number of lovers of these amazing fish.

Getting offspring is always a crucial and exciting moment in keeping aquarium fish. Many questions arise regarding the placement of a female or parental pair (leave in general conditions, transplanting into isolated housing, how to distinguish a female angelfish from a male), preparing individuals for the start of spawning (feeding, temperature conditions, plants or putanka). Raising fry also has its own nuances. Now about everything in more detail.

Pairing: natural and artificial

The key to the success of the venture is the health of the producers and how to correctly distinguish a female from a male angelfish. Selecting the father and mother of a fish replenishment carries with it some difficulties. Before sexual maturity, it is almost impossible to determine the difference between an individual and one sex, due to the weak expression of dimorphism (not everyone can distinguish the sex). A pair is created once for the entire duration of its existence.

Natural way

Regular observation of the habits of adult individuals will give certain results in selection. If there are several fish in the aquarium, it is possible to notice isolated pairs sticking close to each other. The male strives to win the full attention of the female and court her. This is where gender differences lie.

Artificial pairing

With the development of selection characteristics (breeding new colors, types of fins, consolidation of successful variations obtained), a female angelfish with the required pronounced characteristics is selected and moved to a separate container. Next, the choice falls on the male who meets the necessary criteria. The selected unit is transplanted to the previously isolated one. It is important to have time to carry out this operation before the natural emergence of attachment. After some time, the migrants multiply.

Preparatory moments

There are conditions that, if followed, will help you achieve the desired result when breeding angelfish without any extra effort.

• Quality nutrition is required throughout life cycle starting from the fry. Feeding exclusively dry ingredients is fraught with small size, loss of color intensity, and reproductive dysfunction (infertility). The diet must be composed with a predominance of live and frozen food.
• Temperature is the second most important factor in the reproduction of angelfish. These aquarium fish are very sensitive to even small changes. Water with a warmth of 27–28 degrees is most optimal for this. To prepare to reproduce.
• Keeping representatives of both sexes together promotes the maturation of milk in males (the formation of working products of the angelfish reproductive system does not occur in the absence of females).
• Ideally, placing all pairs prepared for spawning in separate vessels is encouraged. This measure affects the quantitative value of the brood (underwater neighbors general content, and the planned producers are capable of destroying the brood at the stages of development from eggs to mature mallow).
• When setting up a separate spawning area, clay, ceramic, wooden or plastic objects are used in the form of cones, plates and blocks for the surface for placing angelfish eggs. This addition is connected with the preference of angelfish to spawn on hard surfaces. In nature, broadleaf species are used for reproduction in a community aquarium. underwater plants. In the absence of suitable surfaces, eggs can be deposited on internal aquarium equipment or on the wall.

Video about preparing an aquarium for breeding.

Compliance with all of the above conditions allows you to begin provoking a couple to spawn:

1. A gradual increase in temperature by four degrees, but not higher than +32°C.
2. Feeding exclusively on live derivatives (bloodworms, tubifex, daphnia) with an increase in diet.
3. Change water by ten percent of the total volume four times a week, with a decrease in hardness (use after boiling).

As soon as the family decides on the location of the display, work begins on thoroughly cleaning the selected surface and protecting the adjacent surroundings. The female looks noticeably rounded. All this indicates the imminent start of the process of breeding angelfish in a common aquarium.

Calf throwing

They mostly give birth in the evening hours. Long labor lasts up to two hours. A pregnant angelfish, smoothly moving along the tidy plane to the upper edge, lays a chain of eggs, which are then fertilized by the male. The number can reach up to one thousand pieces. From the beginning of laying until the offspring become independent, adult fish cannot be disturbed. Possible provocation of a stressful state, they will stop spawning. There are frequent cases when they spawn in a joint aquarium with other species (protection from those who like to indulge in other people’s caviar takes away a large number of strength along with stress, leads to betrayal of one’s own offspring).

Watch the video of how the angelfish laid eggs on the leaves.

By observing the effect produced (angelfish spawning), you can accurately determine the reproductive capabilities of the producers for the future. Which of the angelfish laid eggs, whether they fertilized them, and after a couple of days the feasibility of the next spawnings differs. It should be remembered that the effectiveness of reproduction can be revealed after several unsuccessful attempts.

From eggs to fry

Natural care from the moment when the angelfish lay eggs and fertilization of the eggs is considered parental care. The couple's parents are trying to save the eggs:

The care of adult fish does not end there; it will continue until the moment of independent feeding in the fry of the angelfish. This happens after a week or a week and a half, when the larvae appear. In the future, the producers, if they have been repelled, return to old place. Angelfish are again ready to reproduce their own kind. In this sequence, you can receive replenishments periodically, with an interval of one to two thirds of the month.

The inherent nuances should be taken into account: even under ideal conditions, about twenty percent of the fry die, frequent spawning conditions quickly deplete the adults. They need to take breaks. There are situations in which the spawned pair eats the eggs. In such situations, the separation of eggs is used immediately after the end of spawning time.

Artificial care conditions

When throwing eggs with angelfish in an underwater dormitory, it is necessary to remove the surface used (plant leaf, clay pot or plastic strip) with the eggs into a separate prepared container. When a family is deposited in advance for spawning, the adults are returned back at the end of the process.

Now all care for the young falls on the shoulders of the owner

A separate vessel (five to fifteen liters capacity) should be prepared as follows:

• Water is taken from a common aquarium and added distilled or boiled in a ratio of 50/50 (percentage), with a drug dissolved in it to prevent fungal infection.
• A device is installed to maintain the temperature (about thirty degrees).
• The aerator is placed so that air bubbles do not fall on the caviar, but at the same time it is washed with a slight current.
• Lighting is provided around the clock, without much brightness.
• If possible, small upland plants (duckweed) are placed to serve as a biofilter. natural origin to regulate the level of nitrogen compounds during the growth of fry. In their thickets, ciliates and rotifers will be able to breed for subsequent feeding of local inhabitants.

One day after moving, spoiled eggs should be removed. After another two days, the larvae get rid of the supporting shell and hatch. Until the seventh day they remain attached in place by means of a flagellum. Having consumed the entire contents of the yolk sac (feeding began immediately after hatching), the larvae grow to the fry stage and master free swimming. From this moment feeding of the fry begins.

Caring for the new generation

First, let’s find out what to feed the fry. The first food for angelfish fry is live dust (ciliates). Dry food for raising fry is also produced. Their use is not particularly recommended; at this stage of development, live food is preferable, promoting the formation of stronger and faster growth and development. The next step is to introduce the artery into the diet.

Reaching a mobile state by the brood serves as a signal to make some adjustments.

• A not very powerful filter is installed with an improvement to protect the fry from getting inside (as an option, a nylon stocking is used). Or frequent changes of boiled water are made.
• A large number of young animals are placed in additional containers. The population density is allowed two units per liter of water space.
• Even the water on the filter should be changed once a day before distributing food by one third of the total volume, having previously cleaned it of food residues from the previous meal using a siphon.
• As they grow (after a month and a half), a repeat operation is performed to seat the young individuals. The criteria become more stringent, up to 5 liters per head, due to the increase in size and the acquisition of a flattened shape, similar to adult parameters.

During this period, cut bloodworms and tubifex begin to serve as food. A little later, the young animals are released into the common house.

Breeding angelfish comes with additional costs, both time and material. For all its troubles and painstaking nature, there is genuine interest in this process. Not everything always works out the first time; success may be delayed. With each new spawning comes an understanding of the rightness and wrongness of certain actions. This is how the experience of breeding angelfish at home is laid with the choice of a more successful method. Suitable for a specific owner, and having an individual character of obtaining bright underwater individuals, raised independently from small eggs.

Breeding salaria will require the installation of a fairly large aquarium. This is necessary for the fish to feel safe. Using small containers reduces the likelihood successful breeding. Choose a tall aquarium with a volume of 70 - 100 liters.

Please note that they usually live in soft water, you need to monitor its acidity. To create necessary conditions, you can use a special reverse osmosis filter. Do not try to use chemical reagents to give the water the desired properties, this may kill the inhabitants of the aquarium. Try to maintain the water temperature required for comfortable reproduction from 22 to 27 degrees.

For angelfish to be effective, try to feed them 2 – 3 times a day. Pour a small amount of special dry food into the aquarium and leave it for 5 minutes. After this time, remove all remaining food.

Males and females

To breed angelfish, you need to place two individuals in an aquarium - a male and a female; place the remaining representatives of these fish in a separate aquarium. If the fish are very young, it will be almost impossible to determine their sex; differences appear only over time, wait for this moment. There are many ways to differentiate between a male and a female. For example, the male's dorsal fin, as a rule, is slightly longer than that of the female, in addition, it has more stripes. Female angelfish are larger in size; this sign is one of the most indicative. Also pay attention to the head of the angelfish. In females it has a smooth, sometimes concave shape, while in males there is some convexity in the frontal part. If you do not want to understand the structural features of these fish, you can buy a pair of male and female in advance for breeding them.

Reproduction

By placing a couple of angelfish in a separate aquarium, you need to create the necessary conditions for their reproduction. These fish may produce offspring within a few days, but the wait may take weeks. Feed them more often during this period. Try to carefully ensure that the acidity of the water is normal. Ideally, the pH of aquarium water for these fish is 6.7 – 6.9. Try to at least keep it in the range of 5 – 8. If the chosen pair of fish does not produce offspring, place them in the same tank again and carefully monitor their behavior. Over time, you will find pairs forming that will constantly swim close to each other. Place this pair separately and wait for breeding.

Offspring

Angelfish are very attentive to their own offspring, so there is no need to interfere in the process of caring for them. Moreover, excessive attention can provoke fish to eat the fry. Try to feed the fish so that they do not feel hungry. If you do find offspring being eaten, you will need to move them to a separate container and monitor them yourself. At first, a one-liter jar filled with filtered water is enough for this. Try to keep the jar in dark place. As soon as the fry begin to swim on their own, place them in a larger vessel (about 10 liters) and care for them as for adults.

Sklaria are very well adapted for breeding in captivity, that is, in aquariums. You don't need anything supernatural for this. It is enough to ensure cleanliness and temperature conditions water in the home pond and provide the fish with live food. If these conditions are met, your pets will begin to breed within six months. Very often the first attempts do not lead to anything good. There are a number of nuances that occur when breeding angelfish.

Nuances of breeding

For all their charm, sklaria are very bad parents. At certain times, they begin to eat their young. That is why it is recommended to use a separate aquarium for breeding them, in order to avoid problems. It is appropriate to breed them only if there is no other possibility.

Reproduction of angelfish

Like many species of fish, angelfish reproduce using eggs. When the female realizes that the moment of spawning is close, she begins to look for a place suitable for this process. In an aquarium, this can be the surface of leaves and stones, or the surface itself. Some aquarists place oblong thin green plastic or plexiglass on the fish, resembling natural plants. The chosen place is thoroughly cleaned of plaque and debris. Only when the work is completed does the female proceed directly to the process of throwing eggs.

Laying eggs on a cleared surface occurs with maximum responsibility. The dad swims behind the mother and fertilizes each egg laid. Actually, this is where their parental instincts end. There are no guarantees that they will protect the offspring, much less eat them at the embryonic stage. This is why it is necessary to move the eggs to another aquarium. If this is not done, then there are no guarantees of preservation of the offspring.

The eggs should be moved very carefully so as not to damage them. Much depends on the surface on which it was deposited. If it is algae, then it is best to cut off the leaf; if it is a stone or an artificial object, then simply carefully move it to another aquarium. If the outcome is favorable, after 2-3 days you will see the first movements in the eggs.

But you should know that angelfish fry are very sensitive to microorganisms, and therefore, to avoid the death of all offspring, antibacterial agents, such as blue, should be added to the water.

Angelfish are a favorite fish among freshwater aquarists because of their unique appearance. With triangular bodies, wide stripes and long fins, these easy-to-keep fish are a color to any freshwater aquarium. Native to South America and primarily found in the Amazon, these attractive fish have adapted well to being kept in properly equipped aquariums that suit their needs. Given the right conditions in the aquarium, angelfish owners can witness angelfish hatch from eggs and grow into adults. Once you learn how to breed angelfish, you will succeed.

Steps

Part 1

Creation the right conditions for breeding

Set up a freshwater aquarium large enough to prepare the angelfish for breeding. Try to choose an aquarium that is at least 75 liters, and ideally over 100 liters. Your pair of angelfish will do their best given enough space. In a confined space, angelfish will not feel safe and will refuse to reproduce.

• Also try placing the angelfish in a tall aquarium. Adult angelfish can reach up to 30 centimeters in height from dorsal to anal fin, meaning you need to accommodate their unusual size.

1. Check the pH of the water. IN natural conditions Habitats Freshwater angelfish live in soft, slightly acidic water. For achievement best results ensure that the pH level in the aquarium is between 4.7 and 8.7, and ideally between 6.5 and 6.9. Angelfish are relatively hardy when it comes to pH and will tolerate a wide range of water conditions, but you need to try to create a healthy environment to get a happy breeding pair.

   • If the pH level of the water is not ideal, a deionization or reverse osmosis filter may help. They are usually installed on your water supply and range in price from fairly cheap to extremely expensive. Be that as it may, they are effective.
   • Try not to use chemicals to change pH levels if possible. The chemical option of pH regulation very dramatically changes the alkalinity or acidity of the water, and angelfish are sensitive to this. Angelfish may refuse to reproduce or even die if the pH levels change too dramatically from one to another.

2. Adjust the water temperature. Again, because angelfish are so adaptable, they tolerate a wide range of temperatures. But they thrive at their favorite temperature of 22°-27°C, so it's a good idea to stick to somewhere around 26°C.

   • Be aware of the effect of water temperature on angelfish. Warmer water has a better effect on immune system angelfish, and colder temperatures increase their life expectancy.

3. Install a good filter in your aquarium. Angelfish are ideally designed to withstand strong currents, but be careful of using too strong a filter, which can wear out the fish unnecessarily. It is better to use a sponge filter, a gravel filter, or both. This way, your angelfish will have plenty of energy left over for love, and their brood, when they emerge, will not be sucked into the filter.

   • Refresh at least 20% of the water every week as part of your regular aquarium cleaning routine.

4. Feed your angelfish properly. Angelfish are usually not very picky eaters, but they do like live food and have a fairly good appetite. Make sure to feed the angelfish at least 2-3 times a day, without overfeeding.

Part 2

starting the breeding process

Determine the sex of the angelfish in order to place a pair for reproduction. Determining the sex of young angelfish is almost impossible, so don't even bother. In older angelfish, the sex can be determined by the anal tube. In males it is smaller and more pointed, almost triangular. Females are larger and squarer, like an eraser on a pencil.

Use general signs to determine the sex of the angelfish. Examination of the anal tubes is the only most reliable way gender determination. But if you consider this in conjunction with other signs, you may find it easier to determine the sex of the angelfish. Just remember not to rely on the only one sign when determining gender - you need to see the whole picture.

• Females are more rounded, while males are more angular.
• The dorsal fins of females are slightly curved back, while in males they stand straight at an angle of almost 90 degrees to the head.
• Females hold the anal fin closer to the body, while males protrude it more.
• Females have a more even head tilt, while males often have a pronounced bump.

1. Alternatively, purchase a breeding pair. If you don't know much about males and females, it may be easier to buy a ready-made breeding pair. In this case, make sure that the couple is young enough to produce good offspring. This is a more expensive option than trying to sex your fish yourself, but is often a more reliable and effective option for rapid breeding.

   If you are keeping more than 2 fish, wait for them to pair up. This may take 6-7 months or even longer (for angelfish that are wilder or weaker). In a large aquarium, you will notice a male and female forming a pair when they begin to shy away from the rest of their brethren. Wait 1-2 days to be sure that they are a couple.

   Isolate the pair in a separate breeding tank. Make sure the water is chemical composition the same as in a general aquarium. Angelfish feel safer and more in the mood to reproduce if they are not disturbed. Place them in a 75-gallon aquarium placed at chest or eye level. This way the fish will be less distracted and will definitely be happier.

   • In the breeding aquarium, provide a surface on which the angelfish can lay their eggs. A spawning cone, sponge or just a piece of slate are often options chosen by aquarists. It happens, for example, that angelfish lay eggs directly on the filter.

Part 3

waiting for spawning

1. Wait for the pair to begin spawning. Sometimes pairs begin to lay eggs just a few days after being deposited in the spawning aquarium. In other cases, it may take several weeks of waiting and require some stimulation to get them comfortable and willing to breed. Here are some things you can do to encourage reproduction:

   • Raise the temperature a few degrees if it is below 27°C.
   • Perform a 75% water change, preparing it thoroughly and checking that the pH level and softness of the water are close to those to which the angelfish are accustomed.
   • Feed them a little more than usual with high-quality frozen dry food.
   • Give them more security by adding additional plants, spawning sponges, and other fibrous decontaminated surfaces.
   • Try using an aquarium bigger size, if yours has a volume of 75 liters or less.
   • Place another angelfish or a couple of angelfish nearby, but still separate. Sometimes the sight of other angelfish causes a pair to reproduce.

2. If all else fails, change partners in the pair. If you have been waiting in vain and tried all the methods described above, perhaps it’s time to start choosing a pair again. There is a possibility that the couple is incompatible, so it is worth choosing other partners for each fish. Try putting them back into the community aquarium and waiting for them to form new pairs.

   Let the angelfish raise its young if you wish. Angelfish usually take care of their offspring, so trust them with them and try not to disturb them. Any minimal stress or unusual activity can lead to angelfish eating their offspring.

   • While the couple is raising their offspring, feed them as before, taking into account that they will not be as hungry. Remove uneaten food immediately after feeding and do your best to keep the water clean and uncontaminated.
   • From time to time it happens that a couple eats its offspring. If this happens, you have no other alternative than removing the spawning cone or piece of shale with eggs to another aquarium with identical water quality in order to raise the fish artificially.

3. Raise fish artificially if necessary. Transfer the eggs to a clean 4-liter aquarium with medium-sized oxygen bubbles. Treat 100% filtered water with a fungicide, followed by acriflavine, an antibacterial agent. Place a piece of shale or sponge with eggs in the aquarium near the oxygen supply point, tilting the eggs towards the bottom. Consider keeping the aquarium in the dark to prevent dangerous growth bacteria.

   Wait until the fry hatch after about 60 hours at a temperature of 27° C. At this stage they will simply squirm and not need food. After 5 days of this stage, they will begin to swim freely and try new foods (brine shrimp are good). It is best to feed little and often. After the brood begins to swim in a school, it must be transplanted into a medium-sized aquarium (10-40 l.).

• Since angelfish are sensitive to chemicals, the aquarium should be balanced if possible. naturally. Water conditioner is less harmful than most chemicals and can help balance your aquarium by neutralizing harmful chlorine and metals in the water.
• An alternative to purchasing a breeding pair is to purchase 10-12 young angelfish. They will form pairs and begin to reproduce. Pairs will stay together and lay eggs every few weeks.
• When breeding angelfish, it is better to use sponge filters. They filter water best and are easy to wash and clean during partial water changes. Small angelfish fry will not be sucked in by such a filter.
• When researching angelfish breeding, try different techniques if the fish refuse to breed. Raise the water temperature a few degrees, change at least 70% of the water during a partial water change, and try feeding your fish live or frozen dry food.

Warnings

• When breeding angelfish, do not place gravel on the bottom of the aquarium. If the female lays her eggs on the gravel, the eggs may be damaged or washed away when cleaning the tank.
• Do not forget to regularly perform partial water changes in the aquarium with angelfish. The breeding pair is very sensitive to pollution and will not want to breed in dirty water.
• Don't produce abrupt changes water temperature in an aquarium with angelfish. This may cause shock to the fish. If you need to increase the temperature to stimulate reproduction, do it slowly and by just a few degrees.

Angelfish are South American fish of the cichlid family with an original crescent-shaped body shape, very popular among aquarists. Those who have become the happy owner of these aquarium inhabitants and plan to breed them may find it useful detailed information about how they reproduce at home.

Sex differences

Of course, it is impossible to breed fish without having an idea who is in front of you - a female or a male. Sexual maturity in angelfish occurs when they reach the age of 10–12 months. The time of puberty directly depends on the conditions in which the fish live, on the size of the aquarium, as well as on the quality of care.

Sexual dimorphism in angelfish is weak, so determining sex can be a problem for the owner.

Did you know? Angelfish came to Europe from South America at the beginning of the 20th century, and they were first able to propagate them in the 1920s. 20 years later, after a positive assessment by aquarists, angelfish began to be bred en masse. Today they are one of the most popular inhabitants of home aquariums.

The sex of fish can only be determined by comparing several specimens based on the following distinctive features:

• the dorsal fin is longer in males, shorter and more rounded in females;
• males have a larger number of stripes on the back of the fin;
• the forehead in males is convex, with a fatty growth, in females it is concave;
• “boys” have a denser and larger body;
• “girls” have a tubercle near the genitals (in the area of ​​the anus, behind the paired pelvic fins), while “boys” have a pointed and thin genital organ;
• strip that runs from dorsal fin through the eye, in females it is more direct.

To determine sex as accurately as possible, as many of these characteristics as possible should be assessed.

Pairing

Angelfish choose a mate once for the rest of their lives. At home, the aquarium owner can help the pets form a pair or create the necessary conditions for the fish to mate naturally.

Naturally

As we have already noted, it is not always possible to accurately determine the sex of an angelfish. In addition, the literature describes cases when males, being in a group, when there is a shortage of females, begin to imitate their behavior, or when two females live, one can imitate the actions of the male.

If you plan for the fish to create a pair on their own, you need to purchase an angelfish under the age of one year in a group of 6 individuals.

In this case, the team should be selected in this way:

• 2 individuals - large in size;
• 2 - medium size;
• 2 - small.

With a high probability, with such a selection you will be able to choose 2 females and 2 males. For a comfortable existence of 6 individuals, you will need an aquarium with a minimum capacity of 150 liters.

Artificial

If the owner of the aquarium managed to accurately determine the sex of the fish, he can place the female and male from a common aquarium into a separate one with a capacity of 70–90 liters, and create the necessary conditions for spawning - by gradually raising the temperature to 27–29 ° C and frequently changing the water by a third.

Future parents need to be provided with high-quality feeding in slightly larger volumes than before resettlement.

These fish become very attached to each other, so the separation of a formed pair before or after spawning can cause them severe stress.

Did you know? You can often see angelfish touching their lips to each other. From the outside it looks like they are kissing. However, this is not at all true - this is one of the ways males fight for territory.

Preparing for spawning

After a pair has formed, the fish begin to prepare the area for spawning. To do this, they clean the spawning area of ​​their choice from algae and dirt, and then proceed to protect it from penetration by other inhabitants of the aquarium.
Before breeding fish, you need to make sure that the aquarium or spawning tank has plants with vertically growing leaves (at an angle of 45–60°) - they are necessary for attaching eggs. Also used for these purposes clay pots, PVC pipes, pieces of slate, plexiglass. They are set at the specified angle.

Optimal conditions for spawning:

• water acidity - pH 6.8–7.2;
• temperature - 26–28°C;
• hardness - 2°dH;
• duration daylight hours- no more than 8–12 hours;
• presence of good aeration.

Breeding angelfish at home

These aquarium inhabitants can be bred in a general aquarium or in a separate spawning tank. The latter option is preferable, since this way you can achieve better safety of the offspring.

In a separate spawning area

If you choose the option of moving a couple to a spawning ground, you will be able to observe from beginning to end the process of spawning and hatching of small fish from eggs. Here the female and male will not be disturbed by other aquarium inhabitants, and they will not need to be distracted by protecting the eggs.
After the female prepares the place, she begins spawning - she rubs her belly against a leaf or glass, moving upward, and leaves a transparent trail of eggs. She puts caviar in portions. The total number can range from 100 to 1 thousand eggs - their number depends on the age of the female, her state of health and living conditions.

The male then performs fertilization by releasing sperm. The spawning process can take about 2 hours.

If the owner is interested in a high percentage of survival of the young, he will need to move the clutch before dark into a separate incubator aquarium with a volume of 15–20 liters. The bottom of the incubator should be equipped with a fine mesh net.

Requirements for water quality and parameters are the same as described in previous section. In addition, a solution of methylene blue is added to the water to prevent the appearance of fungi.

Important! White eggs (unfertilized or infected with bacteria) must be removed from the incubator daily to avoid contaminating normal eggs.

In a common aquarium

Experienced aquarists claim that breeding angelfish is not easy. It is even more difficult to do this in a community aquarium. First, the question of the safety of the caviar will arise. After spawning, both the male and the female will jealously ensure that other inhabitants of the common aquarium do not harm her, but this is not always possible.
In addition, parents themselves can pose a threat to their unborn children. It has been noted that when the light is turned off, they weakly protect the eggs and can independently destroy the eggs.

Thus, when breeding fry in a common aquarium, the risk of destruction of eggs, and subsequently the fry, increases significantly. The percentage of babies hatched can be very low, or even zero.

Egg development and fry care

The duration of the incubation process is 1.5–2 days. Until hatching, parents protect future offspring and discard unfertilized eggs. Also, if necessary, they improve aeration in the laying area, creating a current with intense movements of the fins. At this time, the fish should be left alone and the spawning area should not be disturbed.

After the young hatch from the eggs, in order to protect them from danger, parents can place them between stones. The fry are able to swim independently 3–4 days after hatching; after that they can be fed.

Fresh brine shrimp and microworms and ready-made food “Sulfur Micron” are used as the first food. Feeding frequency: three times a day.
In order for the fry to develop quickly and correctly, it is necessary to control the stocking density - there should not be more than 200 individuals in an 80-liter aquarium.

Important! WITH for the purpose of removing the metabolic products of artemia, it is desirable change the water in the container where the fry are located by half or a third after each feeding.

30 days after the appearance of young offspring, it is advisable to move them away from their parents into another container. If it is noticed that the parents are destroying the young, then this can be done earlier.

So, the angelfish is a bright and original fish, which, during its breeding in aquariums, has become very popular with both beginners and experienced aquarists. It is easy to maintain, but breeding is not so easy.

In order for the spawning process to take place without problems, it is necessary to create certain conditions, and it is better for it to take place in a separate spawning tank. This way it will be possible to achieve greater safety of the young animals.