How Do Angelfish Reproduce? Detailed Explanation of the Breeding Method and Process

Angelfish, also known as freshwater angelfish and angelfish. It has no special requirements for water quality, and in a weakly acidic water environment it can be kept together with the vast majority of fish species. So, how do angelfish reproduce?

1. How Angelfish Reproduce

1. Spawning

Angelfish are egg-laying fish, yet their reproduction is fairly simple. Observe carefully a successfully paired couple: if a protrusion begins to appear near the vent, that is, the sperm duct and ovipositor begin to droop, this is a sign before spawning, and they will choose an area they consider safe before spawning. The female and male fish will peck the spawning area clean, and then the female begins to lay eggs, while the male fertilizes them at the same time as the female spawns. Generally the whole spawning process lasts several hours, and the number of eggs laid depends on the size of the adult fish, generally ranging from 400 to 1000.

2. Guarding the Eggs

After spawning ends, the female and male fish will guard the eggs together, taking turns fanning the water current with their pectoral fins to ensure the fertilized eggs have sufficient dissolved oxygen. When some eggs turn white and moldy because they are unfertilized or infected by water mold, they will immediately peck them away to ensure the other fertilized eggs are not infected. The whole maintenance process is very touching.

3. Caring for the Fry

After 36 hours of such care without eating or drinking, the fry begin to hatch, yet they still cannot swim, clinging in place and relying on absorbing their own yolk sac through a long 4 to 5 days before they start to leave the spawning site and feed on tiny water fleas. During this time, the female and male fish still watch over them with great anxiety and meticulous care. Therefore, in order to create a good and safe spawning environment for them, it is best to put them in another aquarium used for breeding and keep them separately when the signs before spawning appear in angelfish, while using an air pump to help provide sufficient dissolved oxygen. During this period, strong lighting should not be used, nor should they be overly startled, as excessive fright will cause them to swallow all the eggs already laid. There is even less need to feed bait, so as to avoid polluting the water quality; especially be very careful with live bait! A kind of cyclops mixed in with water fleas can penetrate the outer wall of the fertilized eggs and greatly reduce the hatching rate of the eggs!