Proper breeding of angelfish at home.

- popular aquarium inhabitants. In angelfish, reproduction is accompanied by the deposition of eggs.

Conditions necessary for reproduction:

1. water temperature 27–32 degrees;
2. frequent fluid changes;
3. slightly acidic and soft water;
4. sufficient amount of space (from 100 liters for a spawning pair, for a group of fish - from 200 liters);
5. filtration and aeration;
6. plants and shelters;
7. daylight for at least 10 hours.

Incubator equipment

Set up an incubator in a 5–10 liter aquarium. Fill half the vessel with water from the aquarium with the producers, the other half with distilled water. Install an aerator and heater adjusted to 30 degrees. After an hour, place the sheet with the masonry in the incubator so that no air bubbles get on it. Provide 24-hour lighting. Add plants for biofiltration and cultivation of ciliates, which will serve as food for the fry.

Differences between male and female

Sexual dimorphism in fish is weakly expressed. It is easier to determine the sex of standard individuals than of albino, golden and marbled angelfish.

Females differ:

1. absence of a fatty lump on the head;
2. smaller size;
3. single front fins;
4. The ovipositor (genital organ) is blunt in shape, in males it is pointed.

Pairing

Angelfish are monogamous. Pisces choose a mate from several representatives. It is optimal to purchase a group of 6–10, where the fish will naturally find and form pairs for themselves. It is possible to select bright producers and ensure artificial reproduction. This option will not give a guaranteed result.

Hierarchy of fish

The hierarchy in a common aquarium is built independently. When breeding, a pair of the largest angelfish occupies the best part of the general aquarium. Among couples, singles have the most difficult time, they are oppressed and driven away, they get less food.

Spawning

Sexual maturity of angelfish occurs at 6–12 months and depends on the conditions of detention, breed and health of the fish. Females spawn on leaves, soil, and sometimes on the surface of the filter.

Preparation

Create good conditions for future offspring. You will need containers for spawning and keeping fry. A week before spawning, feed the future parents with protein and high-quality food:

1. bloodworm;
2. tubifex;
3. culex;
4. coretra;
5. specialized feeds.

Process

The readiness of angelfish for spawning can be determined by the rounded abdomen of the female and the aggressive attitude of the couple towards other inhabitants. The fish drive their neighbors away from their designated spawning site. Place the pair in a prepared aquarium with similar water parameters. The female lays 100–500 eggs, which are later fertilized by the male. After spawning, they care for the clutch until the fry appear. The parents fan the eggs with their fins, removing unfertilized ones from the clutch.

Fry

After 2–3 days, the larvae hatch from the eggs.

At first, they are weak and immobile; they require special maintenance.

Conditions of care

1. Only 2 liters of the aquarium volume are enough for the fry that hatched from the eggs. For a month-old fry there must be at least 4 liters of water volume. As they grow, plant the young ones. Lack of space leads to improper development.
2. Juveniles are very sensitive to water purity. Change one third of the fluid daily.
3. It is important to choose a filter that will not suck the fry into. Cover the bottom of the filter with nylon.

Development

The fry stage occurs in 6–12 days. At the age of a month, the fry acquire the features of adults and a more complex structure.

Feeding

When the fry's egg sac dissolves, they begin to feed. They eat 5-6 times a day. Suitable for feeding fry:

1. ciliates;
2. nauplii;
3. Artemia;
4. egg yolk;
5. daphnia;
6. Cyclops;
7. small bloodworm.

Experiences of aquarium breeders

There are many aquarists who have shared their experience of breeding angelfish with others. Enthusiasts nurse the eggs on their own, while others entrust this task to the parent fish. There are cases when the spawning of an angelfish comes as a surprise to the aquarist.

Warnings

1. Do not separate the resulting pair; this is a lot of stress for the fish. With a new sire, offspring may not work.
2. Do not put gravel on the bottom. In incorrectly selected soil, eggs are easily damaged or washed off during cleaning of the aquarium.
3. Change the water temperature gradually. Too sudden a change in temperature will cause shock to the fish.
4. The maximum temperature is 32 degrees. If the temperature is too high, the water becomes less saturated with oxygen and the angelfish may faint.
5. Provide the parent fish with peace. Angelfish usually care for their young, but stress can lead to them being eaten. Feed the fish on time and monitor the water quality.

Step by step

1. Prepare a spawning tank of 100 liters with settled water. Adjust water temperature and settings. Provide a place to lay the eggs, such as a sponge or spawning cone.
2. Wait for the angelfish to form pairs.
3. Place the pair in the breeding aquarium.
4. If the couple eats the eggs, raise them artificially. Transfer the eggs to a clean jar. Treat the water with a fungicide, then acriflavine, and provide oxygen. The temperature should be 27 degrees.
5. The next day, carefully remove the white eggs with tweezers.
6. The fry will hatch in 60 hours. Start feeding 5-6 days after hatching.
7. Transfer the fry to a larger aquarium when they begin to swim in a school.

Breeding angelfish is a process that is interesting to watch. The first successful attempt at breeding fish occurred in 1914. Since then, aquarists have learned to breed angelfish at home.

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 of 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 the 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 a 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.

Angelfish or Pterophyllum scalare (the name translates as "winged leaf") in Latin is a popular fish from the Cichlid family. They are distinguished by a recognizable shape, attractive appearance and, let’s say, majestic swimming.

Most representatives of this group are colored light silver and also have black transverse stripes. The size of adult fish is about 15-25 cm. Males Angelfish are distinguished by their dense body and convex body. The fish is very shy. Angelfish live for more than 10 years, while remaining unpretentious to the conditions, although they are demanding on the quality of food. They get along well with other aquarium inhabitants, but you should not house them with:

• small fish(guppies, etc.), since angelfish can mistake them for food;
• telescopes(a type of goldfish with bulging eyes) - angelfish can injure them.

Many fish lovers practice this. It is known that snails play their important role in maintaining biocenosis home aquarium, and are also not very difficult to care for.

Lilac can be called the most common and unpretentious ornamental shrub. everything about reproduction and caring for it.

There is an opinion that angelfish choose each spawning for themselves new pair. But experts say that these fish monogamous and keep the formed pair until one of the fish dies.

Pink fluorescent fish (genetically modified species).

But their parents are far from ideal - already on the second or third day, young fish may forget about the need to protect their offspring.

Angelfish may become frightened and turn pale, so do not place the aquarium in areas where loud, sharp noises are possible.

"Wild" Angelfish are not found in modern aquariums - such cute fish are born as a result of complex and repeated crossings.

Amazingly beautiful view - Blue Angel.

In order for your angelfish to feel comfortable, you will need large aquarium, the height of which exceeds 50 cm. You also need dense vegetation, as well as a free place for swimming.

A large aquarium is a haven for fish.

To ensure harmony, the algae are placed in the background, planted in one line, and the front of the aquarium is left free. The basic requirements for regular care are:

1. Need elevated temperature water, within 24-28°C. A short-term decrease in temperature to 18°C ​​is allowed.
2. These fish better to underfeed than giving food in excess. Every quarter, give the scalars a full fasting day, that is, do not feed them at all. Combine live food with dry food - this way the diet will be optimal.
3. To avoid conflicts between fish (including intraspecific ones), arrange in the aquarium dark places and shelters(there is a special decor for this - castles, caves).
4. Dim bright lighting- therefore, algae with large and wide leaves are preferable, which will rise to the surface as they grow.

Thickets of Echinodorus.

How do angelfish reproduce? Difficulties of breeding

The main conditions for successful breeding:

• temperature increased to 28-30 degrees;
• broad-leaved plants (Echinodorus, Cryptocoryne and the like);
• good air flow.

Before spawning the fish carefully clean the selected leaf, and then the female lays one egg on it. The male fertilizes each egg separately. In just one spawning, 600 eggs can be laid, and 1/2 or even 2/3 of the eggs may be successful. Therefore, worry in advance about a shelter of the right size for the growing young animals.

Delayed caviar.

Good parents There will be only adult fish - they will remain near the masonry and fan it with their fins to improve the flow of air to the eggs. Developed fry also need the help of their parents - they help clear the egg shell. Adult angelfish can even take their fry, which have just begun to swim, for a walk.

- restless favorites of adults and children. No matter how familiar they may seem at first glance, it is better to study the rules for keeping them at home.

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Home azalea has simply stunning flowers. For information on growing and propagating this plant, follow the link.

Of course, all this happens in wildlife. And in an aquarium, the role of man is obvious. You'll have to:

• protect the clutch from attacks by other fish (including parents);
• provide the necessary aeration and high temperature;
• take care of food for growing angelfish;
• resettle the younger generation in a timely manner.

Healthy eating plays a big role in life aquarium fish OK. For the development of angelfish, their health and reproduction, you need to carefully ensure that the fish’s nutrition is balanced.

The mother fish vigilantly guards the larvae.

Video

Angelfish spawning in an aquarium and the appearance of fry close-up.

Stages of fry development and feeding rules

After spawning unfertilized eggs will turn white. Just 2 days after spawning, the sticky shell will break through and you will see larvae with a long flagellum-tail. 4 days of development - and the larvae will acquire a formed head, digestive system and the yolk sac. And only two weeks later, on the 14th day of life, small angelfish(they don’t look like adults at all yet) will begin to swim. During this time, the yolk sac of the fry will be empty, which means they need to start feeding.

The fry are still very small.

Complete food will ensure effective growth and health of fish. Ideal food for newborns - crustaceans and Artemia nauplii. Teenagers will need live food- high-quality so that they don’t get sick: daphnia, carriage or bloodworms. Also use granular herbal supplements or add small algae to the fry aquarium:

• riccia;
• duckweed;
• wolfia.

Grown fry - 3.5 months.

Don't forget on time resettle offspring - an overabundance of fish in the aquarium will lead to an unfavorable change aquatic environment- and as a result of imbalance, the entire brood will die. After the fry swim for the first time, they need to be seated in a container at the rate of 500 ml of water per fish. But fry, which are already 1.5 months old, will require a larger area - up to 6 liters per individual.

Only on the 45th day of their life the fry will exactly resemble their parents - both in majesty and brightness of color.

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 remained secret for a long time.

In Russia, for a long period of time, they 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 where angelfish spawn in a community aquarium, it will be very difficult to preserve the offspring without transplanting eggs.

Now breeding angelfish at home is not possible special labor. The fish often do it themselves, without creating special ones for this purpose. external circumstances spawn 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 select the most prominent representatives and plant them in a separate spawning aquarium, where they will begin to reproduce over time.

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. If they are used constantly, adult angelfish are smaller in size, less 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 a 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, the following rule must be observed: 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 become strong impression for the observer and will cause a strong desire to repeat it again. For some, perhaps these strong emotions will push them 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 the 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. At ideal conditions content may 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

The long life of an angelfish, reproduction, and excellent health depend on many factors. For example, it is very important to maintain a high water temperature - 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 the proper development of the 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. As a last resort - frozen. Fish fed dry food are often not capable of reproduction, are not large enough, and 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 angelfish, the reproduction of which we are interested in, 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 preparations to the water. 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, closed for safety nylon stocking. 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. The characteristic body shape, reminiscent of a crescent, elegant coloring and relative unpretentiousness ensures their popularity among aquarists different levels- from beginners to seasoned 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 signs are used to determine gender 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 they 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 fish that have already given birth. 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. Male and female angelfish alone in an aquarium close in age and size, 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%), while 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 intense blue color 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 regime, plants or confusion). 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 pair formation

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.

• High-quality nutrition is required throughout the entire 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 even to 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 of the general population, and even 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, broad-leaved underwater plants reproduce in a community aquarium. 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 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 someone else’s caviar takes a lot of energy, along with stress, and 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 angelfish lay their 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. Later, the producers, if they were repelled, return to their original 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 raised plants (duckweed) are placed, which serve as a natural biofilter 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 a 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 the specific wearer and wearer individual character obtaining bright underwater individuals raised independently from small eggs.

In our opinion, angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) are one of the most beautiful aquarium fish.
These South American cichlids simply fascinate with their elegance and the beauty of their sailing fins, which, like the wings of an angel, support them in measured weightlessness. It’s not for nothing that these fish are called Angels abroad.
Their mannerisms and kinship with elite discus fish give them an aristocratic sheen that is unique to them.

Aquarists have known these aquarium fish for more than 100 years, and during this time they have earned recognition and respect. In addition to the listed advantages, angelfish have a well-developed intellect, are unpretentious in their maintenance and are caring parents.

Latin name: Pterophyllum scalare.
Squad, family: Perciformes, cichlids, cichlids (Cichlidae).
Comfortable water temperature: 22-27° C.
"Acidity" Ph: 6-7,5.
Hardness dH: up to 10°.
Aggressiveness: 30% are non-aggressive.
Content complexity: light.

Scalar compatibility: Although angelfish are cichlids, they are not aggressive.

Even small, peaceful fish and even livebearers are favorably treated. As neighbors we can recommend: red swordtails (look great with black angelfish), thornets and other tetras, zebrafish, all small catfish, gouramis and laliuses, pelviki and apistogram parrots, and other non-aggressive cichlids.

Not compatible with: guppies (they will be eaten sooner or later at night), goldfish (they are pigs, they have different feeding regimes, nervous goldfish and angelfish drive them and pluck them), discus fish, although they are relatives, are not the best neighbors in our opinion - discus fish are expensive, They love warm water, they grow into large fish, and they are capricious. In general, we are in favor of keeping discus fish separately in a species aquarium. See article - compatibility of aquarium fish.
How long do they live: The angelfish is a long-lived aquarium fish and can live more than 10 years. You can find out how long other fish live

Minimum aquarium volume for angelfish

From 100 l., in such an aquarium you can plant one, maximum two angelfish. Under good conditions, they grow into fish of impressive size, and given their wide fins, it is better to buy an aquarium of 250 liters or more for them. See how many fish you can keep in X liters of aquarium (at the bottom of the article there are links to aquariums of all sizes).

Requirements for the care and conditions of keeping angelfish

- Angelfish definitely need aeration and filtration, weekly replacement of up to 1/4 of the volume of aquarium water.
- it is not necessary to cover the aquarium; the fish are not very mobile and do not jump out of the reservoir.
- lighting should be moderate. The aquarium is equipped with shaded areas, which is achieved with the help of aquarium vegetation. Fish do not like bright light and are shy about turning it on. It is recommended to use Vallisneria and other long-stemmed plants as aquarium plants for angelfish. Creating thickets of such plants imitates the natural habitat of angelfish.
- decoration of the aquarium, at your discretion: stones, grottoes, driftwood and other decorations. The aquarium must have an open space for swimming. Angelfish do not need shelter.

Feeding and diet of angelfish

The fish are omnivorous and absolutely unpretentious when it comes to food. They happily eat dry, live food and substitutes. Like many aquarium inhabitants, angelfish love live food: bloodworms, brine shrimp, brine shrimp, cyclops, daphnia. Angelfish take food from the surface of the water and in its depth; the fish do not hesitate to walk along the bottom, collecting the remains of food.

Angelfish have a peculiarity - they can refuse food for up to 2 weeks. So if your angelfish doesn’t eat, there’s nothing wrong with that.

Feeding aquarium fish must be correct: balanced, varied. This fundamental rule is the key to the successful keeping of any fish, be it guppies or astronotuses. The article talks about this in detail, it outlines the basic principles of the diet and feeding regime for fish.

In this article, we note the most important thing - feeding fish should not be monotonous; the diet should include both dry food and live food. In addition, you need to take into account the gastronomic preferences of a particular fish and, depending on this, include in its diet food either with the highest protein content or, conversely, with plant ingredients.

Popular and popular food for fish, of course, is dry food. For example, food from Tetra, the leader, can be found on aquarium shelves all the time and everywhere. Russian market, in fact, the range of food from this company is amazing. Tetra’s “gastronomic arsenal” includes individual food for a specific type of fish: goldfish, cichlids, loricariids, guppies, labyrinths, arowanas, discus, etc. Tetra has also developed specialized foods, for example, to enhance color, fortified, or for feeding fry. You can find out detailed information about all Tetra feeds on the company’s official website -

It should be noted that when purchasing any dry food, you should pay attention to the date of its manufacture and shelf life, try not to buy food in bulk, and also store the food in a closed state - this will help to avoid the development of pathogenic flora in it.

In nature, angelfish live in the northern part of South America

In reservoirs with dense reed thickets and standing or slowly flowing water. Actually these natural conditions explains their flattened - disc-shaped body shape, which they need to maneuver among the underwater reeds. They live in nature in groups of 10 or more individuals.

Photos of the angelfish biotope taken by Takashi Amano

Description of aquarium fish angelfish

The body is round and very flattened at the sides. It has a strongly elongated back and anal fin, which gives the fish the outline of a crescent. Natural - natural coloring The angelfish is silver with black transverse stripes, however, as a result of successful selection, a variety of colors were obtained, for example, marbled angelfish, two-color, red, black, zebra angelfish and others. In addition, a veiled form of angelfish has been developed - with even longer fins. Angelfish are large, sprawling fish that can reach up to 15 cm in length, and even more up to 25 cm in height.

History of angelfish

The Latin name Pterophyllum was given to angelfish by the famous Austrian zoologist I.Ya. Heckel in 1840 and it is translated as “pteron” - feather and “phyllon” leaf, and together “winged leaf”.

Before Heckel gave the name Pterophyllum, this fish had already been described several times in 1823. Martin Heinrich Karl Liechtenstein, who gave it the name Zeus scalaris. And in 1931, the fish was described by Baron Georges Leopold Frederic Bagobert Cuvier. He named it Platax scalaris. The angelfish also had a market name “Blattfische”, translated as leaf fish. This name was given by G.B. Sagratski, who was the first to bring these fish from the Rio Negro to Germany.

Actually, under this name they first found themselves in Europe, but this name subsequently did not take root. Abroad, the angelfish is called “Angelfishes” or simply “Angel”, in Germany “Segelflosser”, which translates as sail.
Some sources say that angelfish first appeared in Europe in 1909, but this is not so. Since this year they have been “delivered”, but alas, they are dead. Only in October 1911 was it possible to bring live scalars. And only from this moment the “aquarium-scalar boom” began in Europe: descriptions, disputes, articles in magazines, breeding attempts, etc.

First successful breeding of angelfish in artificial conditions happened in 1914 with an aquarist from Hamburg - I. Kvankaru. His success was repeated only a year later by US aquarist W.L. Polinn. It is worth noting that at that time the secret of reproduction was kept in the strictest confidence - the angelfish was very valuable. However, everything secret will ever become apparent. Since 1920, breeding of angelfish has become widespread.
In Russia, angelfish first reproduced in 1928. This happened to our aquarist Mr. A. Smironov - in the evening he went to the theater, and at home in his aquarium his heating pad caught fire. The water temperature in the aquarium rose to 32°C and the angelfish began to spawn on their own. As a note of humor, I would like to say that with the Russians everything is as always - at random and anyhow.
But aquarists did not stop at the successful artificial propagation of angelfish. The second half of the twentieth century was marked by relentless breeding work on angelfish. In 1956, the veiled angelfish was bred. In 1957, the spectacular black angelfish was introduced into the United States. In 1969, again by the American C. Asch, a marble angelfish was obtained.

Types and breeds of angelfish

So, to understand the scale of the breeding work, we present only an incomplete list of other bred forms of angelfish: half-black, smoky, albino, red-smoky, red, chocolate, phantom, two-spotted phantom, blue, white, zebra, lace zebra, cobra, leopard, marbled red-gold, red-half-black, pearl, gold-pearl, red-pearl and others.
The latest developments are scaleless and diamond angelfish. Therefore, if we talk about the types of scalars, there are simply countless of them.

Here is a photo of some angelfish - Pterophyllum scalare

But, it is necessary to distinguish between species and breeds of angelfish
The above angelfish are breeds of the same species, Pterophyllum scalare. But there are also other types of scalar - the main ones are:
Pterophyllum altum, Pterophyllum leopoldi (formerly Pterophyllum dumerilli), Pterophyllum eimekei.

Here is a photo of Pterophyllum leopoldi (as a separate species of angelfish)

and here is a photo of Pterophyllum altum (as a separate species of angelfish)


photo of Pterophyllum eimekei (as a separate species of angelfish)

Contents of angelfish

Taking into account the above-mentioned selection experiments, over a hundred years, angelfish have adapted to aquarium conditions so much that their maintenance does not pose any problems. Perhaps the main thing prerequisite Their content is a large and tall aquarium. As previously mentioned, the minimum volume of an aquarium for angelfish should be 100 liters, but its height should be at least 45 centimeters. At the same time, the thickness of the aquarium is absolutely not important for the fish; on the contrary, they are accustomed to living in narrow channels, thickets and crevices. From experience, we will say that angelfish feel great in densely planted long-stemmed vegetation, in which they feel at home - in South America.
The optimal water temperature for angelfish ranges from 22-27°C. However, these fish are distinguished by enviable frost resistance up to 16°C and endurance in heat up to 35°C.

They are unpretentious to other water parameters and can exist normally in both very soft and fairly hard water. Optimal dH: up to 10°, Ph: 6-7.5.
Angelfish love clean water, therefore, aeration and filtration in the aquarium is mandatory. Do you need to change the aquarium water with fresh water weekly? parts.
Angelfish are very hierarchical fish. It is best to keep them in a flock, in which their own ranking will be established - large and strong pairs will dominate, and weaker ones will receive blows. However, such intraspecific aggression is not very scary, especially if the aquarium is zoned. For example, my aquarium plants and decor are planted and arranged in such a way that the aquarium can be roughly divided into four “adjacent rooms”. This method helps to avoid excessive aggression and oppression of the weak.

Breeding, reproduction and sexual characteristics of angelfish

Sexual differences between male and female angelfish are weakly expressed. They can only be noticed when the fish become sexually mature at 9-12 months of age. Until this moment, when purchasing young specimens at a pet store, no one will tell you which one you are getting. When buying juvenile angelfish, it is recommended to take two large individuals, most likely they are males, and two small angelfish, most likely these will be girls.
Determining the sex of angelfish requires experience and practice. An experienced aquarist will be able to distinguish a male from a female in no time, but a beginner will have a hard time at first. To do this, you need to watch your angelfish.
Below is a list of typical sex differences between male and female angelfish. And of course, photos!

The first sign is behavior. Boys act like boys, girls act like girls. This is especially noticeable when the scalars are divided into pairs. In a pair you can immediately see who is the male and who is the female.
The second sign is the structure of the body. Male angelfish have a 100% distinctive feature - a fatty bump on the forehead - a hump. Females do not have it. The forehead of the male is convex, while that of the female is sunken. In addition, the body of male angelfish is more powerful, their back fin is longer and stripes are visible on it (on the back).
The third sign appears during the spawning period. The male has a narrow and sharp vas deferens, but the female angelfish develops a wide and short ovipositor.

Here's a nice photo of a male and female angelfish

(male on the left and female on the right).

Having received a review of this article from a fish breeding expert Vitaly Chernyavsky, I consider it necessary to supplement this part of the article with his answer, here it is:
“I looked at the article about angelfish. As for the signs of differences between males and females, that’s not entirely true.
1) Behavior is not a criterion. Quite often, 2 females without a male completely even (and in turns) imitate the sexual behavior of the male. Only if you look closely, you can see that the “male” and the female will then switch places - and eggs (naturally unfertilized) will be laid by BOTH fish.
2) There are males without a forehead and females with a forehead.
3) The only clear criterion for sexual differences in adult fish is line of the back and abdomen. In a male: the back line and dorsal fin form an ANGLE, and the abdomen and anal fin form an almost STRAIGHT line. But in the female it’s the other way around: the back line and dorsal fin are almost a STRAIGHT line, and the abdomen and anal fin are almost a right ANGLE.”

Taking into account the expert’s opinion, I also add this drawing, which will help determine the gender of the angelfish based on the angle of its fins.

!!!PAYING ATTENTION!!!
The fact is that this drawing of an angelfish is distributed everywhere on the Internet with false information - the male and female are confused. This drawing is taken from Ilyin's book " Aquarium fish farming". So there the fish were CONFUSED by the artist.
Well, on the Internet, those who create this picture on their websites... do not themselves decide where the female is and where the male is, thereby misleading everyone.
!!!Everything is correct in this picture!!!

With good and comfortable content angelfish, spawning happens right in the common aquarium. The stimulus for spawning is replacing the aquarium water with fresh water and increasing the temperature by 2-4 degrees. The masonry substrate plays a very important role in this process. Angelfish often prefer to lay their eggs on a broad-leaved plant, but they may also like other places: a filter tube, glass, the wall of a grotto, etc.
The place chosen by the producers is carefully cleaned of all dirt, and then the spawning itself follows. At a time, a female can lay about 500 eggs, a large one and even more up to 1000.

Photo of angelfish caviar

The incubation period of the eggs is 2 days; during this period, the parents intensively fan the eggs with their fins and clean them of debris, and remove the whitened, dead eggs. After the larvae hatch from the eggs, the parents transfer them in their mouths to another leaf. This is done for greater cleanliness and to eliminate the possibility of catching an infection from the rotting shell of the caviar.

Photo of angelfish larvae

Over the next 7 days, the larvae, under the watchful supervision of their parents, hang on the leaf. When the larvae run out nutrients From the yolk sac they develop into fry. From this time they should start feeding.
Starter food for juvenile angelfish should be of high quality, live and well washed. I can recommend nauplii, nematodes. It is not advisable, but you can feed the fry with any ground dry food (with such feeding, the number of dead fry will increase). It is also recommended to clean the spawning aquarium from food debris and other dirt twice a day.

Photo of fry, juvenile angelfish

The above process is a reference example of angelfish reproduction.

Often, due to the proximity with other fish in a common aquarium, the breeders are stressed, and so are the juveniles. This of course does not lead to anything good. There have even been cases where parents, stressed by their neighbors, ate their offspring. In addition, due to the fact that in industrial breeding of angelfish, the method of spawning is used, it is now difficult to find a conscientious pair of breeders who would be able to produce offspring on their own. This is considered a miracle.
Taking into account the above, usually immediately after spawning, the angelfish eggs, with the leaf on which they are located, are transplanted into another aquarium with a volume of 10-20 liters. In this case, all parental functions are transferred to your shoulders. To protect eggs from fungal diseases, methylene blue is added to the water, whitish dead eggs are regularly removed with a pipette, and a spray bottle with a very weak aerated flow of water is placed under the leaf.

Interesting things about angelfish
Fashionable trend nowadays GloFish The angelfish did not escape either, here is an example of a photo of fluorescent angelfish.

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