Step-by-step
Step 1: Acquire bonded pairBuy 6 juveniles, raise together, watch for natural pairing at 8-12 months. Or buy a verified bonded pair from a breeder ($60-150).
Step 2: Set up breeding tank40g+ with vertical spawning surfaces. Sponge filter (HOB sucks eggs). Heater at 80°F. Reduce community fish - angels are aggressive when breeding.
Step 3: Condition the pairFeed varied diet 2-3x daily for 2-3 weeks. Frozen bloodworms + brine shrimp + high-quality flake. Pair turns dark + female plumps.
Step 4: Pair cleans surfacePair selects vertical surface (slate, sword leaf) and cleans it for hours. Both fish involved.
Step 5: Egg layingFemale lays 100-1,000 white eggs in vertical rows. Male follows fertilizing. Process takes 1-2 hours.
Step 6: Pair tends eggs 60-72 hoursBoth parents fan eggs and remove infertile (turn white) ones. Eggs hatch in 60-72 hours at 80°F.
Step 7: Wrigglers attachNewly hatched larvae attach to surface for 3-4 days as they absorb yolk. Parents move them to "nursery" pits.
Step 8: Free-swim day 5-7Larvae become free-swimming. THIS is when most pairs eat their fry. Either: trust pair, OR remove fry to separate tank, OR remove parents.
Step 9: Feed microworms + baby brineFirst food: microworms or vinegar eels for first 5-7 days. Switch to baby brine shrimp by day 7.
Step 10: Add crushed flake day 14-21Transition to crushed flake + Repashy gel food. By day 30, juveniles eat normal sizes.
Step 11: Sell at quarter size 8-10 weeksQuarter-sized juveniles sale-ready by 8-10 weeks. Pair will spawn again every 2-4 weeks.
FAQ
How can I tell male vs female angelfish?
Difficult until breeding. Females have a wider, more rounded breeding tube; males have a smaller, pointed one. Visible only at spawning time.
Do angelfish eat their eggs?
First-time pairs almost always eat their first 1-3 spawns. They learn over time. By 4th-5th spawn, most pairs raise fry successfully.
What's the survival rate of angelfish fry?
Removed-from-parents method: 80-95% to free-swim. Pair-raised: 30-70% depending on parental skill. Reduces over time as pair learns.