How to Breed Angel Fish & Tropical Fish

Tropical freshwater fish, such as angel fish, are fairly easy to breed, but the process requires a fair amount of research and preparation beforehand. Before beginning the breeding process, you will need to make sure your fish are healthy enough for spawning. Choose a well-balanced fish food or give your fish a combination of different types of fish flakes at least a week before beginning breeding.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Spawning tank
• Net

1. Determine the sex of your fish. Most fish can be identified as male or female by characteristics such as size, coloring and shape of genital organs. The males of certain species, such as cichlids and killfish, will be larger in size and possess more color and bigger, more elaborate fins. Livebearers, fish that do not lay eggs, can often be identified by the shape of the genitalia. Livebearers such as mollies and swordtails are often the easiest fish to breed.

2. Separate the two fish you want to breed from the rest of your fish in a separate tank. To ensure the water is the suitable for the fish, talk to an aquariast or visit your local aquarium store. If the species you are breeding are egg-layers, you will need to watch closely to determine when the eggs have been laid. Angelfish, for instance, are egg-laying fish.

3. Remove the parent fish as soon as you see eggs in the tank, as many fish species will actually eat their own eggs. If your fish are livebearers, you will be able to see when the female fish is pregnant. Remove the male fish when this happens. Once the female gives birth, remove her from the tank as well. Once the baby fish are large enough, after about a week, they can be placed into a new tank with other fish. In the meantime, the baby fish can be fed with ordinary fish flakes. You may wish to grind them up to make them easier for the fish to eat.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are new to caring for or breeding fish, start with a fish species that is particularly easy to breed, such as mollies. Once you become more familiar with the process, try a species more difficult to breed, like angelfish.

References

• Breeding Methods for Tropical Freshwater Fish
• Introduction to Breeding Tropical Fish: Live-bearers, Egg Layers, and Mouth Brooders
• Breeding Angelfish