Once you have created the perfect environment for your pair of angelfish to begin the breeding process, you will begin to see signs of the spawning process. When it comes to angelfish breeding, you will find that you take very much a back seat as the angelfish do all of the work. You job really is to set up the tank and keep an eye open to ensure that the fish are healthy and well fed for the best breeding conditions. However, you still need to know about the spawning and breeding process so that you are able to recognise signs and make sure that your angelfish breeding is successful.

Angelfish spawning begins when the angelfish pair chooses a spawning area in the tank and will begin to clean it with their teeth. At this point, their ovipositors will be easily spotted so this is the earliest chance you will have to tell the sex of the angelfish. The male ovipositor will be smaller and pointed in shape than the females. Around three days after the cleaning begins, the spawning will commence. The female will lay rows of eggs on the site of spawning and the male will follow behind and fertilize them. When this process is complete, you will notice several hundred eggs sometimes as many as 1200 if the pair is mature enough. The first 24 hours are when the eggs are the most delicate until the outer layer hardens. An infertile egg will turn white and viable eggs will turn clear.

When it comes to hatching the eggs, there are two options, the first option is leaving the eggs with the parents and allowing them to look after them. Angelfish are good parents in theory. But you could also try removing the eggs and hatching them artificially. If you are leaving the eggs with the parents, then you should make sure that the tank is left undisturbed as much as possible, and be careful when it comes to water changes. If you are going to try hatching the eggs yourself, then you will need a hatching tank with clean water and a temperature of 80 degrees. Angelfish eggs are sensitive to light so you should try to keep them in dark waters so try adding a blue solution to the water and this will not harm the eggs.

You can find out more information about angelfish breeding from your local pet store and the internet if you are not sure what the best course to take is.