Setting Up an Angelfish Breeding Room

Freshwater angels are sought after aquarium fish, but these members of the cichlid family are territorial and should not be bred in a community aquarium. A breeding room that contains a number of adult pairs, in separate aquariums, is the ideal approach. Breeding rooms require a dedicated source of water, as tanks need to be partly drained and refilled on a regular basis. These rooms require reliable electrical outlets and should be kept clean at all times. You can set up an initial breeding room with a minimal number of tanks and expand the operation as time and space allows.

  1. Spawning Aquariums

    • Each angelfish pair needs its own aquarium. A 10-gallon aquarium is large enough for a mature pair of angelfish. It is not necessary to place gravel of any description on the bottom of the tank. Living aquatic plants, decor or aquatic snails are also not required. However, a breeding aquarium does need a heater and filter. An internal corner filter is sufficient for two fish in an aquarium. Place a 3-to-4-inch tile in one of the rear corners of the aquarium. Position this tile at a slant, as the pair will use it as a nesting site. The female will lay her eggs against the tile, where the male fish will fertilize them.

    Hatching the Eggs

    • You can leave angelfish eggs with the parent fish, but many breeders prefer to remove the tile on which the eggs were laid and to hatch them in a separate aquarium. A 20-gallon tank works well for this purpose. Keep this aquarium well oxygenated and clean. Filters should hold a pouch of activated carbon and filter floss, which must be thoroughly rinsed or replaced on a weekly basis. Additionally, 25-percent of the water should be removed and be replaced on a weekly basis.

    Rearing Tank

    • Young angelfish need about 1/2-gallon of space each. Some hobbyists will use a number of small tanks, while others will use one or two larger aquariums. Each aquarium needs a heater and filter. Be cautious not to overcrowd the young fish, as it will result in poorly developed fish with stubby fins. Move young angelfish that have reached the size of a nickel to a 55-gallon aquarium. An aquarium this size, if correctly filtered, will house about 50 fish.

    Temperature and Light

    • Although you can easily heat the tank with a submersible aquarium heater, you can also heat an angelfish breeding room with a gas wall heater to a temperature of 76˚F. The adult breeding tanks will still require submersible heaters however, as the mature fish require a temperature of at least 82˚F. Natural light is sufficient for an angelfish breeding room, but you can use artificial light as well. A photoperiod of 15 hours of light and 9 hours of darkness works well for breeding rooms. A large breeding room will need a central air system, but rooms with few aquariums will easily get by with small vibrator pumps.