🌱 An Unexpected Aquarium Journey: Breeding Angelfish

Aquariums have always been a part of my life. Growing up, I watched my stepfather care for his tanks, and at 14, I became fascinated by his efforts to breed angelfish—his favorite. Unfortunately, his busy work schedule made it difficult for him to fully dedicate the time and attention angelfish breeding requires, but his passion for the hobby sparked my own.

In 2024, I decided to commit seriously to the hobby. After purchasing a 75-gallon aquarium, I slowly introduced five angelfish over the course of three months. To my delight, four of them naturally paired off, marking a promising start to my breeding journey.

However, like any aquarist knows, challenges soon followed. In late 2024, I encountered a pesky cyanobacteria outbreak. After treating the tank and adjusting the water parameters, I added dwarf water lettuce. While I can't say for sure it directly benefited the breeding process, the lettuce likely helped prevent further algae issues by reducing light exposure in the tank.

The angelfish began laying eggs shortly after, with the first clutch appearing in late November. Since then, both pairs have been laying clutches every 2–3 weeks. I added two breeding slates to encourage egg laying, and while I’ve managed to raise the eggs to the wriggler stage, I’ve yet to see them reach the free-swimming stage.

As much as I enjoy my 75-gallon community tank, I’m fully aware that it's not ideal for angelfish to raise their offspring in. I'm currently weighing the costs and efforts involved in investing in dedicated breeder tanks.

This note thread will serve as my personal record of this journey—documenting what works, what doesn’t, and the lessons I learn along the way. After being introduced to NOSTR by a friend, I decided it was the perfect platform to share my experiences with the world, in hopes that others can benefit from what I discover.

Tracking the Pairs and Progress

To help organize and track the progress of each pair, I will be naming them based on the following system:

YYYY-X-S

YYYY is the year they were purchased.

X is an incrementing number to differentiate each pair.

S stands for either M (male) or F (female).

I will also be documenting and photographing each pair, so you can follow their journey visually as well.

To ensure clarity and structure, I will create two separate threads as replies to this main post. Each thread will track the specific notes and progress of one pair. This way, you can easily follow the development of both pairs and see the lessons learned along the way.

Stay Tuned for More!

I will soon be starting separate threads, one for each angelfish pair, where I will provide more detailed information, share updates, and post pictures. You’ll get a closer look at their progress as they continue to grow and breed. I'll add another thread if I get another pair. Be sure to follow along as I continue documenting my journey into the fascinating world of angelfish breeding!

#BlackcellAngelfish #AquariumHobby #Angelfish #AngelfishBreeding #FishBreeding #Fishkeeping #FreshwaterAquarium #PlantedTank