Will angel parents eat their fry?

[Bristlenosed]

I had been keeping some gold (gold crown) angels in a 29 g community tank for some time and they had laid eggs 4-5 times. They are about 4" body size. The eggs always disappeared after a day or two. I assumed they ate them because of the harrassment by other fish.

Two weeks ago I moved the four angels to their own 45 g corner tank. Within a week they spawned again. One was killed immediately and I removed the odd fish to save his life and to leave the parents alone with the eggs.

I brought someone to the fish room to show them the eggs and they were gone again. Thinking they just were not good parents, I decided to sell them at the next auction.

A few days ago, I was feeding them and was surprised to see a cloud of about 200 or so fry hovering in a corner of the tank. The parents don't seem to be eating them, but my question is, should I leave the parents in the tank to raise them now or remove the parents to another tank.

I would really like to let them raise them because I have heard that so few angels will do it these days. Whaddya think?

[Jayhawk]

I'd let them raise them. They still might eat them, but let them spawn again and ever another time and see how they do. I've had cichlids of various species that take quite a few spawns to learn what to do.

Eric

[VTwinFanatic]

well I'd leave them in at this point...since the fry are free swimming let the parents take care of them. If you want a better chance of survival of the eggs then next time they spawn removed the eggs (put a piece of slat in the tank so hopefully they will spawn on it to make removing it easier) and put them in a grow out tank with daily w/c's. Unless you're really into breeding and raising the fry I'd just leave the parents in and let their instincts take over

[Mgamer20o0]

hey if they can be raised with the parents leave them for now. they might also eat them next time they are ready to spawn.

[Bristlenosed]

There were two pieces of slate in the tank. The parents used the filter intake tube. Yes, I am into raising the fry, I have both albino and regular bristlenose pleco fry, paleatus cory fry, brevis fry and multifaciatus fry growing up right now.

Next I am hoping to get my 7-bar fronts and gold ocys to make a few little ones. I have 25 tanks up and running at present with plans for another 8 as soon as I can get the basement in shape.

Thanks for the replies, I think I will leave them alone and see if they will actually raise the fry. Will try to let you know the progress. I am feeding Hikari First Bites 4 times a day and changing 40% of the water every other day.

[VTwinFanatic]

I'm sure in this case you could possibly set up a growout tank w/ water from the "breeding tank" and that will allow you to regulate things much easier. I dont know how others feel, but I've had success with this technique with my kribs...it allowed for much smaller volumes of water during the frequent w/cs and easier to monitor the fry's conditions

[ddyerfamily]

Why Take chances .