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**Tynk** · August 7th 06, 05:28 PM posted to rec.aquaria.freshwater.misc

wrote:
Well, not more than a couple of hours after I posted my original
message, I noticed a TON of eggs all over the java moss, which is
growing off a large piece of driftwood. I watched the fish for a couple
of hours then, and saw that actually, the female was laying her eggs
vertically, on the filter pipe! Then the male would follow her over the
eggs. I was really excited about this! The appearance of the behavior
was just very cute and sweet to watch, especially after all the
fighting. From some of the reading and research I've done, it does
appear that they are male and female, judging by not only the behavior
but by the difference of appendage, if you will, protruding from
underside of the male fish in comparison to the female. Anyway, by
morning they had eaten all the eggs I could see, but I can't imagine
tha they got ALL of them, since many were nestled quite deeply in the
tangled java moss. My pleco might've made quite a meal of them though,
since vamps are real carnivores. I will keep hope that some of the eggs
will make it on their own;

I doubt any eggs survived, as they are sticky and would not have simply
fallen safely to the gravel, which even if they did, they would have
died off anyway.
Angelfish eggs need tending, either by the parents or the hobbyist. If
they aren't kept cleaned (either by the parents fanning the eggs with
their pectoral fins, or the hobbyist by setting an airstone near* not
right next or under, the eggs). Eggs which were not viable and have
fungused over will be eaten by the parents , or should be removed by
the hobbyist.
Fungus can spread to viable eggs killing them.
Now it's not uncommon for parent angels to eat their first batch or
few. Some always eat them. You just never know until you either try,
or just decide to remove their eggs each time and raise them yourself.
As long as they are the only fish in this tank, and since it sounds
like you'd like to raise some Angel fry, why not remove the Pleco, as
it was most likely the night time egg raider.
Angel parents usually defend their eggs or brood fearlessly and
constantly...unless they're eating or sleeping.
This is when the batch is at risk of tank mates.
Other fish see the parents busy feeding and go for the eggs as soon as
their backs are turned.
At night, the parent fish are sleeping and nocturnal fish or inverts
are on the prowl for easy pickings.
Angelfish fry are bedded down in the gravel at night or tucked away in
a corner or nook somewhere and they end up like grit on
carpet...hoovered right up.
I'd give them a chance to try doing it on their own several times if
needed before deciding their egg eaters.
Remove the pleco to another and put a sponge over the intake for your
filter.
(you don't want your filter sucking any fry up, just remember to keep
it clean).
Food fry Angelfry, you can either hatch out baby Brine Shrimp or buy
frozen *baby* Brine. Not all shops sell the frozen baby brine, so make
sure the pack says baby brine shrimp on it.
Hikari makes a dry product called First bites as well.
Keep their temp about 82*f.
After the fry are free swimming and eating and growing, I will then
slowly lower the temp to 80*f.