6 Signs Tell That Your Angelfish Is Pregnant

One of the most exciting things about owning an aquarium is when your fish start to breed. If you are lucky enough to have an angelfish, then you may be wondering how to tell if your fish is pregnant.

There are many signs that can tell your angelfish is pregnant. But the most telltale sign of them all is the Gravid Spot that becomes darker and larger throughout the pregnancy.

This article will discuss all the signs of pregnancy in angelfish, and provide tips on how to care for her during this exciting time.

Signs That Your Angelfish Is Preparing to Hatch Eggs

1. A Gravid Spot Will Appear

Usually located just above the vent on the female’s belly, the gravid spot is one of the clearest signs that the eggs are ripening.

This triangular spot is normally dark but it gets darker and larger the closer the angel is to giving birth.

2. Protruding Belly

When the female angelfish is full of eggs (roe), her girth will increase as the days progress and she will begin to look like she is ready to burst.

You can immediately see their protruding belly when you view them from above. The side of the stomach protrudes, giving off a signal that “pregnancy” is underway.

This happens over the course of 20 to 40 days, with the stomach taking on a circular shape at the end of that time.

3. The Angelfish Becomes Lazy and Inactive

If the females become sluggish and lay at the bottom of the tank, most likely they are full of eggs and are close to spawning.

When you see this behavior change in your fish, it is a good idea to start preparing for the spawn. This means cleaning and arranging the aquarium so that the fry have a safe place to hide and plenty of food to eat when they are born.

4. The Angelfish Female Becomes Aggressive Toward Other Tankmates

The female angelfish can become aggressive when it is time to lay eggs. It may chase away other fish in the tank and become territorial.

This aggressive behavior is a way to protect the eggs and ensure that they have the best chance of survival.

5. The Angelfish May Be Seen Cleaning Particular Regions of the Tank

If you see your angelfish cleaning an area of the tank obsessively, it is a good indication that she is getting ready to lay her eggs.

Usually, angelfish lay their eggs on a flat surface such as a leaf or piece of driftwood. But sometimes they will lay their eggs in the substrate at the bottom of the tank.

We always recommend getting a breeding slate for your angelfish to lay their eggs on as this makes it much easier to relocate the eggs if the parents are inexperienced and end up eating them.

6. You’ll Notice That the Angelfish Begin Pairing Up

When it is time to spawn, the Angelfish will pair up. The pairs will remain together until the eggs hatch, and the fry are able to fend for themselves.

If your angelfish showed more than one of these signs, it’s likely that your fish is packed with eggs and keen to lay them. Now is the time to get everything ready for the big event!

Here is a youtube video discussing the signs of a pregnant angelfish.

What Age Do Angelfish Breed and Lay Eggs?

Angelfish reach sexual maturity at around 6-12 months old, depending on the species and conditions in which they are kept.

In the wild, angelfish breed during the onset of the rainy season when there is an abundance of food available. In the aquarium, however, angelfish can breed all year-round given the right conditions.

How Long Do Angelfish Carry Their Eggs?

Angelfish can produce eggs every 2 weeks if the eggs are removed from the tank. However, it’s not always easy to determine the exact time because it depends on several factors.

Some angelfish will lay their eggs beyond that time, while other angels will deposit their eggs somewhat sooner than that.

What Causes Female Angelfish to Carry Eggs for Too Long?

Angelfish carry their eggs for too long because they are smart, have poor tank conditions, food scarcity, or other circumstances.

The reasons for such behavior will vary. Here are some of the most common ones:

1. Angels Are Smart!

Although it is only a hypothesis, some people claim that female angels may be able to detect when their tank lacks a male angelfish.

If the female puts its eggs and there are no males in the tank, the eggs will not be fertilized and die.

So, the female could be “smart” enough to know this and hold on to the eggs until a male is present.

2. Unsuitable Tank Conditions

Unfavorable living conditions are often to blame for a failure to breed. The female may not lay her eggs because the tank is not an ideal environment for hatching.

This happens because the female is not comfortable enough to lay her eggs and does not want to risk them not surviving.

3. Physical or Mental Issues

There could be an underlying physical or mental issue causing the female to not lay her eggs. It could be something as simple as a slipped disc or a parasite infection.

4. Lack of Food

It is also possible that the female is not spawning because she is not getting enough to eat. A good diet is essential for angelfish breeding. If the female isn’t getting the proper nutrients, she may not produce eggs.

5. Previous Spawning Attempts Failed

If the female has laid eggs in the past, but the eggs were not fertilized or did not hatch, she may be reluctant to try again.

How to Tell If Your Angelfish Is Carrying Their Eggs For Longer Than Usual?

To answer that question, you must understand how to read the indicators that show that angelfish are carrying eggs in the first place.

If an angelfish does not lay the eggs it is carrying, it will usually just keep them in its body in most situations.

There’s no indication that the female angel will be harmed. In most cases, you won’t have to worry about how quickly your angel lays its eggs or when it deposits the eggs. But it’s a good idea to keep an eye on them.

How Many Babies Do Angelfish Have?

Typically angelfish can lay between 100 and 1000 eggs each spawn.

There is no set number of eggs that an angelfish must produce every time to determine that the spawning was successful and healthy. The amount will be determined by the type of fish and the circumstances in the tank.

How Many Angelfish Eggs Will Hatch Successfully?

While you can get thousands of eggs each spawn, only 1 percent to 5 percent of the eggs will hatch if they are placed in the proper setting.

This is because most eggs will be devoured by other fish or animals in the tank.

For this reason, it’s important to provide baby angelfish with as many hiding places in your aquarium as possible to avoid being eaten.

FAQs

Does Angelfish Fish Give Birth Through Mouth?

Angel fish do not give birth through their mouths. Instead, the female will lay the eggs in the breeding spot, then the male will fertilize them outside of the mother’s body.

However, the female can carry the eggs in her mouth until they hatch in some cases.

Can Angelfish Lay Eggs without a Mate?

Female angelfish can lay eggs whether or not a male is present. However, these eggs will not hatch, as there won’t be a male to fertilize them.

Do Angelfish Mate for Life?

Angelfish do not mate for life and generally just pair up for one mating season in the wild. However, they may stay with the same breeding partner for a while in captivity because of the lack of options.

There are species called “French Angelfish.” They pair up as youngsters and stay together for the rest of their lives. They live, travel, and hunt in pairs, and they’ll even defend their sea territory against competing fish species.

Where Do Angelfish Lay Their Eggs on?

Angelfish generally lay their eggs on a flat surface, which can be a rock, a leaf, or the side of the tank.

In some cases, the female may lay her eggs in a cave or other hiding place. This is usually done to protect the eggs from predators.

Do Angelfish Eat Their Own Eggs?

Angelfish eat their own eggs due to a lack of awareness. They might not be able to distinguish their own eggs from other things in the tank like food, plants, or gravel. Because of this, they could end up eating their own eggs by accident.

Are Angelfish Egg-Layers?

Angelfish are egg-layers, which means the female will lay the eggs and the male will fertilize them. This is different from live-bearing animals that give birth to young ones.

Do Angelfish Eggs Need Oxygen?

Angelfish eggs need oxygen to develop properly. If they don’t have enough oxygen, the eggs will not develop and become deformed.

What Do Angelfish Eggs Look Like?

Fertilized angelfish eggs will have a translucent amber to brown color. As long as the eggs have only slight variations of hue within this range, they are healthy, fertilized, and on their way to a successful hatching phase.

What Do I Need to Know About Angelfish Eggs?

Angelfish eggs are very delicate and need to be handled with care. If you want to breed angelfish, it’s important to have a separate breeding tank set up before you start.

Also, angelfish eggs need to be in clean and well-oxygenated water to develop properly.

In addition, you should maintain the breeding tank’s water temperature since eggs won’t hatch if the water is too cold or too hot.

Last Words

By understanding the indicators that show when your angelfish are carrying eggs and how long they typically carry them, you can be better prepared to care for them if something goes wrong.

If you have any questions about caring for your angelfish or other fish, please feel free to leave us a comment.

We’re always happy to help!