Query on Angelfish

[elwaynetan]

Hey guys,

I have kept freshwater fishes for long but to be honest, angelfishes are the first time I am handling in an community tank. Acquired about 9 angelfishes for my community tank about 2 months back before the Chinese New Year and right now, I am left with 3. But they weren't healthy to start with anyway... All leftovers from Seaview.

Anyway, I was feeding my tank earlier on and I accidentally saw eggs on one of the broader leaf plant. But immediately I thought it was the Angels' eggs because none of the other fishes in the tank would lay their eggs there. So there was this female happily laying and lining her eggs on the leaf. Now, here's the part I don't understand: There was another one, I think it's also a female, happily eating the eggs. But the first female didn't seemed to bother and continue laying and lining her eggs. Then there was this last one, feeding on the worms I just fed and occasionally went over to go through the same ritual the first female did.

Problem is, now I can figure out, the feeding angel is a male because of the genitals. But from what I know of Angels, The breeding pair will possess aggressive behaviour when breeding. Well, the feeding Angel did portray some aggressive behaviour and chasing the other tank fishes away. But remember I mentioned about this female looking Angel? it is happily feeding on the eggs laid and nobody seemed to bother about her...

Well, I certainly do not know what is happening and my plan is to let nature run its own course. But probably I can get some expert view here on what is happening.

Hear from you guys soon!

Thanks...

[stormhawk]

Male angels usually have a noticeable hump on their forehead, that is, if your fish are typical tank-bred scalare. Male breeding organ looks like a small pointy tip at an angle, the female's ovipositor is larger and wider. Although breeding pairs will be aggressive, some pairs can be horrible parents, especially egg-eaters that can't stop. Female Can you get a picture of all 3 angels? I think you have a pair but the male is an egg-eater. Pictures will be helpful in IDing the sexes.

[Stormz]

Maybe the pair isn't ready for the spawn? I have a pair of mana x peruvian displaying the same pattern.

[stormhawk]

There are cases when two females go through the spawning ritual but end up eating each other's eggs. Same goes for Rams too.