Angels - PageSuite

AMAZONAS
44
Wild-caught pair
from the Río Atabapo.
Below: Pterophyllum
altum can be kept with
discus, which have
similar requirements.
Group photo of my
Alenquer Discus.
x 60 x 60 cm) (114 gallons/430 L). However, these fishes
aren’t full-grown until they are 36 months old. In my experience,
breeding pairs, especially the females, don’t grow as
fast, as they need all their energy for spawning.
These fishes spawn up to eight times at intervals of a
certain number of weeks in a single spawning phase from
October to July. Then there is usually a pause. If all goes
well, the pair begin spawning again in October. Naturally,
it is very unusual for them to spawn so often, but we are,
after all, dealing with tank-breds. In wild-caught fishes
the main spawning time is usually in the period from
April to June and then again in October and November.
Good water quality is essential in order to induce a
breeding pair to spawn. A varied diet of frozen food is
also important—above all glassworms, Artemia, bloodworms,
and krill.
I adjust the water parameters in the breeding tank to a
conductivity of 100–150 μS/cm and a pH of 5.5–6.0. A few
days later, the angels usually rigorously clean the spawning
cone, and with a little luck and patience they will start
spawning at a temperature of 82°F (28°C). A low-pressure
weather system can also stimulate the fishes to spawn.
After the eggs are laid, I move the cone with the
spawn to a separate 16-gallon (60-L) tank with the same
water parameters as the breeding tank. The rearing tank
must be matured for a long time. This is achieved with
an internal filter with two foam cartridges; the bottom
O. KLAWONN