Angels keep eating their eggs :(

[dencio]

I've kept a pair of angels in their own tank with no other fish. About every 10 days eggs appear but they always get eaten. The longest the eggs lasted were 2 days, but more often they disappear within a day. I have tried many things (ie left them alone, fed them as normal, left the lights on at night) but nothing has worked so far. The angels have spawned many times already, I'd guess at least a dozen times, that I thought they'd learn by now. Help!

[Algenco]

Possibly too much disturbance, stay away from the tank as much as possible.
I've never had a pair that wouldn't raise fry if left alone, make them nervous and they'll eat the eggs/wigglers

[rich311k]

Some pairs will do that. It is also possible the eggs are not getting fertilized. You may want to pull the eggs and see if they hatch on their own.

[Algenco]

you might not have a real pair, could be 2 females

[DrNic]

This kind of behavior is really common and can happen for a number of reasons. From my experience, novice parents will eat their eggs the first few times they lay. Although each time they will usually let the eggs survive a little longer.

If anything is wrong with the water conditions, including too much current they'll eat the eggs. This also includes too much activity outside the tank. Pretty much anything that makes the fish nervous is likely to cause them to eat the eggs.

On the other hand they could just be bad fish parents (or two females). Keep an eye on the eggs next time they lay and watch the color. If the eggs are a brownish color then they are 'alive'. If they are white, then they are dead. Keep in mind that fresh eggs from a female will stay brown without fertilization for about 12 hours. After that if there is no sperm present the egg will turn white and die.

You have to remember that for angelfish, laying eggs takes a pretty significant toll on the female. If for any reason the fish feel that the eggs aren't going to make it the pair will eat the eggs to reabsorb the nutrients. This can also happen if the fish aren't fed well. Given your frequency of laying it sounds like you're feeding them fine, but don't forget to continue feeding the adults after the eggs are laid. They will definitely need the food at this time. I wouldn't increase feedings however as that could effect water chemistry and cause more of a problem.

Hope this helps.

[jarjarbinks42981]

I leave pieces of black slate in with my angels and they lay the eggs on them. After spawning is done (I wait at least 12-24 hours after) I take a plastic bag and add water from the tank then put the slate in it, then I transfer the egg covered slates to my fry tanks. After I renove the slate from the "parent" tank I replace it with a clean slate. The only possible problem with this method that I have discovered is you have to keep the water quality and temp as close to the exact same as possable or you may lose the "crop". Hope this helps

[DrNic]

I leave pieces of black slate in with my angels and they lay the eggs on them. After spawning is done (I wait at least 12-24 hours after) I take a plastic bag and add water from the tank then put the slate in it, then I transfer the egg covered slates to my fry tanks. After I renove the slate from the "parent" tank I replace it with a clean slate. The only possible problem with this method that I have discovered is you have to keep the water quality and temp as close to the exact same as possable or you may lose the "crop". Hope this helps
You probably don't need to use the bag for transport. If you pull the slate out of the tank the eggs will be fine for a while as long as they don't dry out. I used to move eggs from the show tank at one end of my old apartment to the hatchery at the other end of the apartment by just pulling up the slate and walking across. Some people claim that this can also reduce fungus on the eggs. Not sure about that though.

[dencio]

Thanks for your replies!

The angels are in their own tank, and are left alone when they have eggs to try and not stress them. I do come and feed them at feeding time but that's the only time I come close. Hmmm...now I am thinking that they might be two females. Sigh. Maybe I should put them back with my other angels and watch for a new pair to form.