In this article, we will answer the question “Why are my angelfish eggs turning white?”. We will also discuss some prevention tips.
Why are my angelfish eggs turning white?
Fungus growth causes angelfish eggs to turn white; this usually happens when the female angelfish lay eggs that are not fertilized by the male angelfish. Bacteria in the tank eat away at the eggs’ shells over time, allowing fungus spores to thrive.
To solve the problem of white eggs, you must first figure out what prevents the male from fertilizing the eggs. As we will show you later, this phenomenon is treatable if you take the appropriate steps.
What makes the angelfish eggs white?
The main cause for the angelfish eggs turning white is fungal development. This happens in areas where decomposing materials are present.
Fungi are not a problem in our aquarium because it is a contained place with plenty of dead food. As a result, if the eggs are in perfect condition, they should be free of fungus and develop normally.
When the eggs are left unattended for any reason, the bacteria in your tank eat away at the outer shell, allowing fungal spores to penetrate. As a result, the eggs become white.
When you fail to provide the fish with adequate aquarium settings (such as changing the water regularly), you exacerbate the bacteria problem. Angelfish may also overlook the eggs if they are in a stressful environment. Even under ideal conditions, their eggs would not be viable in this situation.
If the eggs turn white, grey, or even brown, the fungus may be the cause. Additionally, freshwater angelfish eggs tend to develop more fungi than saltwater angelfish eggs. This is because fungi thrive better in lower salt concentration environments. Thus, fungal growth is extremely common in angelfish eggs in freshwater tanks.
When angelfish eggs turn white, some fish breeders become concerned. Many others, on the other hand, are completely unaware. Because they are unaware of the right hue of healthy angelfish eggs, they are unaware that white angelfish eggs constitute an issue.
When angelfish eggs are healthy, their colour is supposed to be translucent or yellow. If they have any other colour variation, it is a bad sign.
How to avoid angelfish eggs from turning white?
Angelfish breeding appears to be an easy process. This is because when you add more than one individual in the tank, they usually pair up very easily. Due to this easy pair up, the mating behaviour will probably induce the female to egg production. If this is so, why do some breeders have difficulties to reproduce angelfish? Usually this happens due to a non-fertilisation of the eggs by the male. For this reason, eggs may turn white. However, there are some things you could try before giving up on breeding an angelfish pair.
Encourage male fertilisation
Once you notice the male is not fertilising the eggs, you should try to detect the reason he is not doing it. You can find an excellent solution by answering this question. Experts suggest that the male sometimes may be inexperienced when fertilising the eggs. For this reason he does not know what to do.
However, in many circumstances, it is a matter of personal privacy. When it comes to prepping for a new clutch of eggs, angelfish don’t give a damn about privacy. However, when they lay the eggs, they will require some privacy and they become more protective and selective.
Angelfish are fiercely protective of their young, and keeping them safe usually necessitates them abandoning their conventional position in the tank’s routine.
People who continuously touch the tank or wave at the fish, on the other hand, could be the source of the problem. This is also true of those who continue to photograph the fish.
This is a nuisance. Allow the male fish to care for their eggs by leaving them alone. If other people are the source of the distraction, relocate your tank to an area where your fish can work uninterrupted.
Angelfish, as previously said, are more than glad to care for, clean, and fertilize their new eggs. Give them no incentive to quit their responsibilities.
While it is easy to point the finger at the male fish for becoming side-tracked, they do not always have a choice. In the case of existing a predator or a more aggressive fish around, male angelfish may also have difficulties to fertilise the eggs. At least not when they’re so preoccupied with fending off hostile forces.
If this is your case, you can try to separate your other fish to give your angelfish some tranquil space to fertilise his eggs. You can also opt for moving the breeding pair to another tank for them to restart the mating and breeding process.
Maintain appropriate breeding conditions
The first two statements, of course, presume that your male fish has failed to fertilize his eggs. However, there are occasions when the male fertilizes his eggs and they continue to turn white. When a female fish lays eggs near fast-moving water, this happens.
The male will spray his sperm on the eggs, but it will be washed away by the water. Any source of turbulent water poses a hazard to your eggs’ survival. Before you blame your male angelfish for not performing his duties, make sure the mating spot is not near any fast-moving water.
What happens, though, when you have the ideal place, your fish have complete solitude, and no other fish are endangering their young, but the eggs continue to turn white? There are a few more things you should also consider.
To lay eggs, you will need a female angelfish, and to fertilize them, you’ll need a male angelfish. The female angelfish can deposit eggs on her own. At this point, the male fish isn’t required. However, if the eggs are present and the male fish is not fertilizing, you must examine the potential of two female fish.
This is extremely rare in professional tanks. If you’re unfamiliar with these critters, don’t be surprised if you can’t tell the genders apart.
As I previously stated, rotting waste could also be a source of fungal development. Because you feed your fish with dead food, it will decompose over time in the tank.
As a result, I strongly advise against overfeeding the angelfish. It’s reasonable to assume they require more energy to reproduce; nevertheless, too much waste will hasten the growth of bacteria and fungi.
The fungus also grows on fish eggs in alkaline water, which has a rather high pH level. The fungus does not appear to thrive in an acidic environment.
As a result, changing the water too frequently could be a problem. This is because fish urinate in them, which naturally lowers the pH levels.
As a result, you should seek equilibrium. In the case you choose to make pH lower, do not consider having more tankmates, às your angelfish could become more stressed and the breeding process would not be successful.
My angelfish eggs have turned white, what then?
Usually, angelfish are very careful with their eggs and become very protective. They also keep the eggs area very clean. In many situations, though, if they decline, the parents will simply consume them. If this does not occur, you will need to remove them from the tank. Otherwise, they’ll make shambles of things.
If you are a beginner aquarist breeding angelfish, you can experience some not so nice situations, às some angelfish may eat their own eggs before they turn white. This happens when the angelfish are in an unpleasant or stressful condition.
Conclusion
In this article, we answered the question “Why are my angelfish eggs turning white?”. We also discussed some prevention tips.
If you have any thoughts or doubts, feel free to drop us a comment below!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Why are my angelfish eggs turning white?
How can you increase the chances of acquiring viable eggs that do not turn white?
Even after they have been fertilized, eggs can attract fungus. In such circumstances, treat the water with methylene blue. The fungus will be kept at bay. It is also important to give some attention to the breeding tank location and setup. The use of slate stones is encouraged. Any porous material, such as wood, should be avoided.
What is the angelfish eggs appearance right before hatching?
Usually, angelfish eggs are sort of translucid and about the size of a pin’s head. Unfertilized eggs will develop a white fungus on their surface. Angelfish will aerate the eggs to ensure that they receive oxygen, and they will constantly guard and clean the eggs.
How long do angelfish eggs take to hatch?
At 80° F, the angelfish eggs will hatch in around 60 hours. After hatching, the fry will be in the wiggler stage for around 5 days. Feed the angelfish fry only when they are free-swimming after this stage.
Do angelfish eat their babies?
Adult angelfish, in most situations, will not consume their young, especially if they have had several litters. If you keep the parents with the fries in the same tank, they will spend more time being protective and may take longer periods to begin another reproductive cycle.
Can you overfeed angelfish fry?
The secret to speedy and healthy angelfish development is to feed them small amounts of food frequently so that they have food in their tummies the majority of the time, while not overfeeding them. Feeding angelfish fry, like feeding adult angelfish, must be properly monitored and balanced.
Should you separate angelfish fry?
Angelfish fry, also known as angelfish offspring, should be kept as far away from more aggressive fish as possible. Experts usually separate them before the eggs hatch. They also need clean, oxygenated, warm water that is free of dirt. Breeders can start feeding angelfish fry when they are around a week old.
References
Susel, G. Why do Angelfish Eggs Turn White? (prevention Tips). https://petfishonline.com/why-angelfish-eggs-turn-white/
Kelsen, M. 2020. Angelfish Eggs Turn White. https://www.yourfishguide.com/angelfish-eggs-turn-white/
