angelfish update

There are a few bare patches on the leaf this morning, and a few more white eggs. It looks like they are trying to remove the bad ones. Right now while one parent is fanning the eggs, the other is across the tank cleaning a new anubias leaf. I bet the hatching is close, and they will move the wigglers off that leaf to get them away from the fungus (nothing looks fuzzy yet though). My youngest is really excited to see baby angels this time. I didn't tell her it might not last long- I made no efforts to get brine shrimp. I really doubt there's enough microorganisms in the tank to feed fry for long . . . I'm thinking to add a bit more leaf litter, but this time tucked into crevices in the hardscape, so the floor will stay clear for easy cleaning.

Later in the day: I made a mistake. Testing water parameters on all my tanks this morning before maintenance, the 45 had 10ppm nitrate. I debated what to do: leave it alone until after the eggs hatch to avoid disturbing anything, or do a usual water change to make the tank cleaner. I've been trying to feed the angels more carefully since there's no bottom-feeder fish in the tank, slow so they don't miss too much but some food still falls to the bottom here and there. I'm hoping the snails clean up but . . . 

I finally decided having cleaner water was the better option. Angels have been good up until now. For some reason when I lifted the lid panel they freaked out, crashed into walls again, male banged himself hard now is holding one pectoral clamped against his body. I was very careful to make the new water exactly same temperature as the tank, and to add it slow and gradual, and to do the siphoning/ pouring of new water farthest from where the eggs are.

But looks like I really upset the parents. Washed out female has gone back to tending the eggs, but the male isn't. I suspect because he is hurt. I was cleaning the betta tank when my husband called me back into the room: "hey, it looks like your angels are fighting." The female was jerking her pelvic fins wide, shaking herself alongside the male, making threatening little rushes at him and then pivoting to swim back towards the eggs. I think she was getting after him for not helping. And now the eggs are failing fast- more white ones, more blank patches as they pick at them. I should have just left it all alone.

Of course, what does it matter when I don't have a growout tank or proper food. I just wanted to see them have success hatching fry once, even if a small number. And then I will get some cories or something to range around on the bottom again. Or add my kuhlis back.