The development and growth of tropical Angelfish
click on the thumbnail to see the full-size image
| The first day free swimming for a small fry. The fry was moved to a
micro-aquarium with a small pipette. The yolk sack has been almost completely
consumed at this point and the fry feed on infusoria, microscopic organisms
in the aquarium. The meniscus at the surface of the micro-aquarium is visible
at the top of the photograph. |
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| Day 2 of free swimming. The fish are now feeding on freshly hatched brine
shrimp. I begin hatching the shrimp the day the fry begin to swim freely.
Two to three generous feedings a day are desirable at this point. |
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| Also day 2. Who's that fry in the mirror? Note the reflection at the
air water interface. This fry's air bladder is visible above and to the
right of the digestive organs. |
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| Day 3 of free swimming and growing fast. Click on the image at right
for a great view of the internal organs. The body is translucent but the
pigments that will eventually color this "Koy" angelfish are already beginning
to emerge. The "Koy" variety is really just a normal marble angelfish.
They will begin to show the natural yellow, orange, or red coloration when
young if fed a healthy diet of brine shrimp. |
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| Also Day 3. On this and some of the other images I digitally flattened
the background color being careful not to touch the image of the fry itself.
Some of my fish develop an iridescent blue color around the eyes. |
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| Another fish after three days of free swimming. Individual fry grow at different rates. |
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| Day 3 again. Who's that baby in the mirror? Or where's my food... |
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| Free swimming for five days now. This time I moved a freshly hatched
brine shrimp as well as the fry into the micro-aquarium. A tasty bite size
meal but this little one is already full. |
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| Day 5 of free swimming. The Dorsal and Ventral fins of the angelfish
are beginning emerge already. |
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| These siblings are one week old. |
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| Day 7 and still growing fast. |
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| Day 7 at higher magnification. A good view of the developed
gills and the internal organs. |
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