JFK_Jr
New member
I recently was able to acquire a pair of female Genicanthus semifasciatus (Japanese or Masked Swallow Tail).
Members of the genus Genicanthus are planktivores and will not bother corals or clams in the aquarium, making them the perfect reef angel.
I'm not sure where my LFS got them from, but I was able to pick up the pair for $100.00. According to the wet web media and other sources that I researched on the net, these Angels are rarely seen in the Western aquarium trade. I have seen them selling on the Internet from $150.00 to $200.00 a piece when they are available.
Here's a link at The Marine Center.... http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/angelfish/maskedswallowtailangel/
I was able to find this article detailng the Genicanthus species.
Swallowing One Victim at a Time: The Genus Genicanthus by Henry C. Schultz III - ReefKeeping.com
In the article there is photographic documentation of a closely related angel... Genicanthus melanospilos. Apparently, not only do the females transform into males, but the opposite can also occur with males transforming into females. This is the first time since being in South Florida that I have come across this species... so I was extremely pleased when I found this pair.
Well my goal is to document the transformation if and when it occurs. I'm not 100% sure... but this may be the first photographic documentation of it's kind for this species within the confines of an aquarium.
Here's some pictures of my ladies...
Members of the genus Genicanthus are planktivores and will not bother corals or clams in the aquarium, making them the perfect reef angel.
I'm not sure where my LFS got them from, but I was able to pick up the pair for $100.00. According to the wet web media and other sources that I researched on the net, these Angels are rarely seen in the Western aquarium trade. I have seen them selling on the Internet from $150.00 to $200.00 a piece when they are available.
Here's a link at The Marine Center.... http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/angelfish/maskedswallowtailangel/
I was able to find this article detailng the Genicanthus species.
Swallowing One Victim at a Time: The Genus Genicanthus by Henry C. Schultz III - ReefKeeping.com
In the article there is photographic documentation of a closely related angel... Genicanthus melanospilos. Apparently, not only do the females transform into males, but the opposite can also occur with males transforming into females. This is the first time since being in South Florida that I have come across this species... so I was extremely pleased when I found this pair.
Well my goal is to document the transformation if and when it occurs. I'm not 100% sure... but this may be the first photographic documentation of it's kind for this species within the confines of an aquarium.
Here's some pictures of my ladies...
