Angelfish Pairing?

[SoloChromis]

After doing some research into the natural behaviors and social structures of angelfish in the wild, I have come to realize that most species will pair up, and I would feel in a way guilty keeping an animal by itself, knowing it would have a partner in it's natural habitat. I know Copps keeps several pairs of angels, as well as harems, and I wanted to know if anyone else has attempted pairing angelfish, and how they went about doing it. Two of the species Im most interest in pairing up in the future would be flames and majestics(navarchus). Pics would be most appreciated :bum:

 

[Dmorty217]

The only way to do this is to get two juveniles or one that is adult coloration and a juvenile but its not a sure thing. Flames are easier to tell with, one has a pointed anal fin the other is rounded. I don't remember which has the pointed and which one has the rounded

 

[Marshall O]

Flames are easier to tell with, one has a pointed anal fin the other is rounded. I don't remember which has the pointed and which one has the rounded

Males have pointed fins, females rounded

 

[TigeBell]

The only way to do this is to get two juveniles or one that is adult coloration and a juvenile but its not a sure thing. Flames are easier to tell with, one has a pointed anal fin the other is rounded. I don't remember which has the pointed and which one has the rounded

Males have pointed fins, females rounded

++++

And the blue on a female's anal fin is less then what the male would have.

 

[pinnatus]

I have a pair of emperors in my tank. Or at least I have 2, not sure if they are a pair, they don't interact much. But they don't kill each other either.

I got them as juveniles and let them grow up together.

As Juveniles:

Here they are more recently:

 

[SoloChromis]

I have a pair of emperors in my tank. Or at least I have 2, not sure if they are a pair, they don't interact much. But they don't kill each other either.

I got them as juveniles and let them grow up together.

As Juveniles:

Here they are more recently:

Gorgeous emperors, not to mention that moorish idol. How long have you had him?

 

[pinnatus]

6 years in Feb/March

 

[snorvich]

6 years in Feb/March

Very impressive Ken!! Nice looking fish!!!!

 

[pktech]

Wow Ken!!! They're amazing! More pics please

 

[Dmorty217]

Males have pointed fins, females rounded

Thank you Sir!

 

[alton]

My Flames took a few months to pair up, my Regals have been together over a year and have still not paired up.

 

[pinnatus]

Very impressive Ken!! Nice looking fish!!!!

Thanks, Steve. The smaller emperor has a spot that lost the color on one side of its head, I don't know why. I was thinking HLLE disease, but it never seems to get better or worse, so i dunno.

Wow Ken!!! They're amazing! More pics please

Thanks!

What would you like to see pictures of? Those pics actually show most of my fish. I don't keep very many fish, since the fish I do have get pretty big and I want them to have enough room. Plus the Idol doesn't compete really well if I had a bazillion fish, and for me, the Idol is the priority in the tank. I have already removed a few fish over time that were either harassing the Idol or eating so much that it was getting thin.

My current fish list is:

Moorish idol
2 Emperor Angels
Blonde Naso tang
Powder Blue tang
Blue Devil


My latest goal is to have pairs or groups of fish. Not doing great so far with that goal except with the angels.


I had a second blonde Naso, but it died, I believe due to flukes.




Baby picture:

 

[pinnatus]

Transitioning

 

[moriarty]

Wow Ken! Beautiful fish!

 

[Daniel62]

What foods does your MI like best?

 

[pinnatus]

I feed it mostly pellets. Lately I have mixed up NLS pellets (small) with Formula II pellets (large) and feed that. The Idol mostly eats the small, but will occasionally eat the large. The Emps prefer the large size but also eat the small. Sometimes I supplement with Nori. Occasionally I will add some frozen food of smoe type or another. Rod's food has helped when the Idol has gone on an occasional feeding strike.

If you go to the Moorish Idol Primer thread, I have written a lot more about my experiences in keeping this fish. I am very happy to answer questions or post pics of my Idol any time, but I am trying to not get this thread about angel pairing too off track.

 

[Stevenliu9]

I've had my two flame angels in my 180 now for 3 weeks. They were never aggressive to each other just sniffing each other and go separate ways. Now they are doing the mating dance.

 

[Patr0012001]

I have had a large blue Angel for 3 months and about the add an Queen of the same size, it my understanding that lived together in the wild. The Queen will be in QT for another 1 1/2 weeks. Should it worked?

 

[ThRoewer]

I have a pair of emperors in my tank. Or at least I have 2, not sure if they are a pair, they don't interact much. But they don't kill each other either.

I got them as juveniles and let them grow up together.

As Juveniles:

Here they are more recently:

I would say they are a pair, but for now both still females. The larger one will eventually become the male.

 

[pinnatus]

How can you tell?