Bellus angels, pair or trio?

[Zante]

I'm looking at getting bellus angels for my tank, and I don't want just one, I like seeing the pair or group interaction in my tank.

I've done some research and I've been advised to get three females so that one will turn male.

I was looking at getting only two though, I'm not sure my tank is big enough to stock three (5x2x2 feet, see current stock below)

So, what happens? If there are only two females none will turn male?
What if I get a male and a female, will the male go back to being female?
If I get a male and a female will they pair up?

I like these fish very much but this pair/trio thing is starting to confuse me a lot. Can someone help me understand?


Current stock list
1 regal tang
1 tomini tang
1 pair of percula clowns
2 valenciennae puellaris
1 foxface (thinking of returning him)
1 scissortail dartfish (thinking of adding another)
1 aiptasia (non) eating filefish
1 falcula butterfly
2 mandarins

loadsa snails
6 cleaner shrimps
8 tuxedo urchins
1 pink cucumber (soon to be joined by another)

 

[o2manyfish]

I have kept pair and trio of the Bellus. I have been lucky to get males in the past. These are great fish, that don't pick on anything or anybody.

If you get the opportunity to get three small females I say go for it.

Dave B

 

[albano]

2 females is fine, 1 should become male, if you added a larger, more dominate Genicanthus angel, the smaller male may revert back to female colors...
But 2 Bellus should be fine

 

[Zante]

Ok, thanks, two it is!

 

[crabbyreef]

I've had awful luck with them. I have purchase 2 females in the past, 1 from my LFS and another from LA's DD. 1 lasted a month and the other a week. Both had apparent swim bladder issues. I guess it's luck-of-the-draw but I am giving up on them for a while. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[tonymission]

I got a 2" and 3" swallowtail in QT right now. Hoping the larger one turns to male down the road... I didn't know having three made it more likely ??

 

[albano]

... I didn't know having three made it more likely ??

Not in my experience... I've had 2 females, turn into a pair, with Bellus, Lamarck and Swallowtails.

 

[jnc914]

I received a pair of Bellus from Diver's Den and the male was brutal towards the female. Constant harrassment, chasing, nipping, etc. I believe it actually caused the early demise of the female. If I were to keep Bellus again, it would be a trio in a 8+ft tank, my 6ft 180g was not enough swim/escape room for the pair to properly coexist..

 

[Zante]

I received a pair of Bellus from Diver's Den and the male was brutal towards the female. Constant harrassment, chasing, nipping, etc. I believe it actually caused the early demise of the female. If I were to keep Bellus again, it would be a trio in a 8+ft tank, my 6ft 180g was not enough swim/escape room for the pair to properly coexist..

Yours is the first account of an "evil" bellus angel I have found in my research. Maybe you were particularly unlucky...

 

[jnc914]

I have heard of many aggressive Genicanthus angels. I have an aggressive female Semifasciatus right now in my 180. She goes after smaller angels and wrasse. Aggression is usually more common amongst females. Also, the smaller the tank, the more aggression you will likely see. I would also guess that some of the aggression I experienced with the male Bellus could partially be due to its attempt to spawn with an unwilling female.

 

[r-balljunkie]

they are deep water, relatively speaking. i dont see them above 100' usually, hard to catch. some of them might be "coaxed out" chemically during catching.