Centropyge bicolor (Bi-color Angelfish)

[JHG]

Just wondering if anyone has had a good experience with the Bi-color angelfish in a reef tank? I have a 42 gallon tank with a very light bio-load (Royal Dottyback, Yellowtail Damsel, Pair of Green Chromis and a pair of sailfin mollies nicknamed Cycle 1 & 2) that I was hoping to add the Bi-color angelfish to. I currently keep soft corals exclusively and was concerned whether the angel would make like a lawnmower...

Thanks,

J

 

[bubbaOPPD]

I have tried to keep them but all of them died within a week(3) I have given up on them. I read somwhere that they need lots of live rock with algae to survive since they wont always eat what you feed them. I had 100# of liverock in a 55gal and they still died and I saw no signs of disease on them they just wasted away. So Bi-colors and Naso Tangs are off my list of fishes which is weird since I have some fish in my tanks that are less hardy then they are from my studies here on RC. If you do get one you might want to make sure its eating not just picking at the food and spitting it out at the LFS...also it wouldn't hurt that the fish has been at the store for sometime and is still healthy. Good luck with the fish if you get him. Also I have a Flame Angel in a reef with 8 clams and softies no problems for about a year and a half.

 

[NexDog]

Similar experience here. Admittedly my tries were a year ago when I was more green but both died within a week. I think I could make a good go of one now though.

 

[ACBlinky]

Bicolours have a lousy survival reputation. Angels in general are known for starving themselves to death, but these guys have to be near the top of the list - it's HARD to find a healthy one and many seem to die after a while, often for no apparent reason.
IME healthy angels are fat, inquisitive, and take frozen foods readily. Don't buy one that's only grazing, sometimes it's impossible to wean them onto prepared foods. Get the store to feed the fish and if it looks at all questionable, either walk away or ask them to hold it for a week then come back and try again.

 

[Angel*Fish]

I plan on having a pair of these --

Here's my plan:

1) Find a healthy one - (good luck) - And just because a fish has been in LFS for 2 weeks doesn't mean it's healthy in this case. Best bet is to find someone you can trust who's in a position to find one for you - someone with contacts on the importation side

2)This fish will not be quarantined - He'll go directly into my main system but in my 30g refugium

3) 30g fuge will first be lushly stocked with all kinds of macro algae - And I mean about 2/3 of the tank

4) I'll also add a couple of pieces of new not-very-cured LR

5) I'm considering leaving the open brain in there - only if any nibbling is minimal

I see how h e does in there for about a month - when he's a good eater, he can go in the main tank

My method may be overkill, but I hate dead fish...

PS I can't remember the length of hand, but it seems like bicolors get to be 6 in (?) That may be a little on the large size for a 42 g.
Of course you can always use his growth as an excuse to upgrade.