Centropyge Venustus

[tjohnson27209]

Ok so I am interested in attempting to keep the Venustus Angel...after doing tons of research and browsing threads about this particular fish on this site I feel it is manageable with patience. Now my questions for everyone that has kept one on this forum are....

1) IF known where was your particular specimen collected?
2) What foods did you find were able to kick start their interest in food? *I plan on adding clam on the half shell and veggies and of course angel formula with sponge*
3) How long has you particular fish been in captivity?

My tank is a 54gal corner and the only fish currently in the tank are 3 green chromis and 2 female purple queen anthias. I have read about the use of a low lighting environment is best and I feel my lights fit that category I am using a hydroponic LED panel that has 225 white and blue LEDs 14watts total. There are plenty of caves and shadowy areas in my tank as I know they are cave dwellers. Any input would be greatly appreciated!
-Tyler

 

[Toddrtrex]

1) To the best of knowledge, main was collected in Vanuatu -- bought from the Diver's Den section of LA.
2) Haven't found a food that mine won't eat -- was eating within minutes of being released into my tank. Foods included; Rod's Food -- red, green and blue labels, LifeLine's Herbivore mix, PE Mysis, Prime Reef, Spectrum pellets, and whatever I am forgetting.
3) I received mine, 06/24/2010

Mine was fairly shy at first, and still is a little bit, but is out all the time, picking on the rocks, a few corals here and there, but no real damage. One of my favorite angels. Is currently sharing my 58 with a Coral Beauty and Multi-colored dwarfs -- the Venustus was the first one.

Here it is in the acclimation bucket;

From back in October; (( have a video somewhere ))

 

[tjohnson27209]

Thanks for the input.... from reading articles on the web I am getting mixed feelings about this fish from reading alot of the threads on here people are having luck with their specimens AS LONG AS they get a healthy fish. Todd just roughly describe the eating habits of your Venustus does it continually nip at microalgae on your rocks and then eat heavily when you add food or does it just sometimes nip at microalgae...i'm asking because my tank is relatively new so doesnt have that much microalgae on the rocks yet BUT i feed my fish religiously so there would always be greens *broccoli, nori, romaine lettuce* in my tank.
-Tyler

 

[Toddrtrex]

Mine will spend about 40% (( a rough guess )) of its time grazing on the rocks. When I do feed (( twice a day during the week, and try for 3 times during the weekends )), it eats with great gusto. Even though it is putting on weight, it still acts like I never feed it -- though all my angels act like that, little pigs.

For this angel (( and really any other one )) I would strongly recommend that it was put in with plenty of mature live rock -- I got lucky with mine eating prepared foods right away, but they don't always do that. A while ago I had a Golden dwarf angel that I never actually saw eat prepared foods, but was pretty fat from just grazing on my rocks all day long (( and an open brain. )).

 

[tjohnson27209]

Thats what I was worried about....I guess I will just let me know tank mature a while longer and then try one...thanks for the help
-Tyler