coral beauty harem

[pondfrog]

While I don't expect this to end up as a breeding situation I would like to form a school of coral beauty angelfish. I am installing a 950g reef and was hoping to have a school of 6-7 of these guys, but was not sure about how to go about it.

The sexual dimorphism seems rather vague and so I am not sure I can rely on that to help out. I understand they can undergo a reverse change in sex back to a female from a male, but in a tank this big, if I did get 2 males I would think they might just set up different territories.

What is the experience with this sitution here? Anyone ever tried with these guys to just grab 7 fish and put them together?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[David M]

6-7 sounds like too many for a single harem, what will probably happen is they will split into two groups based on my reading only, not direct experience with that many. I have formed harems of 3-4 flames and currently have 3 cherubs in my 125. Get a group of the smallest ones you can find, say 1 to 1-1/2". Then get one that is larger than the rest. It should work itself out, just be on standby to remove any that are getting abused. (iow form the group in a tank you can control, not the 950) JMO

 

[pondfrog]

Before I finished reading your post, I thought....remove 'em.....from a 950! I'll call you over! LOL

The six to seven comes from Scott Michael's book in the beginning of the pygmy angelfish chapter. I really am not hung up on how many, just would like a harem. It seems like I've read several threads over the years of people doing this with flames, but they have more of a sexual dimorphism that can allow good selection.
I actually haven't seen many 1" CBs in anywhere, they all seem to come in as at least almost 2". So finding 4-5 1" CBs certainly seems like a longshot.
Thanks for the thoughts David.

 

[stykthyn]

I have seen several harems and they are all 3-4 fish. one had 5, but I dont think that any of them have had successful fry.

 

[Peter Schmiedel]

Steve,

according to my expierience the best is to keep them by 3 or even only as a pair. Our confined space does not allow proper set up of the sup territories for the different femals. Lacking space you will not see the typicall behavior and most likely not even spawning.

I have / had :

C. argi - trio --> spawning
C. loriculus - pairs as easy to sex --> spawning
C. potteri - pair --> to young to spawn
C. flavissimus - pair, rather agressive no spawning

The only exception is C.resplendens which you can keep in even larger groups of up to 20. I had a group of seven which also spawned.

 

[pondfrog]

Thanks guys, I will try to get a group of maybe 4 and see how it goes with three smaller ones and a larger one. I don't necessarily care if they spawn, although I suppose that would be an indication of good health/environment. Just want to see the interaction!
Thanks for the feedback!
Steve