Dwarf Angels

[RDtrack]

Okay

I posted on here earlier that I had purchased one of my all time favorites a Centropyge venustus (purple mask) recently.

Also at the same time my LFS got the venustus they also got a Centropyge multifasciatus (multi-bar). So for the last couple of days I've been pondering purchasing the pair for my 75 gallon.

Tonight when I went to check on the venustus, was out of town the last couple of days, the venustus had settled down and was eating everything The multi-bar on the other hand was not as skittish but still did not want to eat. The fish other then not eating looks extremely healthy and is picking at the live rock in the tank. So I'm undecided if I should purchase it or not.

Now while I was looking at the multi-bar I just happened to glance at the next tank over and there was my all time favorite Centropyge. A Centropyge aurantia (golden dwarf). I had one a year ago that I lost to ick in the tank. This one is eating like a pig and looks extremely healthy.

So needless to say I have purchased the venustus and have the other two on hold.

What is everyone's though about putting all three in a 75 gallon with a small Centropyge bispinosa (coral beauty)?

I wouldn't attempt it if they were all adults but they all are babies (or small). The multi-bar is the largest at maybe 2 inches. The other thing is the fish would be added together.

Thanks for the thoughts.

 

[mark54321]

I don't know about putting all three or four together in 75 gal. but I have flame angel and multibar angel in my 120 with no issues.

 

[downbeach]

First of all, I wouldn't consider any fish that wasn't active and eating well. It's not recommended that you put more than one of this type of fish in a tank of your size. I had two in my 180 at one time, that were OK, as long as they stayed in there own part of the tank. I had to re home them because they both developed a taste for something in my tank, i.e. one for coral and the other for clam mantle.
Here is an article worth reading.

 

[Ambition]

First of all, I wouldn't consider any fish that wasn't active and eating well. It's not recommended that you put more than one of this type of fish in a tank of your size. I had two in my 180 at one time, that were OK, as long as they stayed in there own part of the tank. I had to re home them because they both developed a taste for something in my tank, i.e. one for coral and the other for clam mantle.
Here is an article worth reading.

With certain fish, not eating isn't as important as is eating from the rocks or showing interest. Multibar angels are known to be difficult to adapt to aquarium life, so not eating at the LFS isn't a deal breaker by any means. Often times beig in an adequately sized tank full of LR is going to help more than being in a small LFS tank.

3 dwarf angels have been in 75 gallon tanks successfully before, Toddtrex comes to mind. It will be tricky and is going to be very hit or miss whether all of them will get along together long term. I suggest QTing each angel individually, in a decent sized tank with tons of established LR for grazing. Get them eating and fat, then introduce one at a time. Also, an acclimation box is going to be very helpful with this task.

 

[Rapide]

I have also been planning to get one of the two available Paracentropyges, but after speaking to people who have had them I gave the plan up... Too hard to get eating, and when they do, too hard to provide the right kind of food.

 

[cantonreef]

I'm in a similar situation. I have a flameback, coral beauty and a flame that I am intending to add to my 300g. I have them in QT at the moment but was planning on adding them all at the same time. My thinking is that by doing this, they wouldn't have their territory set so it might minimize aggression. I did this a few years ago with a flame, potters and coral beauty and it worked out well.

 

[Ambition]

I have also been planning to get one of the two available Paracentropyges, but after speaking to people who have had them I gave the plan up... Too hard to get eating, and when they do, too hard to provide the right kind of food.

Venusta is now a Centropyge I believe, while the multifasciata is a Paracentropyge.

 

[treylane]

All three are extremely passive by reef-fish standards, and even moreso by dwarf angel standards. I think the odds of being able to keep all three in a 4' tank with many caves are pretty good, assuming the multibar decides to eat at some point.

 

[Toddrtrex]

This is a video of my old 58 (( now a 65 )), and you can see 3 of the dwarfs you are talking about;

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_-Ma1xsjMTY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


I ended up losing the golden when it and the clowns got into a nasty fight and the S. haddoni ended up with a snack.

Still have the coral beauty (( in my 65 with a flame and multicolored )), and the venustus is in my 40 breeder -- the only dwarf in there. IMO/E, the venustus is doing a lot better being the only dwarf. It was eating fine before, but tended to hide a bit. Now it is out all the time and has shown a growth spurt over the last 1.5 years (( when I moved and moved the fish around )).

 

[RDtrack]

Thanks everyone for the advice.

I'm to go for it. Just waiting for the Multi-bar to eat at the LFS before I take all three home, hopefully today

The golden and venustus are eating and looking great, not to say the multibar isn't. It's getting less timid however still doesn't appear to grab for food when introduced. However it is picking at the live rock in the tank.

My main reason for attempting this is that they are all, like other have mentioned, the more docile of dwarfs. In addition all of them are juvs. Not sure if I would attempt it with full adults.

Thanks again.