dwarf/pygmy angelfish harem formation?

[fermentedhiker]

For those who've managed to establish a dwarf angelfish harem in a DT; What species did you choose? How many individuals did you start with? And what size did you start with?

Any other useful info you want to include is welcome.

Thanks
Adam

 

[fla2341]

I have formed pairs only.
Flame, Lemon Peel, Coral Beauty, Pygmy/Chrub and Keyhole angels.

All the Flames I've had tend to pick at corals and clams. Devistated a huge Lepto coral once. Killed 2 clams.

I always started with the smallest/youngest I could get and let them sort it out. Don't get fully adult angels as the 2 times I've done this the gender was evidently set and they either fought and one killed the other or one jumped out. Young angels are female. The most dominate/larger one usually will be the male.
Sorting out which ends up male or female usually takes a few months of chasing. I've done Flame, Coral Beauty and Lemon Peel in a 180 gallon display tank at the same time. In that case they ignored the conspecifics and focused on each other. Also in this one case the Flames ignored everything but the clams. Only 1 ate my two clams after they paired up.

Matt P. Formed a Pygmy/chrub harem with 3 but IIRC one was later killed.

Hope this helps

 

[snorvich]

I have a trio (MFF) of flame backs.

 

[JC863]

I have a trio of Bicolor Angels that get along great, always swimming and eating together very fun to watch. They are all roughly 2"-2.5"

 

[fermentedhiker]

I have formed pairs only.
Flame, Lemon Peel, Coral Beauty, Pygmy/Chrub and Keyhole angels.

All the Flames I've had tend to pick at corals and clams. Devistated a huge Lepto coral once. Killed 2 clams.

I always started with the smallest/youngest I could get and let them sort it out. Don't get fully adult angels as the 2 times I've done this the gender was evidently set and they either fought and one killed the other or one jumped out. Young angels are female. The most dominate/larger one usually will be the male.
Sorting out which ends up male or female usually takes a few months of chasing. I've done Flame, Coral Beauty and Lemon Peel in a 180 gallon display tank at the same time. In that case they ignored the conspecifics and focused on each other. Also in this one case the Flames ignored everything but the clams. Only 1 ate my two clams after they paired up.

Matt P. Formed a Pygmy/chrub harem with 3 but IIRC one was later killed.

Hope this helps

Thanks. How big were the juvies you started with <1" or <2"? I was looking at african flamebacks, cherub, or fishers ATM, but the tank I'll likely be working with is a 93 gallon cube, so I'm not sure if it's big enough to work.

 

[fermentedhiker]

I have a trio (MFF) of flame backs.

What size did you start with? Did you start with those three or did you start with a bigger group and have to remove some?

Thanks

 

[fla2341]

If Cherub or Flameback look for 1" or smaller.
Fishers look for 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" or smaller.

Not to hijack your thread fermentedhiker but
JC863 - Can you shoot a pic. or video. I'd like to see a trio of Bicolors interacting. I've never had any.

 

[fermentedhiker]

No apologies necessary. I think it would be awesome to see video footage of anyone's setup.

 

[JC863]

Ya I have several pics ill have to upload them when i can, same with the videos it is really cool they swim in like a column following either my male or the largest female. My 2 females hang out more together with each other and then my male just comes to eat with them then swim a little then goes off by himself again.

 

[JC863]

Here they are. Can't figure out how to submit a video.

 

[JC863]

And some more.

 

[fla2341]

Very nice.

I use to link to a you-tube video which I had up loaded there.

Maybe a mod can chime in.

 

[fla2341]

This wasn't on harem formation but I did some work on breeding Flames about a year+ ago if you're interested:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2162845

 

[fermentedhiker]

This wasn't on harem formation but I did some work on breeding Flames about a year+ ago if you're interested:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2162845

Thanks for the link, that was a great read. Are you going to give it another go at some point?

 

[zooman72]

I have twice paired cherub's in my 29g gorgonian reef (significant rockwork) - both times I introduced a tiny (just under 1") female to a large obvious male (just over 2") about an hour before total lights out. Both times the male chased the female a bit (a little rougher the second time) until the light went out, and by morning the chasing had ceased. I am considering upsizing the 29g to a 40B, and maybe adding another smaller female when I do. The tank also has 5 royal grammas with no issues between them...

 

[JC863]

I also have a cherub and a coral beauty in my reef together that I have had for 3 years with no problem in a 54 corner tank.

That is a great link fla2341.

 

[fermentedhiker]

I also have a cherub and a coral beauty in my reef together that I have had for 3 years with no problem in a 54 corner tank.

That is a great link fla2341.

How have they been with your corals?

 

[fermentedhiker]

I have twice paired cherub's in my 29g gorgonian reef (significant rockwork) - both times I introduced a tiny (just under 1") female to a large obvious male (just over 2") about an hour before total lights out. Both times the male chased the female a bit (a little rougher the second time) until the light went out, and by morning the chasing had ceased. I am considering upsizing the 29g to a 40B, and maybe adding another smaller female when I do. The tank also has 5 royal grammas with no issues between them...

Thanks for the info. Any pics of the gorgonian reef? I bet that's beautiful.

 

[JC863]

My Cherub and Coral Beauty have never bothered my corals, but I had to take my male Bi-color out because of his nipping, they never showed any aggression towards one anther. I have had several people tell me they have had problems with coral beauties with nipping at corals they had so there is still the risk. Its all personality of the fish.