Euxiphipops really that difficult?

[LobsterOfJustice]

Hey all,

I was surfing wetwebmedia because I was bored and read up on their page on Euxiphipops angels (Majestic, Blueface, and Sixbar). They made them out to be pretty difficult, along the lines of potters or regals. Even reccomended chaetodontoplus over them. Just curious as I have never heard this before. I had a Majestic for about 3 years previously but gave him away because of tank size. Now that I've got a larger tank I purchased a new juvie, and he's been a real champ eating from day one, taking a beating from the multicolor, never missing a beat or being a poor sport.

Am I just lucky? Or is WWM exaggerating things? Thinking about getting a blueface as well.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

I have experience with all three species and found all of them quite hardy if you get a strong fish that is eating. I think a lot of the older info has these fish pegged as difficult but in a modern reef system with live rock they are as hardy as most other Pomacanthus. I thinks a huge part of the problem with the reputation of these fish is that most of them are collected in the Philipines and Indonesia and their collection and handling techniques are quite suspect. If you start out with a healthy fish in the 2-5 inch size range that has been properly collected and housed in a proper environment I think they are pretty bulletproof.

 

[AquaKnight]

It does sound like a bit of an overstatement. My Blueface was just slightly touchy to get eating, but 90% of the fish we keep are. Came around in 2 days and has been fine in the 3 years of my ownership.

And the Six-Bar, for being a sub-$50 large angel is incredibly hardy for that price segment. Let's not fool ourselves into why Flagfins are $35 at some places, $25 Lamarcks, Singapores $19. But for the prices of SixBars I don't ever recall a story of a bad one.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Yeah, I was really surprised. They went as far to say things like "If you're going to throw away your money on these fish"... and "utterly dismal record", and "Even given that you pick out a good specimen, provide it adequate shelter and foods/feeding, most of these angels will perish within a few months."

Well my little 1.25" majestic is doing great, just wondering if he's gonna up and die like these guys suggest.

 

[tcmfish]

IME with blueface and majestic, just a little shy thats it.

Strides are being made so quickly in this hobby, that it isn't hard for info to get outdated.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

They went as far to say things like "If you're going to throw away your money on these fish"... and "utterly dismal record", and "Even given that you pick out a good specimen, provide it adequate shelter and foods/feeding, most of these angels will perish within a few months."

ridiculously outdated information

 

[gasman059]

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

ridiculously outdated information

 

[IFbettas]

WetWebMedia also says that powder blue tangs are almost impossible to keep alive. They really need to update their pages.

 

[WuHT]

Actually are there any outgoing euxiphipops ? As nice as they look, if they're always hiding it does take away some of it's value.

 

[michael_cb_125]

All fish are individuals. My Majestic angel was an extremely outgoing fish and rarely hid.
Megan's Blueface juvenile would eat from my hand.

~Michael

 

[SDguy]

While the information may be somewhat outdated, you have to remember that for many beginner/novice aquarists, it still applies. The fact is that many first time aquarists could easily have a navarchus or a powder blue tang die in their care.

 

[dflad]

Actually are there any outgoing euxiphipops ? As nice as they look, if they're always hiding it does take away some of it's value.

Hmmm, i dont agree with this. once established many euxiphipops become very bold. my majestic is out all the time and most likely one of the most dominant angels in my tank.

 

[rkelley_10]

This article helped me choose my majestic:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/7/fish

make sure if you do by any angel at an LFS that the specimen in question is there for a coulple weeks and that you personally see it take prepared foods.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

A lot of Bob Fenners stuff needs to be updated IMO, but I think most of his info is pretty much on the mark. I think that for the typical FO tank (crushed coral, canister filter, plastic plants, ect) a few decades back euxiphipops were indeed a pretty risky fish and I still dont think they are as reliably hardy as most other Pomacanthus (emp, koran, ect) but in a modern reef system reef system they are fairly hardy. With the majestic and blueface they were both quite shy compared with most others angels, especially in the beginning, but in time both of them become quite bold.

The fact is that many first time aquarists could easily have a navarchus or a powder blue tang die in their care.

Good point.

 

[tcmfish]

An angel being bold or outgoing isn't eating out of your hand or approaching you when you come by the tank, it is how submissive or dominant it is over other fish, and these angels aren't as dominant as a big emp or other Pomacanthus. Many people report they like to "hug the rocks" and the ones I have kept have also been a more passive angel. In one of the big display tanks at a store I used to work at we kept an Annularis and a Majestic and even though the tank was 1500 gallons the annularis made sure the majestic knew that it was the boss.

They just aren't as dominant as other fish. I am only speaking about majestics and bluefaces, I have no experience with the six bar and don't know anyone who has although I'm sure someone is keeping one. I really like six bars though and want one someday when I have a tank large enough, just they get so big!

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

Out of curiosity I pulled Scott Michaels angelfish book out and looked to see what he had to say. He lists all of the Pomacanthus either a 4 or 5 on his 1-5 point hardyness scale (5 being very hardy) except the majestic and blueface. He lists the blueface as a 3-4 and the majestic as a 2-3 and mentions some issues with the majestic. He does mention that with the majestics range most of them come from cyanide territory and being a secretive fish by nature this often does not bode well. I am currently keeping a majestic and it has been an absolutely bulletproof fish for me.