Experience with watanabei angels?

[rssjsb]

Liveaquaria describes these fish as "difficult," and I'm wondering why.

I would love to hear from anyone who has experience with this fish. Are they picky eaters, or are they like other fish (e.g., copperband butterflies, goldflake angels) that seem to do fine for six months and then just die?

I'm considering one (or a pair if I can find one) for my new 185.

TIA.

 

[LemonLemon]

difficult to decompress i would guess.

most male genicanthus occur at fairly deeper waters. small females tend to do better.

 

[rekn]

females can turn into males.


if you get them from LA i would consider them as hardy as the more common centropyge.

 

[flameangel88]

Do a search on,a thrd titled "For the love of genicanthus". it contain lots of good info and pics.

 

[flameangel88]

Here's the link to that thrd
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1284946

The pic of the 2" female on the last page is from LA DD. She's been eating frozen and pellets.

 

[aznepydna]

I have two females. One is about two inches and the other 4.5 inches. They are the best eaters that I have. They both eat pellets, flake, pe mysis, and any other food I throw in the tank. Both were purchased from Divers Den. Can't go wrong when getting them from there.

 

[snorvich]

I have two females. One is about two inches and the other 4.5 inches. They are the best eaters that I have. They both eat pellets, flake, pe mysis, and any other food I throw in the tank. Both were purchased from Divers Den. Can't go wrong when getting them from there.

I agree. If you are going to add two, they MUST be added together.

 

[rssjsb]

Thanks everyone!

 

[Bret61081]

I have 2 females and they were added at separate times. I had the larger of the 2 for almost 2 years before finding a killer deal on the 2nd one and couldnt resist! I had always hoped the first one I got would revert back to a male since when I first got it it still had some lines but never happened. had them together over a year now with no issues. Both ate pellets from day one, but I would agree with the decompression problems. Evey once in a while one of mine will start swimming funny, usually last 2-3 days and goes away. I feel in love with this fish several years ago and the main reason for my upgrading tanks was to be able to keep one! Beautiful fish IMO!

 

[9thwonder]

what size tank do they require?

 

[SDguy]

Liveaquaria describes these fish as "difficult," and I'm wondering why.

Honetly, a good 75% of the ones I see in LFS are anywhere from just slightly "off" to dead by tomorrow. So I'd probably agree that it's more about getting a good one and treating it well, than keeping a healthy one, healthy.

 

[rssjsb]

I would probably only buy one of these fish from the DD for just this reason.

 

[flameangel88]

Honetly, a good 75% of the ones I see in LFS are anywhere from just slightly "off" to dead by tomorrow. So I'd probably agree that it's more about getting a good one and treating it well, than keeping a healthy one, healthy.

+1.. The recent 2" female I received from DD was eating the next day and swimming in the open within the week and eating pellets. Very nice looking out of the bag.

 

[SDguy]

Plus, it's not like the issues I've seen with them have been obvious and easy. Ich? Pfft... no problem. Weird swimming.... sunken in bodies, though eating.... overall deterioration... those can all be tough to treat.