Keeping fish in pairs and groups

[zaslax]

Thanks that helps a lot.

 

[Peter Schmiedel]

To the excellent suggestion from Minh i would like to add the Genus Liopropoma, and all the small gobies of Eviota and Trimma. But not togehter with the Lioporpoma

 

[zaslax]

Thanks I am looking at a pair of a smaller clownfish, a goby pair and some center piece fish.

 

[nickb]

Does anyone have any pointers to threads, discussions, etc. about keeping six-oline wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) in a small harem? Peter mentioned them in his initial post to this thread but I can't any more information when I do an RC search. Thanks.

 

[Peter Schmiedel]

Nick,
we still do it here in Europe my group (4) is still fine an spawns regularly

More infos about all my pairs and groups here but you will need a translation tool or German lessons

If there are questions regarding a single species we can always discuss it in this thread.

 

[Quatro]

Hi Peter,

If I remember correctly, you were planning a trip to Ascension Island to observe the Resplendent Angel. I was wondering how your trip went, and if you cared to share any info about these little beauties? Did you publish any photos from your trip? Finally, are you still considering a harem for your aquarium?

Thanks,
Harry

 

[Peter Schmiedel]

Hi Harry,

yes you remember right, guess you missed this thread.

 

[Quatro]

Awesome,

Thanks Peter!

 

[fussoverthis]

bump for an old thread which I think is great.

Anybody have any new pairs or groups? I'm particularly interested in info about those that keep groups of sixline wrasses.

Thanks!

 

[tibbs2]

I have a pair of spotted mandarins and common ocellaris. I wish to get a mated pair of jawfish. Does anyone have any tips on identifying a mail from a female?

 

[Jens Kallmeyer]

Hi tibbs2

I have 4 Jawfishes in my 110 gal tank, no problem. They all dug their burrows in one corner of the tank and every once in a while they "visit" each others burrow. So far I can not see any difference between them, except for size. Have not observed any mating yet.
I also have 3 blue and 2 yellow assessors in the tank, no distinction between sexes. The blue ones have bread a few times, but always swallowed the fry after a few days.
Another great fish to keep in groups is the yellow wrasse, Halichoeres chrysus. I had 4 im my last tank and they are just great, constantly turning over the sand and always in motion, without bothering corals.
I really think most fishes are much better off in pairs, and I personally avoid a fish rather than keeping a single specimen.

Cheers

Jens

 

[Peter Schmiedel]

Good idea to pull it in the open again!

Here an update list compared to my orignial posting

Sucessfull pairs and groups:

Bodianus bimaculatus
Apogon magriphora
Wettmorella niripiniata
Discordipinna griessingeri
Priolepis nocturna
Trimma cana
Tryssogobius colini
Emblemaria pandionis
Gramma linkii
Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis
Centropyge flavissimus
Centropyge potteri
Liopropoma carmabi
Premnas biaculeatus
Coryphopterus personatus
Valenciennea wardi
Signigobius biocellatus
Discordipinna griessingeri
Caracanthus unipiniata
Eviota bifasciata
Helcogramma striata
Pseudojuloides severnsi
Cirrhilabrus lineatus

Unclear results:
Plectranthias inermis - partially after apair was found it was ok

Belonepterygion fasciolatum - hard to say if it worked I never see them together and dont even know if I still have tow


But I also encountered set backs:
Siganus magnificus
Siganus vulpinus
Paragobiodon lacunicolus
Apogon maculatus

 

[jda]

My Potters wrasses court each other a lot (1 male and 2 females).

My Watanabei Pair also "try" and spawn, but nothing every comes out of it. They circle around each other really fast and sometimes the female releases eggs, but the male never seems to do anything. The other fish eat all the eggs, but it was fun to watch them. I have only seen it twice in about 16 months.

 

[billpa]

Great thread!

Great thread!

Great thread!

Im actually planning on keeping a harem of 4-5 C. Argi (Atlantic Cherub Angels) in my 180g tank. I've seen and heard many references to a guy named "Brad" who has kept upwards of 6 flame angels in the same tank. Is there a website or thread with more info? I have been unsuccessful with finding anyone currently keeping a harem of Cherubs although I have seen a few people keeping harems of Flames. I suppose Flames are more popular

I was planning on introducing all fish at once (obviously). My only problem so far is finding 4-5 tiny Cherubs at the same place. Anybody know of a reliable online retailer that could provide me with the above? I really dont want to order online but I might have to if I don't find them locally. Also, does anybody have a rough estimate on size for an unsexed C. Argi? They are small fish to begin with so that might be a tough if not impossible question to answer

The only thing I will have to do is extend the eggcrate covers on my tank. I owned one for a little over a year and it went carpet surfing one day. Im sure their tendancies to jump will increase as numbers increase and each fish is figuring out who the male is, who the females are.

TIA,
billpa

 

[Bax]

I am in the process of attempting to pair a pair of pseudochromis fridmani (orchid dottybacks). I have had the female for a while and just purchased a much younger male. The male has been suspended in a container in the females tank for several weeks now. She no longer spends the day attempting to break through the container to kill him and occasionally prances and shakes for him, so we are making real progress. I'll be releasing the male first into a new 75 g system and one or two days later adding the female. Hopefully, this approach will work out.

 

[overflowin]

my clowns (a. ocellaris) have been in my tank for about a month now, they were fresh from ORA when i got them. they have started bickering the last few weeks, and one seems to be getting bigger in relation to the other's growth. is this behavior normal when one asserts it dominance as the female, or are they just fighting? any advice on making them play nice?

thanks
donnie

 

[billpa]

Thats typical behavior....and bickering is most likely how high it will escalate. Mine calmed down in a few weeks. Then the male will never leave the females side. Have you been observing the submissive one (male) twitching? Thats a sign of submission.

HTH
billpa

 

[overflowin]

i was worried about the twitching...yes...only the smaller one twitches, and it usually makes the other back off for a second. he is now laying on the sand near where they sleep near eachother at night. he gets up and swims around, but she chases him back to that spot. there he sits and waits until something distracts him.

he seems healthy otherwise...there is no fighting when there is food in the water. now if they would just find their anemone...

donnie

 

[billpa]

Hey Donnie

Sounds perfectly normal. Enjoy that interaction because it will soon fade away. Its pretty cool to see how one asserts their dominance and the other naturally becomes submissive.

Give them some time. They will most likely find their anemone. Good luck!

billpa

 

[toonces]

well, this is excessively boring compared to you guys, but i have a pair of blue and yellow damsels- chrysiptera hemicyanea- in my 110. i tried to pair a couple of flames, but it did't work at all.

i'd still like to try a pair of dwarf angels. i'm going to be keeping my eyes open for the right fish.