Keeping fish in pairs and groups

MB,

I have pairs of L.rubre, salesi and carmabi. Fort all of them one is significant bigger and has a really big round middle part. These ones I consider to be the females. I had the lick that I could always pick two out of serveral so that I could pay attention all possible sex determination signs.

Next is that I will try to keep them in a group to see how they will react.
 
NR,

I had them as a trio. Centropyge are born as females and can change sex to males if they are the dominat fish. Get really small ones and let them fight out hwo is the boss = male.
 
Peter Schmiedel said:
MB,

I have pairs of L.rubre, salesi and carmabi. Fort all of them one is significant bigger and has a really big round middle part. These ones I consider to be the females. I had the lick that I could always pick two out of serveral so that I could pay attention all possible sex determination signs.

Next is that I will try to keep them in a group to see how they will react.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info, Peter. Unfortunately, the few swalesi I've seen here have been single fish so there's nothing to compare to! But they were rather on the small and slim side so maybe males??

Keep us posted on your experiment of keeping them in groups!
 
NR- I have formed a few pairs and trios of flame angels by placing 5 or 6 into a 60 gallon tank with a lot of rockwork, pvc tubes, etc. Often I have to pull one early as it ends up being the scapegoat but sometimes not. Usually a dominant fish will appear almost immediately and will accept and reject various fish. Close observation will tell you which are compatible. Of course this does not necessirly mean they are male/ females pairs or trios but I think it's a good guess. The pairs and trios I have formed this way are to this day living in harmony in crowded reef tanks and I have observed at least one pair (the only pair I kept for a while) engaged in spawning behavior, though no eggs were released to my knowledge. One note, a good cover is needed for the tank for this technique :D Nothing worse than finding a $40 flame angel on the floor in the AM. :(
 
One problem i dont have the $ to buy a big tank for pairing. Is there someone with a pair already that is looking to sell. Probaly not eh.
 
I'm confused, where do you plan to put pair? A 60 is not a "big tank" at all all would certainly be the bare minimum I would suggest for a pair of dwarf angels.
 
I am planning a 33 gallon or a 55 gallon thank. I wanted a pair of Cherubs if i was going to get a 33 but people have been saying they get too aggressive so i was going to put in a single Bicolour. If i am getting a 55 gallon i would like a pair of Bicolors but i cannot seem to find a pair. I dont have a 90 gallon tank to pair them in and my LFS has no space to pair them for me.
 
OK, JMO but those tanks are pretty small for what you want. The 33 is right out and the 55 may be OK for the cheribs but I certainly wouldn't want to put two bi-colors in there. Also do a little reading before deciding on the bi-color, not known to be a great "starter" fish. :)
 
i currently have a pair of gobiosoma oceanops, no spawning activity as of yet, but i am hopeful as they grow they start.

i have had a pair of a. ocellaris, wich i unfortunately lost both in a silicone seam 'incident'...and also i had a pair of yellow coris wrasses, which is down to one now, due to a very aggressive and semmingly uncatchable GSM. after i remove the clown i plan on another yellow wrasse.

i am also keeping an a. guttata in my tank, which i would like to add a couple buddies for, a pistol shrimp and a mate.

has anyone been successful keeping multiple firefish in a relatively small aquarium? my tank is only 75 gallons right now, but i am hopeful to upgrade to 180 or 200 in a few years.

donnie
 
overflowin said:
....

has anyone been successful keeping multiple firefish in a relatively small aquarium? my tank is only 75 gallons right now, but i am hopeful to upgrade to 180 or 200 in a few years.

donnie
Click to expand...
Firefish only live single or one pair. Anything more than one pair will end up with one chase out of the tank (to the carpet). Sometime one firefish will chase another out of the tank after a few months.
 
NR,

I agree with David. Pairíng bigger species in thsi tnaks wont work as they fis has not enough space. Stay with the idea of a pair and focus on C.argi, acanthops or aurantonotus. Only these ones stay small enough for your tank and are in your budget scope.
 
peter,

would you say a 75 gallon tank is enough room for a pair of Flame angels or maybe coral beauties? these are the fish i am trying to decide between, and it would be great if i could provide a suitable home for a pair.

i currently have 2 neon gobies, a royal gramma, a yellow coris wrasse and an orange spotted prawn goby. there is also a maroon clown in there that i am trying to remove. future inhabitants would be another yellow wrasse, a second orange spotted goby and pistol, possibly a pair of s. nematodes w/ pistol. then last to be introduced would be a dwarf angel as a centerpiece. total water volume is around 130 gallons with my 2 refugiums...heavily skimmed.

thanks,
donnie
 
I have a pair of flames in a 90 I service and it is way more stocked then that (overstocked in fact :rolleyes: ). There is a purple tang and a blueface angel in there too :eek1: . A 90 is the same as a 75 but a bit taller, I think it would be fine for a pair of flames but while I don't know what the books say, IME coral beauties can get quite a bit larger.
 
Maybe I will mastwer keeping a single fish before i think of pairs. Thanks for all your help i have bookmarked this thread for when the time for a pair comes.
 
NR, early in this thread I think there are some posts about why it is so rewarding to keep fish in pairs and groups. It is the interaction of your fish that makes your tank interesting and enjoyable, so many people start out with a hodge-podge mix of unrealted fish from all corners of the earth and wonder why they get bored. :rolleyes: One of the most stunning tanks I ever put together had 3 pakistan butterflies and 5 flame angels, that's it. The way the red flames set off the red tails of the paks is awesome. Anyway my point is that you started off on the right track, don't give up now. A pair of flames, a pair of clownfish, a trio of fairy wrasses (take yer pic), you can set up a really dynamic tank.
 
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