Mellow Dwarfs

[ataller]

I am looking for another dwarf angelfish to add to my tank with an established multifasciatus. I have had the multi for almost a year now. He eats everything and is very healthy. He lives in a 5 foot 120, with a relatively low bioload. He is the biggest fish.

I'd like to add a flame or a coral beauty, however, in my experience, I find both to be rather aggressive, and my multibarred is very mellow.

I had thought about adding a venustus in the past, I have not seen any for sale in a while.

What other dwarfs are mellow and would go well with the multi?

Thanks,

Adam

PS What about a Potter's do they tend to be aggressive? I would make sure the new angel would be much smaller than the multi who is probably 4".

 

[Toddrtrex]

This is just my experience.

Like you said/think -- the coral beauty and flame have a chance of being too aggressive. The Potter's that I have had were very aggressive.

My venustus, is very mellow and laid back -- really really like this fish. Oddly enough, I have my venustus with a Coral Beauty -- though the CB doesn't bother it, it is too low in the order. In that tank, it goes CB, multicolored, and then venustus.

 

[glenns]

I've had a Flame and Potters I introduced at the same time. No aggression. Unfortunately, I lost the Potters. So I introduced a Coral Beauty. The Flame brutally harassed him at first. Later he would only occasionally run the CB off if he was foraging in the same area. Unfortunately, I lost the CB and 3 other fish from a Hydrogen Sulfide release Saturday.

What about mixing Pygmy Angels with a Flame? I'm thinking of one of these instead of another CB. Either a Flameback Angelfish or Cherub Angelfish.

 

[pktech]

How about a false lemonpeel or maybe a Juvi lamarks? My lamrks got along great w/ my CB & False lemonpeel - since it's the multi's tank - it might beat up anyone you put in there though -

 

[teemee]

I suggest not adding a lemonpeel: i've tried adding another centropyge a couple of times, and he just knocks them off.
Golden centropyge seem to be docile, though shy.

 

[lisafoster]

I have a cherub pygmy he never bother anyone. I also have a potter's but he is new so we shall see how he does. So far is not interested in anyone.

 

[Ringens]

I've had the flame and coral beauty. Both were very aggressive. I'm currently trying to catch the flame in my tank so I can sell it back.

 

[MrTuskfish]

If there ever was an "its the individual fish" question; I think this is it. IMO & IME almost any dwarf angel can be very wussy to a real terror. Lisafosters post above is typical: her cherub is very passive, yet they are often considered as aggressive as any fish in the group. However, most will be more aggressive, once established, than new ones. BTW; how big a tank and do you have plenty of mature LR? Mature LR is essential for success with DAs; IMO & IME.

 

[ataller]

Tank is a 5 foot 120G. I also have a 60 Gallon LR/macro fuge in basement, with 75G sump. Lots of live rock.

Multi is very healthy, the liverock sustained him for a good 4 months before he would eat prepared/frozen food. Now he eats anything. Just took him that long to figure out what I fed was actually edible.

Seems like goldens/venustus are still at the top of the list of mellow dwarfs. I am sorry to hear that Potter's tend to be aggressive also.

I understand there is no guarantee, but if I can choose a tank mate, with a better chance of being docile, Ill go for it.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

Adam

 

[johnike]

My new Flame is doing great!
Planning on adding a Coral Beauty, False Lemonpeel, African Flameback, and a Cherub.

 

[Sheol]

I just added an African Flameback to my tank about 10 days ago. nice fish, so far, but all C.argi-complex dwarf angels tend to be aggressive.
You could try a C. bicolor if you can find a healthy one. They aren't real aggressive. Someone also suggest a Golden, that one I'll second.
You could start with one of the more aggressive species, if you can get really small juvies, so your Mult-bar stays at the top of the Angel pecking order.

Matthew

 

[Angel*Fish]

What temp are you keeping your tank?

Normally when adding a second angel, it's nice to do it within a few days of the previous and add them smaller to larger not the other way around. There's an argument for avoiding other angels that like the same habitat that want to hang out in the multifasciatus's favorite spots.

In my experience heraldi's are the most peaceful, but it can be challenging to find a healthy one. Why not see if you can find a female/juvenile multifasciatus. If you can, that's your safest choice.

 

[ataller]

At the moment my tank is 77.6. I let it drift between 77 and 78. Is that a problem?

I will be adding smaller to larger, just not back to back. Since it took 4 months for the multi to eat, I didn't want to add another dwarf, until mine was settled in.

I thought about adding another multi, but I wanted another colour. That is why I thought venustus, but I cant find a small healthy one.

 

[Angel*Fish]

I don't have experience with them, but usually if you don't add a clearly bigger fish you're asking for trouble. Maybe the multi's are different - I have no personal experience.

I asked about the temp because I know the Potter's you were thinking about needs cooler water - more down toward 70 degrees. I don't know about the multifasciatus, but since they can come from pretty deep water, cooler water might be more comfortable for them long term. Just speculating - for all I know they come from deep hot springs areas :lol:

 

[kinlayan]

Golden pygmy angels are very cryptic , i have had one for almost a year now very shy and will definitely not bother the multi but the golden needs lots of caves and hideaway spots.

Venustus are also great had one for over 6 years and it hasnt been overly aggressive to my other pygmy's i have flame, potters, venustus and golden

 

[ataller]

Golden pygmy angels are very cryptic , i have had one for almost a year now very shy and will definitely not bother the multi but the golden needs lots of caves and hideaway spots.

Venustus are also great had one for over 6 years and it hasnt been overly aggressive to my other pygmy's i have flame, potters, venustus and golden

All together? What sized tank? What order did you add them?

 

[MarySantos]

My new Flame is doing great!
Planning on adding a Coral Beauty, False Lemonpeel, African Flameback, and a Cherub.

Very Pretty.

 

[Sheol]

Warning! The C. argi (Cherub) and C. acanthops ( A. Flameback) are very closely related. I'm having visions of violence in that tank's future.. Both species can be REAL bullies. When my Cherub was alive, after she settled in, she quickly made mincemeat of most new fish.
A CB and a Herald's ( C. heraldi, "False Lemonpeel") might make good tankmates though..

Matthew

 

[gcgrad]

If you are looking for another angel, the golden angelfish is extremely peaceful. I plan on having one in my 125 gallon that I'm still in the process of setting up. I'm going for a peaceful reef, so if you have other aggressive fish in your tank then I wouldn't add the Golden. They are on the expensive side as well jus fyi.

 

[ataller]

Warning! The C. argi (Cherub) and C. acanthops ( A. Flameback) are very closely related. I'm having visions of violence in that tank's future.. Both species can be REAL bullies. When my Cherub was alive, after she settled in, she quickly made mincemeat of most new fish.
A CB and a Herald's ( C. heraldi, "False Lemonpeel") might make good tankmates though..

Matthew

I never intended to put either in my tank.