Mixed Pomacanthus "pair"?

[moriarty]

Wondering if anyone else has experienced this behavior when mixing large angels...

My French and Annularis have been in the pool for about 2 months now. Since adding them together, they do not leave each other's side. The only time that they will stray more than one foot from one another is during feedings. I really didn't notice this at all when they were in the smaller tank, but then again, they couldn't get away from one another if they wanted to. At first I thought it was just familiarity with one another because they have been together for a while. I assumed that this behavior would subside once they got used to the extra space, but after 2 months there has been no change.

There is never any aggression between the two of them, and they usually just glide through out the pool side-by-side.

Here they are waiting for a "cleaning" from my Cuban Hogfish. The Hogfish is approaching 4" and cleans less and less. Please excuse the cloudy water in this pic, I took it after vacuuming the sump and a water change.

 

[ThRoewer]

Congratulations! You have a mixed pair.

Most large angels live in pairs in the wild. Even in the wild, if they can't find a partner of their own kind they pair up with what's available on other angels.
These two are quite similar in shape, even though they come from different oceans.

 

[ThRoewer]

BTW, how large is that pond?

 

[usmc1812]

Wow that's is amazing. My Annularis definitely runs the tank. I have several angels mixed with each other. Maybe you will have the next Annualris / French hybrid.

 

[moriarty]

Congratulations! You have a mixed pair.

Most large angels live in pairs in the wild. Even in the wild, if they can't find a partner of their own kind they pair up with what's available on other angels.
These two are quite similar in shape, even though they come from different oceans.

Thanks for the confirmation! I think I recall seeing a mixed pair of angels swimming in tandem on a dive website a while back. Wasn't sure if it is something that occurs with any regularity, but what you said makes sense. Especially since both French and Annularis angels will commonly form pair bonds in the wild.

Pool is 10' round, and approx 1500 gallons. Here are a couple of "FPS" pics that I took today.

 

[moriarty]

Wow that's is amazing. My Annularis definitely runs the tank. I have several angels mixed with each other. Maybe you will have the next Annualris / French hybrid.

Thanks! The "boss" of my pool is a 7" vlamingii tang. Definitely does not fit the usual laid-back vlamingii archetype! He likes to put the other fish in their place from time to time, and is the one responsible for the small chunk out of the French's tail. I may have to re-home him if this behavior continues/gets worse with growth.

 

[UNCsalt]

WOW stunning, now thats a pool....:strooper:

 

[moriarty]

WOW stunning, now thats a pool....:strooper:

Thanks

 

[ThRoewer]

Thanks for the confirmation! I think I recall seeing a mixed pair of angels swimming in tandem on a dive website a while back. Wasn't sure if it is something that occurs with any regularity, but what you said makes sense. Especially since both French and Annularis angels will commonly form pair bonds in the wild.

French Angels come from the Caribbean while Annularis Angels come from the Indo-Pacific. So I doubt these two species ever form pairs in the wild. But closely related species that occur in the same area do form mixed pairs when they can't find partners of their own kind.

Pool is 10' round, and approx 1500 gallons. Here are a couple of "FPS" pics that I took today.

Cool!
Is that one of those mobile garden pools? Where did you set this up?
And are those Monodactylus you have in there? Those gonna be cool when fully grown

 

[Winwood]

That's awesome! I've seen what appeared to be a chrysurus and imperator pair up in a wholesale holding tank years back. The fish were kept in a large tub and we're together for several months. I stood back and watched them for about 15 ton 20 minutes while my stuff was getting bagged and, they did seem to be a pair.

 

[moriarty]

French Angels come from the Caribbean while Annularis Angels come from the Indo-Pacific. So I doubt these two species ever form pairs in the wild. But closely related species that occur in the same area do form mixed pairs when they can't find partners of their own kind.



Cool!
Is that one of those mobile garden pools? Where did you set this up?
And are those Monodactylus you have in there? Those gonna be cool when fully grown

I think the mixed pair from the dive photo may have been P. Maculosus and P. Asfur or P semicirculatus, but I could be mistaken. It's been a while.

The pool is in my basement. Frame is a 10' Intex swimming pool. I actually have a build thread in the FO forums incase you (or anyone else) is interested http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2432500

Yep! The monos have been in there for a few months now, and have at least tripled in size already. I was looking for a schooling fish that would continue to school through adulthood. After seeing a few displays at public aquaria, I thought these would be a great option!

 

[moriarty]

That's awesome! I've seen what appeared to be a chrysurus and imperator pair up in a wholesale holding tank years back. The fish were kept in a large tub and we're together for several months. I stood back and watched them for about 15 ton 20 minutes while my stuff was getting bagged and, they did seem to be a pair.

Very cool! I wasn't sure if mine were actually pairing up, or if I was just imagining things, but it seems like it may not be that uncommon!

 

[ThRoewer]

...
Yep! The monos have been in there for a few months now, and have at least tripled in size already. I was looking for a schooling fish that would continue to school through adulthood. After seeing a few displays at public aquaria, I thought these would be a great option!

Monodactylus are cool fish but unfortunately they are usually sold in the wrong stores to the wrong people and die young because of improper holding conditions. Only small juveniles live in brackish water but to grow and develop properly they need full saltwater. Adult Monos are quite impressive. In their native range they are actually food fish.

 

[Dmorty217]

Great looking mixed pair! The Annularis is a show stopper!

 

[moriarty]

Great looking mixed pair! The Annularis is a show stopper!

Thank you!! My phone camera does make the Annularis stripes look a lot more purple than they really are. I'll get some better pics up when I get my good camera back from my brother