Numerous Pygmy's together?

[JoshuaG]

I'd like to hear thoughts on keeping quite a few dwarf angels together. Tank is a 7' 250G that currently has a multibar and potters. Here is what I would like to add over the next few months.

Multicolor pair
Venustus pair
Multibar
Potters

So that would be 8 total, pairs of each.

Here is a lil video clip of my two now, got them from PIA a little under 2 months ago.

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And a pic from PIA right when I got them.

 

[Toddrtrex]

IMO/E you won't have issues keeping multiple dwarf together, however, I think you are going to have issues pairing them up.

Both the Venustus and multibar are fairly difficult to come by, and to then get a healthy one. Add to that being able to find both sexes (( or at least a smaller one )) is going to be pretty difficult.

 

[JoshuaG]

IMO/E you won't have issues keeping multiple dwarf together, however, I think you are going to have issues pairing them up.

Both the Venustus and multibar are fairly difficult to come by, and to then get a healthy one. Add to that being able to find both sexes (( or at least a smaller one )) is going to be pretty difficult.

Thanks! I'm hoping to use PIA for the Multibar, Potter and Colors, haven't decided yet on the Venustus. I know NYAquatics has them, hoping to hold out and see a pair on DD

 

[Sheol]

Well, your tank is certainly large enough. As said above, no problems there..
But finding healthy Paracentropyge is the REAL challenge!
Good luck!

Matthew

 

[flameangel88]

As stated above your tank is large enough to house the 8 dwarfs in my opinion. If you do add my suggestion is to add the mulitibar first, venustus second, potters third and multicolors last. Finding the right sex to pair is going to be a challenge so I would try finding smaller ones to add for pairing. The last 2 pairs should be easier to find.

What temp is the tank being kept at?

 

[wayne in norway]

I don't think you'll have problems, but I've always found pairing pretty straightforward if I got them small and qt'ed them together. You might need to put an eggcrate partition in the QT, but that's ok.

 

[snorvich]

I don't think you'll have problems, but I've always found pairing pretty straightforward if I got them small and qt'ed them together. You might need to put an eggcrate partition in the QT, but that's ok.

Were you able to get mating behavior?

 

[Toddrtrex]

I saw some pre-mating behavior back when I had my Potter's pair -- though having to have emergency back surgery at the same time as the sump running dry caused me to lose that pair.

 

[LargeAngels]

Real long term success will depend on the individuals and how threatened and aggressive the males will be when they get to be large and in breeding mode. Then you could have some problems. Some individual dwarfs can be really nasty. Just make sure you have an exit strategy later on if there becomes problems. I've had times in which there was peace for years and overnight something triggers one of them to become really nasty and someone eventually has to be removed.

I'd also be carefull how and when you add the fish. All fish should be previously QT'd and readily eating whatever primary food you feed them. A stressed weak fish has a much greater chance of being picked on and not surviving. Add new fish in a specimen container or block off a portion of the tank and let the others get comfortable before adding newcomers. Some angels are very territorial and will attack. Remember that to us a 7 or 8 foot tank look big, but is nothing compared to the territory they each had in the wild.

 

[JoshuaG]

I'd also be carefull how and when you add the fish. All fish should be previously QT'd and readily eating whatever primary food you feed them. A stressed weak fish has a much greater chance of being picked on and not surviving. Add new fish in a specimen container or block off a portion of the tank and let the others get comfortable before adding newcomers. Some angels are very territorial and will attack. Remember that to us a 7 or 8 foot tank look big, but is nothing compared to the territory they each had in the wild.

Thanks all, tank runs at 76-78.

I was able to get the two angels now eating mysis, brine and flake in QT. I hope to do the same with the rest as I get them. 6 weeks actually goes by pretty fast