Pairing Potters Angels

[JSeymour]

This is actually for a fowlr tank, but I figured it was better placed here.

So I ordered two extra small Potters Angels when I did our store's fish order from a excellent distributor, hoping for two small females. Problem is, I should have let them know what I was hoping for. They ran out of smalls, and send one medium as a small. So I have one beautiful male in quarantine right now.

After talking to our rep, he promises he will send me a small "female"(low blue) next week on our order.

Should I quarantine them together to promote pairing, or separately and risk the smaller female starting a change to male?

Added: BTW, that's just the flash on his eye, not a fluke.

 

[gcsoupman]

How can you tell the difference between male and female? I am really curious.

 

[JSeymour]

Most Centropyge species have some slight sexual dimorphism, or so I've read. In potters, males have more blue to their unpaired fins and lower body. Just going off pictures of known males, not in breeding dress, I'm assuming male. Females also have a tendency to have less black coloration. I feel this assumption won't get me into trouble, as if it is female, it would likely be more dominate than the new one, and turn male anyways.

Anyone know how long it takes females to turn male? I've read lots of different numbers, 2 to 3 weeks, 30-50 days, etc.

 

[Toddrtrex]

I did this a couple of years ago. Started off with a decently sized one, and then had my LFS get me a tiny one. I used a betta box to introduce them (( think an acclimation box would work better, since it is bigger and can leave the new one in there longer )), and really didn't have any issues. They were starting to show pre-spawning behavior when I lost them -- main pump ran dry while I was in the hospital for emergency surgery.

 

[Haffs09]

What size QT do you have?

I have 4 Multicolors in a 55 gal QT right now. When I first placed them in QT, I divided the tank into 4 compartments with egg crate. After 3 or 4 days I removed the dividers to see what would happen and after 30 minutes watching a few of them go at relentlessly, I divided them again. I kept them like this for another 10 days or so. When I checked on the tank 3/4 had found their way into the same compartment. I removed the dividers and all of them are getting along well.

I ordered one medium sized and the rest were small. One of the small ones found a way to get into the medium's section a week into QT. It was funny to watch it go in during feeding time, eat and when the bigger one saw it, quickly escape into its section. I think it's best to divide your QT and leave a space so that the smaller one can go into larger one's area. If threatened, it should be able to get away without too much trouble.

 

[JSeymour]

Awesome, just what I wanted to hear.

The quarantine tank the male is in, is a 20 long, but it would be nothing to setup a 30 or 40 breeder for quarantine. My quarantine setup is very versatile.

 

[JSeymour]

I did this a couple of years ago. Started off with a decently sized one, and then had my LFS get me a tiny one. I used a betta box to introduce them (( think an acclimation box would work better, since it is bigger and can leave the new one in there longer )), and really didn't have any issues. They were starting to show pre-spawning behavior when I lost them -- main pump ran dry while I was in the hospital for emergency surgery.

Nice pair by the way. That male is blue! Well, so is that female. Sorry for the loss.

 

[jonathansruelas]

very good idea, Ima try that technique to try to get two flames together. Whould it work with the flame / coral beauty?

 

[JSeymour]

very good idea, Ima try that technique to try to get two flames together. Whould it work with the flame / coral beauty?

They probably won't pair up but should live "peacefully". Flames are also much more aggressive towards eachother, so take your time on the introduction. Definitely use an isolation box.

 

[Toddrtrex]

very good idea, Ima try that technique to try to get two flames together. Whould it work with the flame / coral beauty?

I currently have a flame and coral beauty (( along with a multicolored )) in my 65 - the CB and multicolored have been together for about a year now. I added the flame about a month ago (( moved it from one of my other tanks )), had it in an acclimation box for 5 days. There was some chasing at first, but now they are fine.

 

[jonathansruelas]

That combination sounds awesome , I think I will swap the multicolor in mine with a potter. Those guys are beautiful .. How long the fish in the acclimation box have to stay? Does it have to be big ?

 

[Toddrtrex]

Thanks.

The longest I left a fish in there (( multicolored being introduced to a Coral beauty and a venustus dwarf )) was a week. The box I used was 12" by 6" by 6";

Can get an idea of the size with this picture, it was on the left part of my 75.

 

[jonathansruelas]

alright thats helpful thanks.. i will definitely invest in one those to introduce my angels

 

[wayne in norway]

An eggcrate partition is always very helpful to have, as well as a lot of piping for covering the tank bottom. I thnik with a medium and an extrasmall you should be ok.

Another thing I have done in the past is to put another fish in the tank to give them something else to think about - I had a pretty placid 6 line wrasse that I used for this. I paired several centropyge in a 20 long this way.

 

[JSeymour]

Well due to my new quarantine method, the female won't join the male for another several weeks, but here he is enjoying the display. Thought I'd post some pics from this morning of him picking around.

A partial group pic. The angels had a little skirmish at first, hence the nipped fins. All's good now.

 

[JSeymour]

Thought I'd give alittle update. My potters are SLOWLY pairing up. He still beats on her quite a bit, but when they are near the "cage" he calms down quite a bit. Hopefully one day...

Potters Angels