Paracentropyge multifasciatus questions.

[Rendos]

I have a LFS holding a pair of Paracentropyge multifasciatus (multi-bar angels) for me. I know that all angels have the potential for being coral nippers. I would like to hear if anyone has any specific personal experience with these angels. The tank they will be going in is a 72"X30"X24" 225 gallon tank with almost all SPS corals, and a few clams. If the clam nipping becomes a problem, the clams can be moved to a 120 gallon tank.

 

[Amphiprion]

Centropyge multifasciata specifically targets hard corals and other benthic invertebrates. You could attempt it, but I do not consider this one of the better species to mix with corals

 

[Rendos]

Is this from personal experience or what you have heard, and/or read?

I ask this because lots of information I have heard/read over the years about certain animals tends to be disproven. Lots of fish we keep now were believed to be impossible to keep 10 years ago.

 

[jda]

I had one for a while and it left my coral alone. In fact, it left almost everything alone. All that it ate was a few pods that it could catch and it died after 4-5 months. It was solid and healthy for 4 months, and did not touch anything.

You know the risks. If you have a way to catch them, then I would go for it.

 

[Rendos]

The ones the store is holding for me has had them for 5 months or more. They are eating well...so at least I have that going for me.

Catching them would not be too much of a problem if that became an issue.

 

[copps]

Rendos this is an excellent opportunity and I would jump on it. As a mixer of angels in reefs for years, as long as you have a means of removal it is worth a shot with an opportinuty like this. I witnessed Frank Baensch's spawning pair last year at RCT of these guys... he's since sold out of the young and I believe now gotten rid of the pair... these were practice for a similar looking Paracentropyge brother

My multibarred I've now had for over a year and he's settled in as well as any other dwarf. My personal opinion with dwarfs is that they're much less predicatble than large angels when it comes to their behavior in reefs. Mine has been in a part of my large frag system with many different varieties of coral and has been fine... although he'll probably go into a new fish only system...

Amphiprion, are you basing this off of personal experience? What hard corals...? If we went by what most books said, we would not have angels in any reef, I would not have a trio of regals, and angels would not have spawned in captivity...

Anyway... here's a shot of my guy... a very striking fish...

 

[jda]

I have read books that say that watanabei are not reef safe... so books only go so far.

Once again, mine was cool with the coral, but I never could tell if that was because he was not interested in food in captivity or not.

 

[Rendos]

Nice. How large is the one in the picture? The pair I am getting are only about 2" long each.

Also...do I see a Triangle Butterfly (Hemitaurichthys polylepis) in the back? Very cool fish also...even though I am not a big fan of butterflies in general.

 

[copps]

Good eye... yes I have a pair of pyramids that were demoted to the frag tank after picking on one of my millies... but I may give them another shot in the display... I see these guys everywhere diving Hawaii and Micronesia up high in the water column... Amazed they're not more popular as they are mainly zooplanktivores... Oh, and my guy is around 3 inches... large for these guys...

Jump on that pair though... it's tough enough to find one that has been settled in for a while... if you don't mind me asking what's the price?

Copps

 

[Amphiprion]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7691694#post7691694 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by copps
Rendos this is an excellent opportunity and I would jump on it. As a mixer of angels in reefs for years, as long as you have a means of removal it is worth a shot with an opportinuty like this. I witnessed Frank Baensch's spawning pair last year at RCT of these guys... he's since sold out of the young and I believe now gotten rid of the pair... these were practice for a similar looking Paracentropyge brother

My multibarred I've now had for over a year and he's settled in as well as any other dwarf. My personal opinion with dwarfs is that they're much less predicatble than large angels when it comes to their behavior in reefs. Mine has been in a part of my large frag system with many different varieties of coral and has been fine... although he'll probably go into a new fish only system...

Amphiprion, are you basing this off of personal experience? What hard corals...? If we went by what most books said, we would not have angels in any reef, I would not have a trio of regals, and angels would not have spawned in captivity...

Anyway... here's a shot of my guy... a very striking fish...

I am going from what others have experienced and (edit:qualitative) gut analyses. Hard corals are not the only thing specifically targeted--many benthic animals are, as well. There is a good mix in there, with hard corals (what ones were not specified in any of my books or online/private databases--sorry) mostly in the minority--sponges, ascidians, and some algae were consumed more (latter foods based upon what others have told me). You may not have noticed them eating coral, but it does not necessarily mean that they don't peck and get a few polyps here and there (with your tank, copps, it would be hard for me to tell ). Being that fish are individuals, it may not even be much of a problem or it could be considerably worse. On a personal note, I am not a risk taker when it comes to these fish, so you should take that into consideration as well . If you don't mind taking a potential risk, then by all means. In your searching, you may find better information searching under the accepted name Centropyge multifasciata, which should give fairly up-to-date information on these fish.

 

[Amphiprion]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7692052#post7692052 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jda
I have read books that say that watanabei are not reef safe... so books only go so far.

Once again, mine was cool with the coral, but I never could tell if that was because he was not interested in food in captivity or not.

Things like this, in particular, are based either on misinformation or overgeneralization.

 

[NexDog]

I haven't heard this angel is any worse than your typical others when it comes to coral nipping. However they are hard to keep for some periods of time. If you've seen a pair doing well after 5 months then you should seize the day!

 

[Sheol]

If they were at my LFS & eating for long, I'd have a deposit on them by now. But that's just me..

Sincerely,
Matthew

 

[Rendos]

They cost me $100 for the pair. I also work part time at the LFS, and I know they are eating well. They eat basically any and everything offered them. We are holding them in a coral holding tank in the back of the store to watch for signs of coral nipping, etc. until I am ready to take them home.

 

[NexDog]

Not a bad price and if they are truly paired - awesome. Pretty common here in Japan and can usualy get them for $25. Looking forward to updates in the future.

 

[massman]

These guys are mot much of a threat to your corals, in fact less threatening than most other dwarfs.
We catch these guys down deep 20m+, and are almost eclusively cave dwellers. Do not be surprised if you do not see them for a lot of the time they're in your tank (depending on size and aquascape).
They feast on benthic inverts, constantly rock grazing (commonly upside down on cave roofs).
Usually we find them singly, or in small groups (4-6). I personally have never seen a "pair".

Their biggest problem is eating introduced foods (only about 6 in 10 we catch eat in captivity).
The fact that you have already got them onto food, and for months now, I would have no doubt in buying them.

 

[Sheol]

Rendo,

You are lucky. Enjoy!
At present, I've settled for a C. argi for my reef.

Sincerely,
Matthew

 

[Amphiprion]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7702175#post7702175 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by massman
These guys are mot much of a threat to your corals, in fact less threatening than most other dwarfs.
We catch these guys down deep 20m+, and are almost eclusively cave dwellers. Do not be surprised if you do not see them for a lot of the time they're in your tank (depending on size and aquascape).
They feast on benthic inverts, constantly rock grazing (commonly upside down on cave roofs).

I wouldn't assert that quite as strongly. While it is true that they are mostly cave/ledge/crevice dwellers, they are also encountered in lagoonal situations. Because they can and sometimes do eat coral (which is often included with 'benthic invertebrates'), it is a risk. I think Rendos is going with the smarter option in seeing if his particular ones are of any risk. They are wonderful fish and if I came across a pair, that is precisely what I would have done.

 

[just dave]

I think you should pass and leave 'em at the store.

 

[Rendos]

dave - I finished the 120 last night.
I will be working on the 225 this weekend. After all the re-aquascaping is done, I will be picking them up.