potter's and flame together

[reefyredfish]

Well I'm trying to accomplish the unthinkable. That is I put a med. flame angel in with a med. potter's angel in a 75 g tank. I have a perc clown, yellow clown goby, wheeler watchman and teal damsel also. I've read where I'd no in the first hours if they would get along or not. I kept only my actinics on the first half day and the seemed okay just checking each other out. Day two they circled a little and a little chasing each other. Not sure if they're determining who's boss and then continue they're happy lives in my tank or if one will take the other out?? They are very close in size and i have plenty of live rock. Any thoughts? or suggestions? maybe more teal damsels? Maybe I'm crazy it will never work and pull one out?

 

[jhawkor]

If they're both male it could be bad news. Hopefully one is female.

 

[reefyredfish]

The only thing I think I know (and correct me if I'm wrong) is the potters male haas more blue and shorter gill spine.?? What else? I have no idea how to tell for flame? BTW- They mostly just swim by each other but do occasionally a little chase scene and go back to grazing. Potter's has been in for a year.

 

[reefyredfish]

Day 3 of placing a flame a. in a 75g with potters a. of close size. After an hour or so of observation it's not so bad the worse is the flame seems to send the potters on a short run chasing him/her a couple times. Most of the time they both simply graze and swim around ignoring each other for the most part. I think the clown chases the damsel more than the angels chase each other. As for telling what sex they are. I'm by no way 100% sure, maybe 65% that they're both female. After reading the differences I found online (flame-opposing fins are not so pointy more rounded potters- more orange than other pics i've seen and dark stripes are thinner) Still without looking at 2 fish one male and one female next to each other who knows. I'll keep watching and post any changes. I think if I see fin damage on potters I'll try and pull the flame.

 

[jhawkor]

Good luck! Approximately how big are the two Centropyge?

 

[Mathfreak71]

I have a 3 inch Potter's in my DT and a 1.5 inch Flame that has been in QT for 3 weeks. I also have a 75g tank. I have about 90 pounds of live rock in my DT. So, we are basically in the same position. I have been planning this from the beginning. The flame is going to be my last fish. I intentionally put the flame in last because I have read that flames are more aggressive than potter's.

 

[reefyredfish]

Thanks Jhawkor! They're each about 3"-flame may be a scale bigger.
Hey Mathfreak How long have you had your potters? I have wanted a flame for along time then someone showed me the potters and I had to have him. So after waiting o year or so the potters is doing great I decided to add the flame. I'm going to be adding more fish but I can respect your idea of adding the flame last. You should do just fine, especially since your flame is half size of potters. I've read the potters is a hard fish to keep mine is perfect. I really hope this works. So far they just seem to tolerate each other.

 

[Mathfreak71]

I have had my Potter's for 7 months. I actually bought 2 but one never made it out of QT. I remember going in a LFS about 15 years ago and seeing a flame. I was amazed by such a beautiful fish. I had been breading fancy guppies for years and told myself that I would have that fish one day. I remember it sold for almost $90. So when I started my tank a year ago a flame was a must. But after reading several threads about Potter's I had to give it a try.

 

[Mathfreak71]

I am acclimating my flame today.

 

[Mathfreak71]

well, I put him in. There was a lot of chasing. His rear fins got a little frayed. So I caught him and put him in a clear plastic tub and I am letting it float. It wasn't only the Potter's who chased him. My clowns were pretty rough on him also. I hope this works. I really like the Potter's but my wife is much more partial to the flame. So if this doesn't work out, she is going to be disappointed.

 

[reefyredfish]

Wow. Just in a day his fins were frayed? How did you catch him? I have about 80 lbs of LR and have trouble catching fish w/o tearing down partially. He is pretty small so that may have something to do with it. Also I have one teal damsel the other fish pick on so it's a nice buffer for the new guys. Keep me posted on how your doing and GOOD LUCK!
I just got home from work and I'm going to do a WC and see how things are doing.

 

[Mathfreak71]

He couldn't hide in the rock because the Potter's would chase him out. So it wasn't that hard to catch him. I am going to try this clear container method for a day or two. If that doesn't work, I think I am going to try and catch the potter's and put it in QT for a few weeks and let the flame settle in and then reintroduce the potter's. I have been very lucky so far with my tank. I have yet to have to remove a dead fish from DT. So if this doesn't work I will still consider myself lucky. This was supposed to be my last fish. So my QT downstairs is a 26 gallon hex. I told my wife we could turn it into a small tank just for the flame.

 

[reefyredfish]

That's a great idea. I hope it works for you.
As for my 2 they seem to be really adjusting well. I changed water and the fed. Everybody just swan around and ate. The flame eats but not much it's only day 4. But it seems they just tolerate each other and I didn't see any chasing. The damsel does hide more than usual. But that's ok with me.

 

[Sheol]

Micheals' says C. loriculus ( AKA Flame) males have more blue trim on their rear fins. I'm not certain how correct that really is...
Anyone know for sure?

Matthew

 

[reefyredfish]

yea I read the same thing. However w/o each side by side how can you tell what "more blue trim" really is? Did I say earlier that the flame was bigger. After looking closer the potters seems to be the one a scale bigger.