Potters Angel - Why so difficult?

[brett559]

Question about Potter's angels. They are the only dwarf angel rated difficult on LA. Why is that? Collection practices? Diet? Assuming you could find a healthy specimen, any reason why it wouldn't do as well as a flame, CB, or one of the more common dwarf angels?

I know lots of people keep them with success. Let me know!

 

[blazend]

It sounds like eating habits and water sensitivity.

This is usually a basic reason they get to expert level. My leopard wrasse was expert level as well and they were right. He would only eat hatched baby brine. After a couple months now she eats flake food but it makes sense the expert rating.

 

[Winwood]

In the past I've witness potter's angels refuse food despite being offered a wide variety. They eventually waste away and perish. I believe collection practices most likely aren't the root cause because they are only found around the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll. Haling from US waters, means they are most likely hand netted.

I've been told by US wholesalers and collectors that the majority of Potter's are collected at slightly deeper depths than typical reef fish. I'm not certain if you could actually refer to them as "deep water" reef fish, but I don't believe they are common at the surface like flames are. Whether they suffer from decompression complications is difficult to say but seems plausible.

Perhaps they are just a sensitive species, much like regal angelfish and Moorish idols. Although, for the record, I don't think potter's are quite as difficult as these two species. However, some of the regals that I've kept that pulled through and became very solid fish eventually, had touch and go moments in the beginning. It very well could be possible that potter's angelfish just aren't as durable as some of the more commonly encountered species.

 

[ca1ore]

There are plenty of other dwarf Angels that are more difficult than the Potters. In the case of the latter, can be difficult to get eating and if you do they sometimes just disappear months later. Key is to have plenty if productive live rock. Mine spends most of the day grazing either the rocks or the back glass. It's the chubbiest fish in my tank.

 

[albano]

Question about Potter's angels. They are the only dwarf angel rated difficult on LA...

Not true...they also rate Multifasciatus as difficult (which they are), possibly others ... not all dwarf angels appear on their 'main' menus

Even Potters that seem to be eating and doing well, will suddenly die after a few months.

 

[Deinonych]

I've been told by US wholesalers and collectors that the majority of Potter's are collected at slightly deeper depths than typical reef fish. I'm not certain if you could actually refer to them as "deep water" reef fish, but I don't believe they are common at the surface like flames are. Whether they suffer from decompression complications is difficult to say but seems plausible.

I'm not sure why they would say that. The habitat for C. potteri is well within recreational diving depths (as shallow as 3m). We see them everywhere diving in Hawai'i. They can be found as deep as 110m, but I can't imagine spending the effort (and expense) to collect at that depth given their abundance at shallower depths.

 

[brett559]

Yeah, I just did a search on the main page.

 

[ginpang]

Potters Angel - Why so difficult?

I had one for 6 months, super cool beautiful fish with a very bold personality, should be kept in a very large aquarium as they swim incessantly. 7 inch female maroon got on his case and made him jump out... Had him starting eating with a (dying) orange sponge that I got for peanuts.Then ate whatever. The tank was not heated because I kept Catalina gobies in there.

 

[Winwood]

I'm not sure why they would say that. The habitat for C. potteri is well within recreational diving depths (as shallow as 3m). We see them everywhere diving in Hawai'i. They can be found as deep as 110m, but I can't imagine spending the effort (and expense) to collect at that depth given their abundance at shallower depths.

That is interesting. I did hear it from two different wholesale owners. Also, one of the owner's brother, who was involved in the collection side of things, told me the same thing. It may have been attempt to justify the higher prices they were getting for their potter's. Hard to say.

 

[nuxx]

They ship poorly is a huge thing.

They also are tough to get to adapt to life in a tank.

One of those fish that tends to randomly die.

 

[Spartanman22]

I have had three Potters angels in my reefing experience. Two were kept independently in a 75 gallon for over 2 years. I lost each one during the two times I had to move the 75 gallon.

I currently have a small (<2") in my frag tank. All three experiences I've had have been really good. All three were verocious eaters and model citizens in a mixed reef setting.

I know many people have issues long term with Potters, but I think the key is a mature tank. Once they start eating you're golden.

 

[albano]

I know many people have issues long term with Potters, but I think the key is a mature tank. Once they start eating you're golden.

Sorry, but IMO/E this is not true... I know many experienced reefers, besides myself, that have had 'eating' Potters that did great for months, and then one day, they (the fish) were dead.

 

[Spartanman22]

Sorry, but IMO/E this is not true... I know many experienced reefers, besides myself, that have had 'eating' Potters that did great for months, and then one day, they (the fish) were dead.

Fair enough, I should have been clearer. This is just my isolated experience. Each time I've kept a Potters it's been in a tank that's been established for several years.

There very well, and likely are, multiple other reasons for the success I've had with Potters, but this was one of the things I thought was significant for my personal experiences.