Swallowtail Angelfish

[Znut Reefer]

Can a male and female be added at the same time? Or will they fight?

 

[pookstreet]

Fonda, are you referring to the G. melanospilos or the G. Caudovittatus? I have the melanospilos and it would be better if you added them together. I just tried to add a male and the female would have nothing to do with him, cornering and beating him up. Now she is in time out and hopefully chill out before I try again. Good luck.

 

[Znut Reefer]

Hi Kenny,

Yes I was referring to the Swallowtail Angelfish Genicanthus melanospilos. I can get them both at the same time.

So you already had the female and tried to add the male?

 

[pookstreet]

Yep, had the female for about a year b/c the male was hard to find. Finally found one and he spent the better part of 3 weeks in a large specimen chamber. Saw no aggression from the female or the 2 G. watanabeis. Thought it would be safe and found out I was wrong. I think part of the problem was that the male is just slightly bigger than the female. It's possible that if the size difference was more significant, there wouldn't have been a problem with aggression from the female.

 

[Gwynhidwy]

It is better to get an established pair if possible. I have had good luck pairing/hareming Genicanthus watanabei and G. melanospilos, but I know other reefers, like the above poster, have seen aggression. However, in a tank of large size, like yours , and added at the same time I think you have a good chance of success.

 

[Znut Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15432649#post15432649 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pookstreet
Yep, had the female for about a year b/c the male was hard to find. Finally found one and he spent the better part of 3 weeks in a large specimen chamber. Saw no aggression from the female or the 2 G. watanabeis. Thought it would be safe and found out I was wrong. I think part of the problem was that the male is just slightly bigger than the female. It's possible that if the size difference was more significant, there wouldn't have been a problem with aggression from the female.

Ok guess we'll find out. The male is going to be a little bigger than the female. I'll keep you posted on the out come.

I also want to add a male and female watanabeis, but no luck finding a pair so far.

 

[Znut Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15432668#post15432668 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gwynhidwy
It is better to get an established pair if possible. I have had good luck pairing/hareming Genicanthus watanabei and G. melanospilos, but I know other reefers, like the above poster, have seen aggression. However, in a tank of large size, like yours , and added at the same time I think you have a good chance of success.

Thanks for the reply. It is hard to find a mated pair. I always see more females than males up for sale. lol... yeah I do have a large tank. I'll see how this pairing up goes and keep and eye out for a watananei pair.

 

[pookstreet]

True mated/bonded pairs are next to impossible to find, unless the pair has demonstrated that type of relationship in someone's system. What you would find at the LFS or online that are advertised as a "pair" are usually nothing more than a male and a female thrown in the same holding tank. When cramped in a small space, the fish have other things to worry about than chasing each other.

Fonda, I think you should be ok with several factors in your favor: large tank size, larger male, and adding at the same time.

 

[Znut Reefer]

Thanks Kenny.

I'll give it a shot and see how it goes. Wish me luck!

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15432624#post15432624 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Znut Reefer
Hi Kenny,

Yes I was referring to the Swallowtail Angelfish Genicanthus melanospilos. I can get them both at the same time.

So you already had the female and tried to add the male?

I added mine at the same time. Never had a problem with them.

 

[Znut Reefer]

Thanks for the reply Peter. They will arrive Thurs.

 

[pookstreet]

How exciting! If my female melo finally decides to play nice, I'll have 3 male/female combos in the same tank. Still looking for that 4th mythical Genicanthus

 

[gasman059]

Hey Fonda I've added them in the past w/o issues. But since u where a victim of the "savage anthias who knows"

Good luck- hoping your tank is growing agagin.

 

[Znut Reefer]

Yeah I'm excited to finally find a male and female. Just hope they do play nice. The masked Swallowtails look nice. I'm undecided on the Zebra's.

Hopefully your female will decide she wants a mate.

 

[Znut Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15434185#post15434185 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gasman059
Hey Fonda I've added them in the past w/o issues. But since u where a victim of the "savage anthias who knows"

Good luck- hoping your tank is growing agagin.

Hey Manny,

Thats good to hear. Hopefully I'll have good luck adding them.
LOL... I can't stand the sight of seeing Lyretail Anthia's. :mad2 I've been adding wrasses these days.

The tank is doing well and growing. I just need some fish to feed the corals. My fish load is very low for such a large tank.

 

[Znut Reefer]

Update:

The happy couple arrived yesterday. The male is huge compared to the female. I added them both to the tank at the same time. They are doing great! They ate a few mysis shrimp last night.

What is everyone feeding theirs?

 

[Gwynhidwy]

Mine ate most anything floating by and would pick at nori on the clip after they saw the other fish do it. They particularly liked the part of frozen Hikari Mega-Marine mixes that floats and looks kind of like pink Cheetos.

 

[Znut Reefer]

Gwynhidwy thanks for the reply. Sounds like they will eat most anything.

 

[Gwynhidwy]

Mine largely did, but I might have just gotten lucky. And you are most welcome for the reply.

 

[tspfish]

Update:

The happy couple arrived yesterday. The male is huge compared to the female. I added them both to the tank at the same time. They are doing great! They ate a few mysis shrimp last night.

What is everyone feeding theirs?

Any update on the Couple Znut Reefer? I have a pair, the female I got 2 weeks ago and the male just now. The male is about a third her size but he diffidently is the dominate one. I am more concerned with my Goldrimmed tang who is a complete bully to everyone I put in the tank.