Ultimate Genicanthus (SwallowTail) Angel Thread

[Kinetic]

In my quest to finding the perfect angelfish for my upcoming reef tank, I've come across Genicanthus angelfish. They're planktivores, and are thus the safest angelfish to have in a reeftank.

Best information on them is on wetwebmedia of course:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/angels/genicanthus/index.htm

If everyone can help put this thread together, that would be great. I'm looking for real life experience with keeping these fish. The following questions answered would be awesome:


What kind of Genicanthus?
What is it's gender?
How long have you had it?
Where did you buy it from?
What special quarantine routines?
What is it's current size?
What do you feed it?
What is the feeding schedule?
What size, design, setup of a tank do you have?
Any diseases that you've had?
Reef safe so far?
Tankmates and aggressiveness?
Any other advice?
and most importantly, pictures!!!

 

[dcoufal]

What kind of Genicanthus? Genicanthus melanospilus
What is it's gender? Japanese Female
How long have you had it? 3 Months
Where did you buy it from? Frags n' Crabs
What is it's current size? 2" - 2.5"
What do you feed it? Everything is fed Formula1 and Formula2
What is the feeding schedule? Every 1-2 days
What size, design, setup of a tank do you have? 125G, no sump
Any diseases that you've had? No (Love the UV!)
Reef safe so far? Yes. Does pick at air bubbles on rock/coral; but, not the actual coral. But, quite a few of my fish do this... must think the air bubbles are food.
Tankmates and aggressiveness? Blue/Green Chromis, Firefish, Royal Gramma, True Perc, Lamark, Neons, Engineer Gobies, 3 Serpent Stars, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, crabs, snails, etc.
Any other advice? Get one. They're beautiful!
and most importantly, pictures!!!

Also have:

What kind of Genicanthus? Genicanthus lamarck
What is it's gender? Indo Female
How long have you had it? 1 Year
Where did you buy it from? Live Aquaria
What is it's current size? 2.5"


Dwain

 

[a.fool.for.fish.]

im intersted in a lamarcks but they never seem very active or interesting do you guys have any feedback

ty

 

[Kinetic]

all swallowtails swim constantly and are very active, which is why they need large tanks. Not sure what lamarcks you were looking at.

They graze, and they swim, and are very active. That's what they're known for. They're not like frogfish or anglers that sit and wait.

 

[dcoufal]

Both of the Genicanthus that I have were *very* shy for the first week. After that, they're very active -- constantly swimming and looking for food.

I prefer the coloration on the swallowtail over the Lamark; but, they're both great fish.

Dwain

 

[Kinetic]

lamark's are also considered swallowtails? i think you're referring to your blackspot angel.

any wantenabei owners out there?

 

[dcoufal]

lamark's are also considered swallowtails? i think you're referring to your blackspot angel.

To whom are you referring?

Dwain

 

[Kinetic]

I prefer the coloration on the swallowtail over the Lamark; but, they're both great fish.

Dwain

swallowtail is Genicanthus. lamark is also Genicanthus no?

 

[dcoufal]

swallowtail is Genicanthus. lamark is also Genicanthus no?

Uh... yes. But:

Common Name: Swallowtail Angelfish -> Genicanthus melanospilus
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=341

Common Name: Lamark's Angelfish -> Genicanthus lamarck
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=413

Two *very* different colorations... Hence my remark that I prefer the coloration on the Swallowtail.

Dwain

 

[Kinetic]

Genicanthus melanospilus shouldn't be called swallowtail according to wetwebmedia:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/angels/genicanthus/index.htm
"Genicanthus melanospilos (Bleeker 1857), the Black-Spot Angelfish (2). Similar to G. caudovittatus to the west, this species is found throughout the tropical western Pacific. Also to about six inches long. Male and Female shown in captivity. Below, male and female in Fiji."

The Japanese Swallowtail is actually:
"Genicanthus semifasciatus (Kamohara 1934), Japanese Swallow Tail Angelfish (2). Western Pacific, mid Japan south to the Philippines. Rare in the western aquarium trade."

That is all according to wetwebmedia, which is where I got my information from.

Then reading ReefKeeper, Henry Shultz says the following:
"...And that is why I'll be adding a pair of Genicanthus species to my next aquarium. Perhaps you will, too, once you finish reading about the marine fish more commonly called Swallowtail Angelfish."
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-02/hcs3/index.php

So I was confused by what you meant. I guess we just have our names mixed up.

 

[dcoufal]

Hmmm... want more confusion? Check out: http://www.marinedepotlive.com/swal...anthus-melanospilus-fish--angels--large-.html

"SwallowTail Angel - Genicanthus melanospilus
Also known as: Lamarck's Angelfish"



Okay, so are you saying that my "Japanese Swallowtail" isn't really a Japanese Swallowtail; but, black-spot angelfish? Since it looks identical to the Genicanthus melanospilos listed in the photo on your first link and the photo on LA. Any pics of a true "Japanese Swallowtail" so I can compare???

I knew there was a reason I hated common names...

Dwain

 

[Kinetic]

Lol yeah I saw the marinedepotlive link as well. That's crazy.

I'm saying yours IS a Genicanthus melanospilus =) But common name, beats me =) It says there's a blackspot on the angelfish, which is why it's called blackspot. IS there one?

I tend to believe wetwebmedia because they have good hard sources they cite. So going with that you have a Blackspot Angelfish =)

haha crazy

 

[Outerbank]

I have a lamark female angel that is about 4 years old. 6 inches long counting the forked tail. Relatively disease free. Avoid one with swim bladder problems at the LFS--they will be floating towards the top but always trying to swim down. Beautiful shape, lines, spots, and forked tail but not bold/bright coloration. Other geniacanthus are more colorful. The fish is always active in the middle of the water column. Leaves other fish alone and can handle any tang. Eats everything but meaty foods are probably best (I give her a special treat of scallops or fresh fish every once in a while).

dcoufal, where in Texas are you? I am in Corpus and need to unload some corals if you are interested. Do your lamark and melanospilus get along?

 

[dcoufal]

dcoufal, where in Texas are you? I am in Corpus and need to unload some corals if you are interested. Do your lamark and melanospilus get along?

Temple... 60 miles north of Austin, 18 miles east of Killeen. But, I still may be interested... What'cha got?

I haven't had any problems with them - they normally "do their own thing"; but, I have seen them swim together for short periods of time.

Dwain

 

[cgries]

My swallowtail

My swallowtail

Here is my female, as I have had her for over a year in a 90 with the following fish, Regal Tang, Purple Tang, Chromis, Maroon Clown, Christmas wrasse, Longnose hawkish and a foxface for good measure. I have seen no draw backs to having this fish. Very docile, swims in and out of the rockwork, very active. It does pick at air bubble on the surface as the first posters said. Great angel. If I get a bigger tank I would get a male and maybe a couple more females to form a harem. I would like to live vicariously through my fish

 

[Kinetic]

Nice fish! very beautiful! Can you answer the questions below just for more information?

What kind of Genicanthus?
Where did you buy it from?
What special quarantine routines?
What is it's current size?
What do you feed it?
What is the feeding schedule?
What size, design, setup of a tank do you have?
Any diseases that you've had?
Reef safe so far?
Aggressiveness?
Any other advice?

 

[Vili_Shark]

Ultimate Genicanthus???
There can be only one: G.personatus and a pair is even better.:eek2:

 

[Kinetic]

vili: do you have one? if so any info?

 

[Vili_Shark]

I wish I had one.

 

[tang_man_montreal]

What kind of Genicanthus?
I have a Genicanthus Bellus

What is it's gender?
Female. Males are completely different.

How long have you had it?
Almost 12 months.

Where did you buy it from?
Local BigAl's

What special quarantine routines?
Fish was reserved at LFS for 14 days, then simply added to tank.

What is it's current size?
About 4"

What do you feed it?
Not picky at all, eats Hikari & PE frozen mysis, Angel formula, Formula1, formula2, cyclop-eeze flake, spirulina flake, colourbits pellets... and more... Even NORI off the clip!

What is the feeding schedule?
usually once to twice a day.

What size, design, setup of a tank do you have?
180gallon mixed reef soties,LPS,SPS,clams...

Any diseases that you've had?
None.

Reef safe so far?
Absolutely, however I know someone who's bellus munched on LPS constantly.

Tankmates and aggressiveness?
Not aggressive, keeps to herself, but is a voracious feeder at feeding time. Tankmates include a hippo tang, blond naso tang, Desjardini tang, magnificent foxface, solar wrasse, chromis, percula clown, 2 talbots damsels, and formerly a bluethroat trigger (RIP).

Any other advice?
Maintain good water quality.
Male Bellus angels are known to be more delicate than females for some reason.