Venutus/Banded/Golden Angel together

[Sigmund]

Recently purchased a Multi Banded (Paracentropyge multifasciata / 3 inches) and Golden Angel (Centropyge aurantia 1.5 inches) to go into my 150 Gallon reef.

Current inhabitants are the above plus:
Venustus Angel - 3.5 inches
Pepp Hog - 3inches
Leopard Wrasse - 3.5 inches
Occelaris Clown pair
Possum Wrasse
Pink streaked Wrasse
Swalesi Basslet
Blue-Spot Jawfish
Circus Goby

Have wanted to get one of these angels for a long time but was worried, as both have a rep as being difficut to eat or keep alive. However I have been pretty successful in the past with difficult fish (Venustus, Potters, Copperand, Leopard Wrasse, etc.). Also was worried with aggression from the Venustus.

LFS has been working with me to try to get a healthy specimin, was only planning on getting which ever one came in first, by chance they got both in at the same time, couldn't pass either of them up.

Been in the main tank now for 4 days both were eating from the first day, agression with the Venustus was not bad, no biting nipping at all anymore, just the occaisonal show of dominance with a side ways look. Adding 2 angels at the same time helped I think with possible aggession being targeted in one diection.

The only thing out of the ordinary is that the Golden angel likes to swim up and down the glass on the one side of the tank, will do this for a 1/2 hour straight and then go back to cruising within the rock work. mostly stays to the one side of the tank, he isn't be bullied into that side, just seems to stay on that side. I don't mind it completely becase he is out and about and I get to see him, however seems a little atypical for an angel. He is so small he might just not know how to act. Any thoughts on this behaviour would be appreciated.

 

[rachenbrazil]

Is the golden angel looking at himself (reflection) ? Maybe it is related to this...

 

[Sigmund]

rachenbrazil,

I thought about that as I have had fish that have done that in the past do to seeing there reflection; however, he only does it on the one side, and even in times where there should be no reflection based upon the external and internal lighting around the tank.

I was more shocked than anything due to the fact that he was out and about so much based upon the fact that they are known as pretty reclusive, he is definetly not that, even coming towards the glass when I am close to see if I am going to put more food in.

Here's hoping for continued luck, as I am really happy with the two new additions.

 

[reppo13]

I can tell you that your golden wouldn't be doing that out of the ordinary, there is something in the rocks thats causing it to swim on the side of the tank like that. It does seem very atypical of an angel especially golden but give him some time to acclimate. Normally they will stay on one side of the tank in general though. Both your venustus and multibar are pretty large compared to him and it seems to me that he is very intimidated, enough to not be in the rocks. I'm a golden angel owner myself and have never seen this behavior from mine. They like to claim a rock pile as their own and stay there until food arrives. Mine chose a 1 ft rock pile out of all my other ones. My suggestion for stopping the behavior is to mix up the rocks if you can to throw off other inhabitants and help the golden.

Matt

 

[Sigmund]

reppo13,

Guess we were thinking alike, I added some rockwork and moved a few things around yesterday before I posted this message. When i got home he was crusing around the whole tank, and picking off the rock. A few times al three were together, the Venustus was trying to show some dominance to the Muti-Bar, and the Multi-Bar was doing the same to the Golden, and everyone seemed oblivious to each other, and it never escalated or went beyond that. All three are acting like typical angels now crusing in and out of the rocks, picking away and anything that looks good to eat, and generally no issues.

The Golden still prefers the one cave area on the side of the tank, but that is not atypical as you mentioned. I will try to post some pics of everyone as soon as I get a chance.

 

[NyReefNoob]

good luck with the Multi Banded (Paracentropyge multifasciata ) i have tried this fish 3 times with no luck long term, and had 2 of them eating frozen, have several types of sponge growing in tank tried angel food, tried angel and butterfly food and everything else under the sun

 

[Sigmund]

NyReefNoob,

How long were you able to keep the longest alive? Was it a slow demise / wasting away or happen out of the blue?

 

[treylane]

I'd also like to know what happens to these fish that folks say they won't thrive long term.

Mine just hit the 4-month mark, has put on some serious size since I got him, eats anything that goes in the tank... just doesn't LOOK like a doomed fish.

 

[reppo13]

reppo13,

Guess we were thinking alike, I added some rockwork and moved a few things around yesterday before I posted this message. When i got home he was crusing around the whole tank, and picking off the rock. A few times al three were together, the Venustus was trying to show some dominance to the Muti-Bar, and the Multi-Bar was doing the same to the Golden, and everyone seemed oblivious to each other, and it never escalated or went beyond that. All three are acting like typical angels now crusing in and out of the rocks, picking away and anything that looks good to eat, and generally no issues.

The Golden still prefers the one cave area on the side of the tank, but that is not atypical as you mentioned. I will try to post some pics of everyone as soon as I get a chance.

That sounds like he is very outgoing:spin1:... As long as he fattens up you should be set. To put it in perspective my golden is the same length as yours give or take 1/8 of an inch and he is 1 inch wide. But he came from DD and has only gotten fatter. :spin2: He can barely fit throught the rocks anymore! And generaly a fat angel is a happy angel.

Edit: forgot to add PICS PLEASE

 

[Sigmund]

reppo13,
What are you feeding the little guy?

Mine realy like the Spirulina enriched brine (the most), mysis, frozen angel formula, also will put in some cyclopeeze every once in awhile. Will put in a clip with nori / algae strips as well with mixed resuls depending on the fish.

 

[twelvejewelz]

look at this here not mine but it shows you it is working but we dont know details and what not:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMMEzSF3IIk&feature=related

All i know is my venustus angel is a TERROR and he hates and abuses any fish ive tried to house with him besides any gobies. He is fat and plump and will eat anything i throw in the tank. I aslo add sponge, have natural sponge all over the tank and he eats that along with nutramar ogo and any nori. Hes a real slob lol . I feed him about 6 times a day sometimes up to 10 times a day even if its a few mouth fulls as im always in my office doing work and the tank is right in front of me . I have about 30 different kinds of foods including different pellets, gel foods, all different frozens , flakes, freezedried foods , live blackworms is his favorite.

 

[reppo13]

reppo13,
What are you feeding the little guy?

Mine realy like the Spirulina enriched brine (the most), mysis, frozen angel formula, also will put in some cyclopeeze every once in awhile. Will put in a clip with nori / algae strips as well with mixed resuls depending on the fish.

Mine eats all that along with PE Mysis, Prime Reef, Rods food, formula one and two frozen and flakes, spirulina flakes, NLS pellets, and is only interested in nori. When he sees the tang just devouring the nori he just watches. Start feeding with PE Mysis at least once a day it will get your angels nice and fat.

As for the video up there its very sad to see a tank like that... its one of the extremely overstocked japanese tanks (I mean no offense to anyone of that heritage) and there is no way to judge about its agressiveness towards other fish in that size tank. Its just too small for a fish to claim territory.