Watanabei Angel Question

[deleau]

So, I'm considering adding a pair of Watanabei angels to my tank. (A couple employees want a "blue" fish, and this is what I think I'm settling on.)

What I've read suggest they do better as a pair. I haven't seen pairs for sale.

What is the best way to buy a male and a female and get them to pair up?

 

[arashsheikhpoor]

Maybe keep them in qt together for a month and see I'd that will do?

 

[Dmorty217]

NYAquatics sells pairs from time to time. They are very finicky fish and I don't know anyone with long term success.

 

[hogfanreefer]

NYAquatics sells pairs from time to time. They are very finicky fish and I don't know anyone with long term success.

That's a bummer. I did some research (maybe not enough) before buying one and most of what I heard was males ship poorly and swim bladder issues were common. I was lead to believe they were pretty hardy once established.

I have a female I've had about 2 years. I'm pretty fond of her and would hate to lose her. What's their life expectancy in captivity? What issues do they have that I should look for?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Males are poor shippers, but females do well in captivity, and if you get 2 females one may transition to male.

I have seen females that are 5+ yrs old and still going strong.

 

[OrionN]

Watanabe are hardy and very beautiful fish for larger tanks. the do get to mic size and swim a lot and fast. I had mine for 4 years or so. Both are full grown with streamers. A while a go the female jumped out and I got another female to preserve the pair

 

[Jasanden]

Buy two females diferent sizes and one will transition within the month. Atleast in my Experiance this is what happened. Didn't take long at all.

 

[OrionN]

They are hardy and you should not have problem get them to teat. I put mine in my Frag tank first and she have no problem start eating. I did not do anything special, just squirt the food I feed the tank to the frag tank and the just start eating without missing a beat. I feed my tank combinations of 6 or so flakes and either Mysis or Ocean Plankton. Mixed them all together and dump it into my DT

 

[snorvich]

Males are poor shippers, but females do well in captivity, and if you get 2 females one may transition to male.

I have seen females that are 5+ yrs old and still going strong.

I agree. However, I have seen two females have one transition to male, kill the other female, then go back to being female. However, most of the time two females will result in a pair as long as both are introduced concurrently.

 

[deleau]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

Now to find two for sale...

 

[deleau]

Just got two females today. Size difference is pretty stark. Here they are in QT. Hopefully, one turns to male, but even if they do not, they are beautiful. Much prettier than in the photos

 

[snorvich]

Size difference is a good thing!