Watanabei Angelfish

[maysorum]

I started with two small females. As they grew the larger one turned male. Now the male chases the female everyday but causes her no harm. In the late evening he lets her stay out longer and starts his little mating dance with her.

How long have you had the pair?

 

[sc50964]

The male will start to noticeably turn to a female within a month without a female. Had this happen to me and when I started looking for a female my LFS couldn't find a decent one for almost a month. By then my male had lost most of his stripes and looked to have made the complete transition to a female.

I also share the same experience. Even though I was able to add a female within a month, that really didn't stop him from losing his stripes. However, you can still tell that he was a male due to coloration and pattern on his head and other fins. Both lived in a 180 gallon and the male would chase the female from time to time, but it was never too bad.

 

[OrionN]

Is the female able to lead a normal fish life? Or is she stuck in hiding?

The female is fat and healthy. Occasionally the would run at her and she sprint tout of the way, that is all. Never a wound or torn fin, never a bite.

 

[sc50964]

So basically you're saying it's a gamble? Hmmmm.

I think it's a gamble. I know this other hobbyist who has a pair of Japanese masked angelfish in a 400+ gallon reef, and the male still lost his male coloration after a long while. He had this other dominant emperor angel in the tank and suspected that the dominance of the emperor was a major reason for the loss of color.

 

[sc50964]

Here is the link for this other thread that I mentioned.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2468002

 

[maysorum]

The female is fat and healthy. Occasionally the would run at her and she sprint tout of the way, that is all. Never a wound or torn fin, never a bite.

Did your male remain fully colored?

 

[OrionN]

Yes. He is the biggest angel in the tank. The Regal angel is smaller

 

[79chopperdr]

I wish my girls would do some swapping! My largest female is pushing 6", I've read before they made need a reason to show male colors. I've considered adding another genicanthus to try and trigger the change...

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

I removed the bully Purple Tang & within a week the change started.
Chasing occurs frequently between the 2 females but no torn fins or anything.

 

[79chopperdr]

Here's a pretty lady

 

[sc50964]

Here's a pretty lady

Wow that's a good looking fattened up female

 

[Blueline12]

At least two years now.

How long have you had the pair?

 

[OrionN]

My pair, full grown with streamers

 

[79chopperdr]

^^^^^those look awesome. I'll just patiently wait...

 

[maysorum]

Just wanted to update.

I ended up adding a small Watanabei female to the tank and have had excellent success. Their first interaction was amazing. They swam to each other immediately, greeted and checked each other out then swam side by side throughout the tank. They are both out and about all the time. He some times does the super fast charge at her and chases her for a second or two. She hides for 30 seconds then comes back out of the rock work. No fear or damage. IME, overall their interactions are not hostile in any way.

I am enjoying this pair immensely.