Watanabei male/female purchase question

[adamwheel]

Info seems limited on these and bonded pairs are very rare so which option would be most likely to succeed in getting a m/f pair?

1. Buy 2 females of different sizes at the same time and wait for one to change? Is it a foregone conclusion that one would change to male?

2. Buy a male and female at the same time (male slightly larger to aid in maintaining dominance)?

3. Something I haven't yet considered?

FYI: 40 gal breeder as QT and 178 gal DT lightly stocked and peaceful.

Any shared experience would be appreciated,

Adam

 

[chipchip]

I wanted to ask the same questions today Hoping for some answers. What do you pay for a watanabei in the US? I just asked the price here in Switzerland today. They have 5 males in stock here.

 

[snorvich]

Males, for whatever reason, seem very difficult to get to survive shipping. I have tried. to get a bonded pair of G. watanabei several times with different strategies (two females, male plus female, etc) and failed every time.

 

[adamwheel]

Steve,

Did the male(s) die from swim bladder infections or are they just sensitive?

Did the females live and just not change?

Thanks for the reply. I was hoping you'd weigh in.

Adam

 

[humaguy]

I would get 3 as small as possible..

 

[snorvich]

Steve,

Did the male(s) die from swim bladder infections or are they just sensitive?

Did the females live and just not change?

Thanks for the reply. I was hoping you'd weigh in.

Adam

With Genicanthus, I have found all males to be sensitive to shipping. I have had females change to males, kill the existing male, then change back to female. I am sure there are rules somewhere about what is happening, but I do not know them. The only success I had pairing Genicanthus was with G. bellus and did manage to add a male to an existing female. They mated for a couple of years before the male died. The female is going on 7 years old at this moment.

 

[snorvich]

I would get 3 as small as possible..

Tried that too.

 

[albano]

I would get 3 as small as possible..

+1... With Genicanthus Angels, I'd rather start with juvi/females... They're cheaper, seem to survive better, and males don't always remain male (I have other Genicanthus in my tank)

 

[adamwheel]

Thanks for the replies.

Has anyone successfully kept a pair of watanabei angels that once male/female stayed that way?

The outlook doesn't appear very promising.

Adam

 

[Blueline12]

I bought 2 females that were small and within a year they grew significantly and the slightly larger female turned male.

I have a thread a few pages back of them courting.

 

[adamwheel]

I just went back and watched your video. Really cool and gives me a little hope.

Thanks for sharing.

Adam

 

[Blueline12]

I just went back and watched your video. Really cool and gives me a little hope.

Thanks for sharing.

Adam

Thanks. You will do fine with two small females. Just keep them nice and fat!