Whats up with Geni. angels ?

[griseum]

Just curious about the different trends over the last few years regarding Genicanthus angel availability. Im in NY, so any West Coast residents, and internationals, I'd love to hear from?!

The species I've come across the most, which isn't very often at all, has been m/f pairs of G. melanospilos and female G. watanabei. Thats over the last few years and maybe 2 or 3 times, at that.

The odd female Bellus, here and there. Yet the Bellus seems to be increasingly rare, along with Lamarck's.

With the Japanese masked swallowtail, G semifasciatus, being the least available, of the ever-available species within the genus. (not including Personatus, Otocinclus, Takeuchi, Caudovittatus, etc.)

These angels are some of the most gorgeous fish... I dont know why there isnt such an enormous demand for them! The males of all of the species within this genus are gorgeous. The females of most are dropdead gogeous as well. Being "reef-safe" and active, with great personalities, what more?

 

[OrionN]

Corpus Christi, TX is hardly the hub of the aquarium world like NY, but I have seen several Bellus the last year, Multitple Lamarck, and at least two Watanabe. All these angels are smaller ones, which are perfect for reef. I am sure if I want some specific ones, I would be able to order it from my LFS.
I do have a mature Watanabe angel pair in my reef. I love them. I chose this species due to size, and I do think that they are very beautiful. I am sure that most people would think that a Regal pr Majestic angel would be more graceful and beautiful, certainly more showy. Flame angel would also be much more flamboyance. IMO, reefer like Genicanthus angel because they are reef safe, not because they are more beautiful that other angel genus. Over all they are not anywhere near as popular as some of the other angels.
BTW, I got a Regal and a Flame angel pair in my reef, along with the Watanabe pair.

 

[griseum]

I just want to edit my first post. I've seen the more *common* species more than "2 or 3 times". I meant that in more of a relative way, as in 2 or 3 waves of importation or availability And even that's a bit of an under-exaggeration.


Orion - The Watanabe pair, has the male stayed in full coloration? Any switching back and forth, of sexes?

Thanks!

Edit- Just saw your album, Gorgeous fish! All of the angels are beautiful.

 

[hogfanreefer]

Bought my watanabei from LA. Have seen them several times on there since.

 

[lonzoencho]

I just bought my Masked Swallowtail Angel! Shes a beauty!

I would have to say I prefer the ease of husbandry with these angels, coupled with their reef-safeness. The only Genus I like more is the Paracentrpyge.

 

[Ambition]

I've only ever seen one Genicanthus angel for sale in any LFS I've been to around here in MN. IIRC, it was a tiny female bellus.

A friend of mine has a lamarck angel, but he got it through LA.

 

[tonymission]

I have two swallowtails. There are a good amount available at LFS in Atlanta. One store even has a new gorgeous Japanese masked male paired with a female for big $$$

 

[CoralsAddiction]

LA has (had) a trio of bellus angels for $600. My LFS has three of them at $60 a piece. Go figure.

 

[OrionN]

...

Orion - The Watanabe pair, has the male stayed in full coloration? Any switching back and forth, of sexes?

Thanks!

Edit- Just saw your album, Gorgeous fish! All of the angels are beautiful.

Thanks. I took this picture 15 mins ago with my cell phone. He is a male all the way. They spawn every few days.

 

[lonzoencho]

They spawn!? Have you ever tried egg collection?

 

[OrionN]

No. Lot of my fish spawned. My flame angles spawned all the time also.
I have had Marine Beta, Royal Gramma spawned in the past. Right now one of my two Marine Beta is nto full grown yet and I just recently added 5 female RG to my lone male. It will be a few more months before they reach that level. I even had a Flame back (male) and Cherub (female) spawned for me before in my 450 g tank.

I like to keep breeding units of small fish in my reef because their breeding behavior are very interesting.

 

[griseum]

Nice Fish!!

Yes, I also picked up a Male/Female pair of the Jap. masked swallowtail. I had never seen them available at an LFS before the two I purchased.
A very small Bellus was available too, wish i had picked her up too.

Tonymission- Which swallowtails? G. melanospilos, aka the males called 'Zebra' with full length bars, and the females without?

I would like to believe that the Trio on LADD was collected together and put through their Quarantine process? Hence the premium over buying 3 juveniles and putting them together. IMO just putting 3 small females together of any spp. within this genus could result in sex-based competition. Especially if two started turning male...

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Well Griss if you want a pair of Japanese Swallowtails they were in Westbury as of Thursday.

 

[lonzoencho]

No. Lot of my fish spawned. My flame angles spawned all the time also.
I have had Marine Beta, Royal Gramma spawned in the past. Right now one of my two Marine Beta is nto full grown yet and I just recently added 5 female RG to my lone male. It will be a few more months before they reach that level. I even had a Flame back (male) and Cherub (female) spawned for me before in my 450 g tank.

I like to keep breeding units of small fish in my reef because their breeding behavior are very interesting.

Awesome hope to find a male/convert a female soon to pair up

 

[griseum]

Thanks Vinny!
I already picked up a pair, however. I wasn't going to walk out without them!
Is that Aquarium Village?

Problem now is the flukes... They are in QT, along with a few other angels, and a very old YT with the worst HLLE I've ever seen!

The reason I began this thread is, it seems like a lot of the Geni angels were just imported and are landing all over the country, especially here in the Northeast, as well as LA, DD, NYA, and many LFS!

 

[lonzoencho]

Nice Fish!!

Yes, I also picked up a Male/Female pair of the Jap. masked swallowtail. I had never seen them available at an LFS before the two I purchased.
A very small Bellus was available too, wish i had picked her up too.

Tonymission- Which swallowtails? G. melanospilos, aka the males called 'Zebra' with full length bars, and the females without?

I would like to believe that the Trio on LADD was collected together and put through their Quarantine process? Hence the premium over buying 3 juveniles and putting them together. IMO just putting 3 small females together of any spp. within this genus could result in sex-based competition. Especially if two started turning male...

Do you have any pics of your pair?

 

[Moort82]

Bellus are fairly scarce over here. Lamark are easy to get as a melanospilos and wantanabeis can be ordered without too long a wait.

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Yes AV in Westbury had them.

 

[jnc914]

The Semi's come in very sporadically over the years, but with in the last year they have been offered several times. I have a single female Semifasciatus for roughly a year. I came across it as a complete fluke at an LFS where I never chance buying livestock.
I QT'd it for 6 weeks, and it has been in my display with several other angels, all of whom are pretty mellow. The Semi is easily the most aggressive fish in the tank. I also used to have a bonded pair of Bellus from Diver's Den. The male almost killed the female, and I wound up selling it due to its extreme aggression toward the other fish in the tank. Here is a crappy cell pic of the Semi:

 

[Arcuatus]

Well you guys will be glad its semifasciatus season right now.