Calling all Centropyge harem owners

[OrionN]

I wouldn't worry about it changing into male if you keep it in a set up like that. The small one is absolutely tiny, good call on keeping them separated. Probably needs some bulk to survive the normal bickering of a flame angel pair.

I am not sure about in small tanks less than 65 gal, but in a 65 gal or larger, adding two or more Flame angel together is absolutely no problem. They may run at each other but never land a blow. The dominant one only do it halfheartedly, and the smaller one just do a quick dart in direction change and get away. Never prolong chasing. I added tiny Flame angel to a large establish pair with absolutely no problem. It is hard to get Flame angel in Corpus Christi, I often order tiny Flame angels from Live Aquaria when they have a sale. This was how I establish my harem. My Flame Back, I got from Salty Fish and Aquarium, a new LFS here in Corpus Christi.

 

[pcon]

I am not sure about in small tanks less than 65 gal, but in a 65 gal or larger, adding two or more Flame angel together is absolutely no problem. They may run at each other but never land a blow. The dominant one only do it halfheartedly, and the smaller one just do a quick dart in direction change and get away. Never prolong chasing. I added tiny Flame angel to a large establish pair with absolutely no problem. It is hard to get Flame angel in Corpus Christi, I often order tiny Flame angels from Live Aquaria when they have a sale. This was how I establish my harem. My Flame Back, I got from Salty Fish and Aquarium, a new LFS here in Corpus Christi.

This may be your experience but is not 100% true across all flames or all dwarf angels. I have had flame pairs where a large dominant obvious male was added at the same time with a tiny obvious female, and the male tore the females fins to shreds in hours and this was in a 125gal tank. I have had large-tiny pairings work as well, another large male was the most gentle I have ever seen an angel to that tiny female a couple weeks later. but it is not 100%. I have also had 2 females even with about an inch size difference fight to the death in a similarly large tank. I have had similar problems across other sexable species. so not all are 100% compatible no fighting in a sizable tank, some pairs go south for no apparent reason.

 

[OrionN]

I have keep marine aquarium since 1980. I always have harem of Flame angels 90+ percent of the time and never have a mortality due to fighting. Also I never have significant fighting.
I never keep them in tanks smaller than 65 gal. I am not saying that it cannot be done, just that I have never done it.