Multiple dwarf angels in one tank?

reefsamurai · Oct 10, 2021

With the continued success of the current angels and the fact that more is actually better due to pecking orders, Im adding in two more angels because why not! A rusty and a hybrid lemon peel. Both added at night and both swam right to the rocks and avoided detection by any of the current inmates. Tomorrow is a new day and we shall see how it all goes. The only one who cared about the previous new additions is the Atlantic blue surgeon .

Zionas · Oct 11, 2021

Is your hybrid from Bali Aquarich? They sell them as Smokey Lemonpeels. Cross between Lemonpeels and Half Blacks which aren’t that rare in nature.

A little bit of interesting biology about the “Fisher’s Angel.” They might not actually be a separate species but the Hawaiian population of the Pacific Pygmy Angel (Centropyge flavicauda).

Nice group of angels by the way.

reefsamurai · Oct 11, 2021

Zionas said:
Is your hybrid from Bali Aquarich? They sell them as Smokey Lemonpeels. Cross between Lemonpeels and Half Blacks which aren’t that rare in nature.

A little bit of interesting biology about the “Fisher’s Angel.” They might not actually be a separate species but the Hawaiian population of the Pacific Pygmy Angel (Centropyge flavicauda).

Nice group of angels by the way.

I have no idea where my LFS got it from but it's been in their store for the past 7 months because no one could get past the price or the black on the back end. We think that it could be a lemon/half black hybrid although it has the blue highlights light eibli do. They cut me a deal so they could stop feeding it lol. I like it because it reminds me of rock beauties.

My wife said there was a Bicolor sighting at lunch today but good luck taking a pic of a fish smaller than a cherub.

reefsamurai · Oct 11, 2021

Also the Atlantic blue is driving itself crazy trying to keep everyone in check even though it's the smallest one of the tank.

reefsamurai · Oct 11, 2021

Fed the tank, everyone ate. Hard to get pics of everyone but I did my best. The Atlantic is pulling it's scales out to keep all the newbies in check and it's hilarious . I'm totally addicted and want more angels now. Almost picked up a baby Koran angel when I got these two newest but Im not ready to upgrade just yet. I have a list of angels down my arm I want but that will have to wait till we go to the monster tank club. Got a FTS and it's amazing to see NO FISH when there's eleven in there and two are at least 6-7 in...

reefsamurai · Oct 14, 2021

Doing fine so far and with the additional two added, it's starting to pull the eibli, bicolor and cherub out of being spelunkers. The lemon peel has put the Atlantic blue in his place and things are settling in.

I'm looking to my final fish list now(yes I want more) after really seeing how the pecking order is working and with experience in more is better, I want to add in eventually a boylei, venustus, multifasciatus, gold flake and possibly a rock beauty. I've been informed I must add a naso eventually because she wants one. Thank God I got the ok to build a plywood tank eventually.

reefsamurai · Oct 16, 2021

Well we are about a week in to everything and with the exception of the super secretive bicolor, pretty much all the angels get their time in the sun. The Atlantic has completely calmed down(the lemonpeel put it in its place RQ) and even the retiring pink tail is coming out alot more. So far my observations are that the lemonpeel is the most active and bold with second place going to the rusty. Next in line is a 3rd place fight between the eibli and cherub with the bicolor being dead last.

I'm reevaluating my recently proposed fish list as I got with my LFS and he showed me prices. Nope, not gonna buy a fish worth more than my Harley. Still looking at the gold flake but now considering c tibicen, c potteri, and c multicolor. I've looked at h tricolor but there's reports of it doing fine for months then succumbing to nutritional deficiency and I have no experience there to really know what's best. I'm also looking at one or more of these p imperator, p maculosus, p semicirculatus or p xanthometopon. I don't know enough about large angels to know how they would do with mixing multiples since they are more range/territory specific.

reefsamurai · Oct 16, 2021

I am literally insane. I went into my LFS to give them my fishy want list and they have a juvie Koran that they are treating for fungus. He estimates it should be better in 2-3 weeks.... And it will be coming home with me then. They are also looking for the keyhole, and a regal plus an imperator. We asked about maculosus but we all know that it's a fluke if we ever see those. Might be able to pick up a multicolor if they ended up finding one too. We shall see! I might have to start thinking about building the plywood tank sooner rather than later.

reefsamurai · Oct 22, 2021

Zionas · Oct 23, 2021

It’s nice to see you have so many dwarfs coexist in one tank.

Though my personal preference is a pair or harem of one species.

reefsamurai · Oct 30, 2021

Today's update is a mixed bag. Unfortunately there will be no Koran right now. I went to pick it up from the LFS today and it was gone. It was in the back being Qted and treated for fungus. Even though it was on hold for me and clearly noted, they moved it to a larger display tank and then had issues in that system. The other two Koran's that just came in are already showing signs of disease so oh well for now. This sucks as I had already taken the morning to rearrange all the rocks in prep for the new arrival and new territories. Also we have not seen the lemonpeel since Wednesday. This is not unusual as we only see the bicolor once a week but it is for that fish since it's so big. I stay hopeful. On the plus side as time passes, the eibli, rusty and cherub are all coming out more. Here is the new aquascape.

CanuckReefer · Oct 30, 2021

I have both a Coral Beauty ( 5 years) and an Eibli ( coming up to one year) in a 90 ( small confines for two pygmies)..... the first few days were rough times for Eibli, decided to dial lights back considerably as a last ditch effort, and it worked . No looking back. Glad your crew is getting along....

reefsamurai · Oct 30, 2021

CanuckReefer said:
I have both a Coral Beauty ( 5 years) and an Eibli ( coming up to one year) in a 90 ( small confines for two pygmies)..... the first few days were rough times for Eibli, decided to dial lights back considerably as a last ditch effort, and it worked . No looking back. Glad your crew is getting along....

I have found that multiple additions only at lights out is the best method.

We actually looked at a very healthy coral beauty today. We may or may not end up with it but it would be a "filler fish" as it's not on our planned stocking list.

i cant think · Oct 31, 2021

Hopefully you get your Koran! But for now it’s a very nice mix of the “pygmy” angels. My main question about the dwarf angelfish genus is how does the bicolor angelfish (Centropyge bicolor) still manage to pass as a dwarf and not a large angelfish?

Zionas · Oct 31, 2021

Same goes for the Keyhole and Interruptus. There was a time when Venusta was classified under Holacanthus for some reason. These are the same size, even slightly larger than some “large” angels. Genicanthus is scientifically part of the dwarf angel family as it’s genetically the closest to the dwarf angels more so than any of the “true” large angels (Pomacanthus, Holacanthus). Apolemichthys is also considered part of the dwarf angels in terms of taxonomy. The Bandit, Xanthurus Cream, Red Sea Cream, and maybe the elusive Guezei too are about the same size as the Keyhole and Interrupta and Bicolor, maybe just slightly larger.

I strongly believe Xiphypops (the “Pygmy” angels) should be a separate genus. That’s the Cherub, African Flameback, Brazilian Flameback, Flavicauda / Fisheri.

jaganshi066 · Oct 31, 2021

reefsamurai said:
Well we are about a week in to everything and with the exception of the super secretive bicolor, pretty much all the angels get their time in the sun. The Atlantic has completely calmed down(the lemonpeel put it in its place RQ) and even the retiring pink tail is coming out alot more. So far my observations are that the lemonpeel is the most active and bold with second place going to the rusty. Next in line is a 3rd place fight between the eibli and cherub with the bicolor being dead last.

I'm reevaluating my recently proposed fish list as I got with my LFS and he showed me prices. Nope, not gonna buy a fish worth more than my Harley. Still looking at the gold flake but now considering c tibicen, c potteri, and c multicolor. I've looked at h tricolor but there's reports of it doing fine for months then succumbing to nutritional deficiency and I have no experience there to really know what's best. I'm also looking at one or more of these p imperator, p maculosus, p semicirculatus or p xanthometopon. I don't know enough about large angels to know how they would do with mixing multiples since they are more range/territory specific.

Get a multicolor! I have a multibar, multicolor, and flameback that get along well!