Need help with angel fish!

[spidercrab]

Hello, I am setting up an 8'x2'x'2' and looking to go FOWLR. Here is my dream list:

2 majestic angel
2 goldflake
2 Red Sea regal
2 blueline
3 moorish idol
Aussie Harlequin tusk
6 yellow tang
2 japanese swallow
2 bellus angel
9 lyretail anthias

Would there be any compatibility issues? How about pairs is it possible to buy 2 of each at small sizes 3-4" and hope they will pair?
This tank also has a 600 gallon sump/refugium system with major filtration so water quality will never be an issue.

 

[spidercrab]

Also what are some options for large peaceful fish that get really big like 2' adult size? I'm guessing the large angels wouldnt be compatible with other angels.

 

[Maritimer]

I haven't kept most of those fish - and none of them in pairs - but the numbers you've got for each species sound like a potful of trouble to me.

I haven't heard of anyone having long-term success with moorish idols in groups in a hobby-sized aquarium. (a fish challenge I'd like to try, but no time soon . . . )

The Genicanthus angels should be fine if there's only one male in the composite group.

Six yellow tangs ... just kind of sounds like a lot of yellow tangs, but that might just work, by dispersing aggression.

A fish that's two feet long will have a hard time turning around in your two-foot-deep tank - especially when rock or other decor factors in. Unless it's a two-foot eel . . .

~Bruce

 

[GHsaltie]

@eatbreakfast @4FordFamily

 

[4FordFamily]

Pairs of angels aren't likely to work out, especially not that many. You'd be better off mixing large angels (say 5 species). Regals are very fragile and timid, the other large angels may steamroll it. If you do it, buy a giant one.

If you did successfully pair any of those angels, it might lead to that pair becoming extremely territorial and dangerous.

Add them in large batches for best chances.

 

[eatbreakfast]

That's too many large angels, especially in prs.

Only keep a single moorish idol. One will kill the others.

Other lg peaceful fish would include semilarvatus butterflies(and they can be kept in prs) a group of pyramid butterflies, or a group of monos(these school).

 

[spidercrab]

Thank you for the help! Okay I'll say the pairs are out. How about a small harem of regale like 3+? I've heard regals could be kept in harems. The moorish idols were just an impulse but I may go just 1 or zero.

This is probably going to be a bad idea but how about a adding a queen or emperor angel to the list? It's a larger more aggressive angel but would the tank support another large angel if I with all singles and a small harem of regals.

Sorry for all the questions but could I also mix tang species instead of just going all yellow could I do a powder blue and Achilles or just too much aggression?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Technically most angels can be kept as a harem, executing it can be difficult.

Queen angels aren't as aggressive as emperors. I would be wary of mixing an emperor with a majestic.

Stick with the group of yellows rather than an achilles or powdee blues, as these species can intimidate more timid species.

 

[spidercrab]

Awesome! I'll go with the queen. i was thinking the harem would offer more support for the more delicate regals but I may be wrong on that. Also I wonder how having a larger (alpha) queen would affect having pairs of the other smaller angels like blue lines and gold flakes maybe tone down the agreesion from the pairs or would they still become aggressive assuming I could pair these angels or find established pairs.

Technically most angels can be kept as a harem, executing it can be difficult.

Queen angels aren't as aggressive as emperors. I would be wary of mixing an emperor with a majestic.

Stick with the group of yellows rather than an achilles or powdee blues, as these species can intimidate more timid species.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Awesome! I'll go with the queen. i was thinking the harem would offer more support for the more delicate regals but I may be wrong on that. Also I wonder how having a larger (alpha) queen would affect having pairs of the other smaller angels like blue lines and gold flakes maybe tone down the agreesion from the pairs or would they still become aggressive assuming I could pair these angels or find established pairs.

Having a more assertive angel will not help maintain prs or harems with less aggressive species. Rather it won't give them a chance to stake out a significant territory, and will contribute to in-fighting among the potential pr.

 

[spidercrab]

Having a more assertive angel will not help maintain prs or harems with less aggressive species. Rather it won't give them a chance to stake out a significant territory, and will contribute to in-fighting among the potential pr.

Okay it sounds like pairs of large angels or harems are out. Im guessing the only way a pair could be done is if it were the only angel species in the tank? Aside from the genicanthus which I may still go with pairs for those. But for the large angels I would go just one of each:

queen
majestic angel
goldflake
Red Sea regal
blueline
Aussie Harlequin tusk
6 yellow tang
2 japanese swallow
2 bellus angel
9 lyretail anthias

Does that list seem practical or are there still some red flags?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Okay it sounds like pairs of large angels or harems are out. Im guessing the only way a pair could be done is if it were the only angel species in the tank? Aside from the genicanthus which I may still go with pairs for those. But for the large angels I would go just one of each:

queen
majestic angel
goldflake
Red Sea regal
blueline
Aussie Harlequin tusk
6 yellow tang
2 japanese swallow
2 bellus angel
9 lyretail anthias

Does that list seem practical or are there still some red flags?

Only try one male Genicathus. So between the bellus and swallowtails, only one male.

 

[spidercrab]

Only try one male Genicathus. So between the bellus and swallowtails, only one male.

Interesting thanks! Well I was planning to buy them all as small, juvi or females and just letting one become male so if I bought 3 swallow and 3 bellus would that eventually just produce 1 male and 5 females?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Interesting thanks! Well I was planning to buy them all as small, juvi or females and just letting one become male so if I bought 3 swallow and 3 bellus would that eventually just produce 1 male and 5 females?

Most likely, yes.

 

[spidercrab]

Most likely, yes.

So much to think about! I also want to do some corals nothing expensive or fancy just something to add some color so I need to figure out which on my list will not destroy every type of coral. I know the genicanthus are best but of the large angels it seems they arent that interested in SPS and maybe mushrooms from what I've read as well as some other soft corals.

 

[eatbreakfast]

So much to think about! I also want to do some corals nothing expensive or fancy just something to add some color so I need to figure out which on my list will not destroy every type of coral. I know the genicanthus are best but of the large angels it seems they arent that interested in SPS and maybe mushrooms from what I've read as well as some other soft corals.

Leathers and mushrooms work well and are easy.

 

[spidercrab]

Leathers and mushrooms work well and are easy.

Can I ask you about the genacanthus? how many of these fish can be kept? large harems of different classes? like 6-7 each in the 8 foot tank. Would just one male rein over the entire tank of genacanthus?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Can I ask you about the genacanthus? how many of these fish can be kept? large harems of different classes? like 6-7 each in the 8 foot tank. Would just one male rein over the entire tank of genacanthus?

Give each fish about 100g per fish. Yes, it will most likely be 1 male out of all the Genicathus specimens.

 

[ALbque]

I wouldn't mix Tangs , period. Your only asking for trouble....

 

[eatbreakfast]

I wouldn't mix Tangs , period. Your only asking for trouble....

In some cases true, but in many, many instances they are fine.