For the love of Genicanthus

[blface]

I just added a female Genicanthus watanabei to
my reef over the holidays. I'm very pleased with
her so far. The blue hues on this fish are amazing.
Pics don't do her justice. She eats like a pig &
hasn't even looked at any of my corals so far.
Post some pics of your Genicanthus angels &
your experiences with them. I'll start it off with
a few pics of mine.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/thiellei/IMG_6093.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/thiellei/IMG_6100.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/thiellei/IMG_6101.jpg

[SDguy]

I have been extremely happy with my pair of blackspot swallowtails. Peaceful, yet can hold their own against the tangs. They never touch corals or anything on the rocks. Eat any food I give them. My only complaint is that the male has darkened slightly....

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Femaleswallowtailangel1-27-07.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Maleswallowtailangel1-27-07withflas.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Femaleswallowtailcloseup.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/BlackspotAngelMale1Face.jpg

[blface]

Awesome pics Peter. I've always loved the blackspot swallowtails. Your male is stunning.

[Cantonesefish]

Maybe the darkening is from bright lighting? A similar thing will happen with multicolor angels.

[Charlie's Angel]

blface - have the same fish...got her two months ago and absolutely love her. Eats well and can hold her own against my tangs. Never even looks at my coral.

[blface]

I that your angel Charlie???:D

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11513085#post11513085 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Cantonesefish
Maybe the darkening is from bright lighting? A similar thing will happen with multicolor angels.

Yeah, could be. Who really knows...I've heard lighting, diet, possible even camouflage shading, like the various colored anglers. I've even heard about the various anemones/corals that host clowns causing the clowns to darken......tough to figure out for sure I think.

[Charlie's Angel]

Not the one I really like.

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

I love that watanabe angel, I'm hoping to get a very small pair in my 90 gallon once it's fully-cycled.

[bradleyj]

I lost my female about 10 months ago due to my large hippo tang harrasing her, now I'm seeing my male is changeing back to a female.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/tileman/225%20g%20%20reef/100_6158.jpg

[mrwilson]

From most pictures I've seen of the Genicathus species, most of them tend to be a bit on the plain side for my tastes, in terms of their coloration. I've only seen watanabeis in person, and although lovely in a minimalist sort of way, they too were not what I would really call flashy. However, Peter's pics of his melanospilos pair has me reconsidering. I agree with blface that the male, in particular, is indeed stunning. For those with experience with that species, do they all look that spectacular (or even nearly that spectacular) in person?

[Kinetic]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11517497#post11517497 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mrwilson
From most pictures I've seen of the Genicathus species, most of them tend to be a bit on the plain side for my tastes, in terms of their coloration. I've only seen watanabeis in person, and although lovely in a minimalist sort of way, they too were not what I would really call flashy. However, Peter's pics of his melanospilos pair has me reconsidering. I agree with blface that the male, in particular, is indeed stunning. For those with experience with that species, do they all look that spectacular (or even nearly that spectacular) in person?

PLAIN? you've never seen a bellus then:

http://www.tjorvar.is/assets/images/genicanthus_bellus_x.jpg

http://www.marinecenter.com/media/photos/8E3DFA5AC2CA4276B06D8351FEBF85A6.jpg

[BangkokMatt]

Here are my pair of Genicanthus Melanospilos (Blackspot Angels). Stunninig fish as are many of the Genicanthus species.


http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/114759IMG_2317.jpg
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/114759IMG_2310.jpg
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/114759IMG_2298.jpg
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/114759GA.jpg

BTW - love your Watanabei BLFace

[BangkokMatt]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/114759IMG_2303.jpg

[gasman059]

Had many of them over the years.
Currently have a female.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n320/gasman059/IMG_7329.jpg[/IMG]
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n320/gasman059/IMG_5622.jpg[/IMG]
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n320/gasman059/IMG_7174copy.jpg[/IMG]
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n320/gasman059/IMG_5629.jpg[/IMG]
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n320/gasman059/IMG_2602_edited_edited-1.jpg[/IMG]

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11518149#post11518149 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BangkokMatt
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/114759IMG_2303.jpg

I notice your male still has the black of a female tail....is it still changing, or holding the same color?

[BangkokMatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11518407#post11518407 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
I notice your male still has the black of a female tail....is it still changing, or holding the same color?

Yes it does. It has maintained that since I've had it. My female is starting to form streamers and the lower part of her anal fin is becoming speckled (as in the male). They are truly gender defiant - however, they both live in Thailand and that is quite normal here :lol:

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11517497#post11517497 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mrwilson
From most pictures I've seen of the Genicathus species, most of them tend to be a bit on the plain side for my tastes, in terms of their coloration. I've only seen watanabeis in person, and although lovely in a minimalist sort of way, they too were not what I would really call flashy. However, Peter's pics of his melanospilos pair has me reconsidering. I agree with blface that the male, in particular, is indeed stunning. For those with experience with that species, do they all look that spectacular (or even nearly that spectacular) in person?

I really thought the same thing. Never had any intention or desire to own one. They were just oh hum in pics, IMO. Then I saw my male in person. Really stunning, so I bought it, then and there. And the female the same day (different LFS though).

[mrwilson]

I am becoming more and more convinced. The pics of the bellus are also very nice. Anybody ever try mixing species (e.g., a lamarcki with a pair of melanospilos, a bellus with a watanabe, etc.)?

Also, I've read that because at least some of these are deepwater fish, some can have decompression problems (I think I've read that about watanabes in particular). Anyone ever have an issue with that? Seems like if the fish is swimming ok in the LFS (or if you use a reputable online dealer), this should not be a problem. Or might it show up later?

[LisaD]

For a long time I thought of the Genicanthus as being no more attractive than damsels, and failed to understand what the fuss was about. I really love the large angels - their look, behaviors and intelligence. However, after I got a LaMarck angel (which is one of the plainest, cheapest and hardiest) I began to appreciate their beauty, which is of a different sort.

[Philwd]

Anyone keeping these with fairy wrasses? Scott Michael mentions the genicanthus can be aggressive towards wrasses.Looks like bradleyj is keeping them together. Anyone else?

[zemuron114]

i had a male watanabe from australia that was one of the nicest fish i have seen. he was huge full streamers and the nicest blue i have seen on a fish before. It changed my mind of watanabes!

but then i got one from the marshalls and it wasn't as nice!

[gasman059]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11520663#post11520663 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Philwd
Anyone keeping these with fairy wrasses? Scott Michael mentions the genicanthus can be aggressive towards wrasses.Looks like bradleyj is keeping them together. Anyone else?

A pic is better than a thousand words.About 10 diff wrasses with mine.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n320/gasman059/IMG_7354.jpg[/IMG]

[tcmfish]

anyone with a male lamark?

[Philwd]

Thanks Gasman.

[gasman059]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11521084#post11521084 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Philwd
Thanks Gasman.
np HTH
I've had at the same time in previous tanks- a pair of WT/ a pair of jap's and a pair of bellus with multiple wrasses.

[blface]

My female watanabei is housed with four wrasses.
- pair of hooded
- male lubbocks
- royal flasher

I've had no problems w/ aggression at all. My flasher use to hide all of the time. He was scared to death of a rabbit fish I had. I replaced the rabbit fish with the watanabei female & he's out swimming all day long now.

[Philwd]

I've wanted a pair of Japanese Swallowtails for some time. Now that I've got the declevis out I have room.

[Cantonesefish]

I'd like to see someone's pics of their takeuchii pair.

[SaraB]

Here's my pair of Bellus Angels ... they both tend to rule the tank, especially the female! I keep the pair with 4 fairy wrasses as well to answer a prior question ... a pair of Rosefascia, a Supermale Lineatus and a Labaouti. Also a Mystery Wrasse as well.

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r63/SaraBertolino/Fish%20Photographs/BellusMale1.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r63/SaraBertolino/Fish%20Photographs/BellusFemale2.jpg

[Macimage]

Here are few photos of mine:


http://studiodirectcosmetics.com/temp/maleswallowtail1.jpg

http://studiodirectcosmetics.com/temp/femalewatanabe1.jpg

http://studiodirectcosmetics.com/temp/femalewatanabe2.jpg


I'll get some photos of my female swallowtail and female bellus tomorrow.

Joyce

[Froggy]

I just recently finished my fish stocking by adding a Lamarck angel. I will try to post a picture, once I figure out why my photo program is locking up....:rolleyes:

Really like these fish :)

[Macimage]

Ok, here are the rest of the gang and a group shoot with all five:

http://lipinkdirect.net/tank/femaleswallowtail3.jpg

http://lipinkdirect.net/tank/femaleornate1.jpg

http://lipinkdirect.net/tank/angels2.jpg

Joyce

[SaraB]

Macimage - Great Angels! I didn't know that you could put them together in one tank like you have. Could you share which ones you have?

[Macimage]

Hi Sara,

Thank you very much! I was inspired to post after looking at your pics!

I have the 5 angels shown in the group photo, 2 female watanabe's, 1 female & 1 male swallowtail, and one female bellus. I am not sure if the group photo (the 3d one) is showing up, as I had to hit the refresh button to see it. The server may get too busy once in a while.

I'd like to add a male bellus and possibly a male watanabe if one of my females doesn't turn male.

The other fish that are in with them are a female maroon clown, a foxface, one powder blue tang and one purple tang.

These angels are very peaceful and never bother each other or the other fish.

Joyce

[SaraB]

Thanks for posting the details. I also liked a pair of watanabe's, but I was not aware they would get along with my Bellus pair. My Bellus, mostly the female, likes to be queen of the tank. I have 4 large Fairy wrasses, a foxface and will also be adding some tangs back in. My tank recently had to come down to be replaced as my euro-brace cracked, so I'm now upgrading from a 225 to a 300 and would like to expand my fish selection! Thanks for the information!

[Macimage]

Yes, I think it would be better to add them all at the same time to avoid any issues. I am not sure if I should add any more or not.

I added all mine the same day. I lost all of my fish except the clown and foxface and most of my corals last year after my top started to pull away from the back of the tank and I had to empty it all out as I was afraid it would burst and we needed to get it repaired.

Joyce

[Fliger]

Purty! I had a pair of Watanabe a while back but got rid when I downgraded tanks. I have a pair of Bellus now - had about a month or two. Stunning fish - real eaters! I might try a pair of Watanabe's again but I really want to hold out for an Interruptus (if I can ever afford one). Sorry for the blurry pix!

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/dfliger/Elos%20160XL/IMG_6402.jpg

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/dfliger/Elos%20160XL/IMG_6399.jpg

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/dfliger/Elos%20160XL/IMG_6396.jpg

Lady .... please step away from the acans ....

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/dfliger/Elos%20160XL/IMG_6400.jpg

[Kinetic]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11610340#post11610340 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fliger

Lady .... please step away from the acans ....


hahaha that little caption was funny =)

great pictures of the bellus, even though blurry ;)

[Macimage]

RIP female swallowtail:

http://lipinkdirect.net/tank/femaleswallowtail3.jpg

We were watching tv (and my tank of course) on Monday night and noticed she was lying on the sandbed. I immediately netted her and put her in a hospital tank with some Prazi Pro, but she didn't last the night.

I have no idea what happend. I did a water change on Sunday, however, all the snails, shrimp, corals and other fish are fine. I've had her 3 months. I don't know, maybe she was a cyanide catch?

Joyce

[lunner]

Really nice Angels people!

I understand Watanabei will grow up to 6" and Bellus 7"

But how big are the ones you guys have now? And do that grow that fast?

[BangkokMatt]

My male Blackspot is about 7-8 inches and the female about 4-5. They grow at a steady pace.

[bradleyj]

I have a watanabie, zebra, and regal together with 21 different wrasses, 2 tangs and rabbitfish and trigger.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/tileman/100_6361.jpg

[bradleyj]

And, I almost forgot, 4 bartletts and 2 dispars.

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

I envy you, I'm trying to get a tiny pair of watanabes in my 75 reef that's going up soon.

[Monti]

I love my female bellus! They are probably one of my favorite fish, some of you guys are making me sick with your pics of male bellus... its hard enough to find a healthy female, let alone a male! Nice angels everyone!

[xinumaster]

I just started a genicanthus thread today not knowing that there is one already. Here is the thread http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1314458

So, I'm gonna post pictures here from now on and redirect post from that thread here.

Here is an old picture of my pair "Genicanthus semifasciatus" of japanese (sometimes called masked) swallow tail. But they're in heaven now. Both male and female died due to an ich out break.

Male of japanese swallow tail with some tangs.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r83/xinumaster/fish-tank/DSCN1446.jpg

Male and female
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r83/xinumaster/fish-tank/DSCN1445.jpg

[xinumaster]

I just started a genicanthus today not knowing that there is one already. Here is the thread http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1314458

So, I'm gonna post pictures here from now on.

Here is an old picture of my pair "Genicanthus semifasciatus" of japanese (sometimes called masked) swallow tail. But they're in heaven now. Both male and female died due to an ich out break.

Male japanese swallow tail with some tangs.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r83/xinumaster/fish-tank/DSCN1446.jpg

Male and female
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r83/xinumaster/fish-tank/DSCN1445.jpg

[xinumaster]

And here is another pair of swallow tail angel I had but already found a new home in my friend's tank.

Male but color is not fully develop yet.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r83/xinumaster/fish-clams/DSC_0905.jpg

The female
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r83/xinumaster/fish-clams/DSC_0904.jpg

[xinumaster]

double post.

[Echidna09]

No Lamarcks? :(. They are one of my favorite fish and I would also like to see a male if anybody has one.

[xinumaster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11522385#post11522385 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sara B
Here's my pair of Bellus Angels ... they both tend to rule the tank, especially the female! I keep the pair with 4 fairy wrasses as well to answer a prior question ... a pair of Rosefascia, a Supermale Lineatus and a Labaouti.

Very nice pair of Bellus, Sara. I have a pair too that I still need to get pictures, yet.

[SaraB]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11793585#post11793585 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xinumaster
Very nice pair of Bellus, Sara. I have a pair too that I still need to get pictures, yet.

Thanks for the complement!!! Post some photos of yours soon!

[ssavader]

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee234/ssavader/DSC00481.jpg

[Pingu]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/72332Pingu_0299.jpg

Here's my lamark. I love this fish, really cool...

[dazed]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11793272#post11793272 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Echidna09
No Lamarcks? :(. They are one of my favorite fish and I would also like to see a male if anybody has one.

Here is my Lamarck, someone correct me if I'm wrong but i think it is a female.
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd15/dazedbyday/corals/angelMedium.jpg

[cpandrewschmidt]

Wow, the blackspots (swallowtail) are awesome looking. I've decided these are my next fish for my 180. I would like a male/female pair. I checked all the places online (liveaquaria/saltwaterfish.com) and nothing avaiable. My question is if two females become aviable will one change to a male in captivity? Anything thing else I should know about care etc?

Andrew

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

Have you checked bluezoo?

[cpandrewschmidt]

nothing there either. Anyone know if these change sex if two females are together? I have seen some places with just females around, they seem more popular, but I would like a pair.

[xinumaster]

I used to have a couple of female watanabes and one of them turned to male. But the transition took almost 4 months.

[flameangel88]

Blue Zoo can get them from their supplier. If you pre-order today they will know by this wekend. You can leave a message with Mark and he will reply either email or phone. I've a few coming in next week.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11827983#post11827983 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cpandrewschmidt
nothing there either. Anyone know if these change sex if two females are together? I have seen some places with just females around, they seem more popular, but I would like a pair.

[xinumaster]

Here is picture that I found of my female bellus. The male I still have to take picture of him.

http://ericdo.com/pictures/tanks/Perry/D2X_1356.jpg

[cpandrewschmidt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11828787#post11828787 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xinumaster
I used to have a couple of female watanabes and one of them turned to male. But the transition took almost 4 months.

4 months doesn't seem bad! I just wanted to make sure there wouldn't be agression issues with 2 females in the same tank. Now, on liveaquaira it lists the fish can come from Fiji or the Indo Pacific. Anyone notice a large color difference between the two?

[ACBlinky]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11793272#post11793272 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Echidna09
No Lamarcks? :(. They are one of my favorite fish and I would also like to see a male if anybody has one.

Here's my pride and joy, Genny -- she's an absolute beast, creeping up on 5" now. To say she's fat would be an understatement; this fish eats absolutely anything, and lots of it! She's a very well behaved girl, but has become a bit bossy with age. Her streamers are just beautiful now (her tail was pretty mangled when I bought her), and she's iridescent under the halides -- Lamarck's are gorgeous, often underrated fish.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/ACBlinky/Reef%20fish/Genny_side.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/ACBlinky/Reef%20fish/Genny_side2.jpg

It's a lousy shot, but you can see just how round Genny is :D
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/ACBlinky/Reef%20fish/Genny_fat.jpg

[lunner]

Picked up my pair of Watanabei @ Greenwich Aquaria,CT last Saturday :)

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/gallery/files/1/0/0/9/DSC00309.JPG
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/gallery/files/1/0/0/9/DSC00301_470825.JPG http://www.manhattanreefs.com/gallery/files/1/0/0/9/DSC00310.JPG

[dazed]

ACBlinky; beautiful pictures of Genny looks real nice and happy. I know what you mean about the iridescent color under the halides.

Quick question for you I just added one to my tank a couple of weeks ago and i believe it is a female i have posted a picture in this thread a couple of posts up. Could you take a look and let me know what you think??

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11832147#post11832147 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ACBlinky
Here's my pride and joy, Genny -- she's an absolute beast, creeping up on 5" now. To say she's fat would be an understatement; this fish eats absolutely anything, and lots of it! She's a very well behaved girl, but has become a bit bossy with age. Her streamers are just beautiful now (her tail was pretty mangled when I bought her), and she's iridescent under the halides -- Lamarck's are gorgeous, often underrated fish.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/ACBlinky/Reef%20fish/Genny_side.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/ACBlinky/Reef%20fish/Genny_side2.jpg

It's a lousy shot, but you can see just how round Genny is :D
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/ACBlinky/Reef%20fish/Genny_fat.jpg

[ekovalsky]

Tomorrow we will be adding a M/F bellus pair. We've been waiting for a while, a LFS finally was able to get them. They are the last large fish to be added to the tank. I hope they will be ble to peacefully coexist with the other active fish in the tank, including four tangs (sohal, regal, yellow, chevron), four fairy wrasses (rhomboid and hawaiian flame pairs) and mystery wrasse, and quartet of hawaiian bicolor anthias. And an African midas benny who thinks he is an anthias when not in his little cave (which he will defend to the death!)

Right now the Chevron tang is definitely the alpha fish. The sohal is smaller and more recently added, probably in time he will be the bad *** and punish the chevron and yellow for the harrassment they are dishing out now. The sohal and regal tangs are very tolerant of each other.

It will also be interesting to see how the blue spot jawfish reactors to the big angels. Hopefully they won't stress him out. He's a very curious and nervous fish, typical for the species. The chevron and yellow tangs really bother him, whenever I put some food near his burrow they are there! We just removed his least favorite fish -- an orange spot rabbitfish which I appropriately called "Fat Bastard" who began nibbling on zoanthids, xenia, and of course an Australian elegance coral among other things. I had thought he was just pestering the latter, picking slime off its surface, until I caught him red handed chewing a pink tentacle tip in his mouth. He literally looked like he was laughing at me while doing it, too. Super smart fish, tried for weeks to trap him without any luck. Just looking him in the eye or talking about him and he would hide in a cave. Finally got him with a #10 snell and a piece of silversides :)

[flameangel88]

Couple of pictures:

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Genicanthus/IMG_1869Large.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Genicanthus/IMG_1889Large.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Genicanthus/IMG_1891Large.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Genicanthus/IMG_1918Large.jpg

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

Awesome! I just a really little pair of lamarck's and I'm gonna have some pics up this weekend, I'll get them on here soon!

[sugartooth]

Genicanthus Melanospilos:

female
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nullcable/2299078177/" title="genicanthus melanospilos female by nullcable, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2210/2299078177_cd12bd100a_o.jpg" width="779" height="600" alt="genicanthus melanospilos female" /></a>


male

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nullcable/2299078181/" title="genicanthus melanospilos male by nullcable, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2309/2299078181_2e076a8c1e_o.jpg" width="800" height="500" alt="genicanthus melanospilos male" /></a>

[techreef]

Blinky, Genny is starting to look more like a softball than a fish! :)

I also love to read about reefers catching their fish w/ hooks and fishing line. ha!

Great pics everyone. Thanks for posting. The male bellus angels are nicer looking than I had thought.

[Conesus_Kid]

Anyone try a harem, or are male/female pairs a better route to take?

[flameangel88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11974813#post11974813 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Conesus_Kid
Anyone try a harem, or are male/female pairs a better route to take?

A harem would be fun to watch and I would love to see a picture if someone has one. From my extreme short experience I think they should be fine as they seem to get along. Watanabe seem to be a bit more agressive compare to the others. So far from all the various reading the recommendation is to get 3 females and one will emerge as the male is the best way to go. Hope other folks with more experience can chime in on this subject.

[SDguy]

Are these your angels? The male looks dark, like mine has become....
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Maleswallowtailangel3-22-08.jpg



<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11972015#post11972015 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sugartooth
Genicanthus Melanospilos:

female
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nullcable/2299078177/" title="genicanthus melanospilos female by nullcable, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2210/2299078177_cd12bd100a_o.jpg" width="779" height="600" alt="genicanthus melanospilos female" /></a>


male

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nullcable/2299078181/" title="genicanthus melanospilos male by nullcable, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2309/2299078181_2e076a8c1e_o.jpg" width="800" height="500" alt="genicanthus melanospilos male" /></a>

[sugartooth]

SD, yes it looks the same. He is a Jerk....aka Mr. Jerky.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nullcable/2346214951/" title="melanospilos by nullcable, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/2346214951_f04e0513f5_o.jpg" width="800" height="470" alt="melanospilos" /></a>

[SDguy]

LOL, mine is OK.....postures with the PBT on occassion, but that's it so far....

[ssavader]

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee234/ssavader/DSC00481.jpg

[SDguy]

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Femaleswallowtailangel3-22-08.jpg

[mflamb]

My G. bellus and G. melanospilus, along with their friends.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p117/mflamb/DSC00441.jpg

[myerst2]

How about this one. Not exactly sure what type he is and it's not mine. I found the pic on Blueharbor.co website. Regards, Tim

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg22/myerst22/200612265-thumb.jpg

[Cantonesefish]

That's a personatus (masked angelfish). I would love to have a pair of those! That one's a female; the one on the right is a bandit, of course. Not a bad combination!

[i2ik]

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k137/i2ik/fishMarch222008022-.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k137/i2ik/fishMarch222008018-.jpg

[coralnub]

Beautiful angels, I especially like the yellow masked male japanese swallowtail and the female watanabes.

[myerst2]

Look at these two extremely rare Gens. These are not mine and the pictures were not taken by me. The first one, the Personatus, credit can be given ccopps. The second a Tekeyuchi. I massacred the spelling on the later one. Regards, Tim

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg22/myerst22/18personatus.jpg

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg22/myerst22/image059.jpg

[carb850]

Do the Bellus Angels require feeding multiple times a day? One site I came across today claimed the did.

Also, what is the tank size requirements on one? Do the Swallowtails require a larger tank?

[SDguy]

My male, pic taken tonight, really showing the darker colors....
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%203-24-08/Maleswallowtail2.jpg

[flameangel88]

WOW! What a beauty and great photography to boot...that's what I call a perfect combo.

[BangkokMatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12169856#post12169856 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by carb850
Do the Bellus Angels require feeding multiple times a day? One site I came across today claimed the did.

Also, what is the tank size requirements on one? Do the Swallowtails require a larger tank?
They don't need multiple feedings. IMO they need a 120g+ tank.

[JazzZero]

Wow nice stuff guys. I found a nice swallow on live aquaria divers den and if you want to see it its here http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?ddid=38364&siteid=20

ITS A FREAKING MALE BELLUS!!!!

[Kinetic]

liveaquaria had a few male bellus genicanthus last year as well. I've seen them in a few of the LFS around my area last year, but so far nothing this year.

the link to liveaquaria shows a male that definitely just changed from a female, showing the blue colorations still. So beautiful at that transition stage.

[SDguy]

Yeah, a LFS here had at least two or three male bellus angels come through last year.

[BangkokMatt]

Peter - Your male is looking awesome. What a brute!

[Macimage]

Peter-That's a beautiful fish & great photo!!!

Joyce

[mrwilson]

I agree with BangkokMatt and Macimage. Might be the best-looking male of that species I've seen. Love the darker colors.

[SDguy]

Thanks folks! Yes, he is a brute...but really the model citizen...doesn't pick on anyone, but won't be bullied either. I guess I just need to get used to the darker colors :o

[salty420]

more of the same i know but here's my beauties

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s254/keboehm/005.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s254/keboehm/006.jpg

[JazzZero]

It seems that my LFS is getting a pair of bellus angelfish and i wanted to know if $220 is a fair price for a male and female. Since i personally dont have experience or an idea of there cost what do you guys think?

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

Hmm... $220 for a pair doesn't sound bad, any idea on how big they are?

[JazzZero]

nope all i know is the fact that they are coming in from a bali shipment this tuesday.

[flameangel88]

$220 is about the going price for a male and a female. Made sure you see the male eat before you buy it and watch out for flukes and bacterial infection. I received a large female, a small female and a large male back in the end of February and the I've yet to see the male eat any frozen or dried food but I do see it nip at the glass (pods all over) every now and then. The large female had flukes and bacterial infection with worm like hanging around the eye. It took 5 days of prazipro and another 5 days of Maracyn 2 (at the time I didn't know I can administer both simultaneously) to treat the angel and it has recovered completely.

Good luck with them if you decide to get a pair. :)

[JazzZero]

Ya thx for the tip thats pretty awful waht happened to the female.

[otrlynn]

I just discovered this thread and love these beautiful fish. I like that they generally seem to be reef safe, unlike the dwarf angels who seem to be questionable in that regard. My question is, can I keep any of them in a 58 gallon tank or is that considered to be too small for all of them? I have 4 other smaller fish, none are aggressive.

[Kinetic]

58g in my opinion is too small =/

[Gwynhidwy]

I have a pair of G. melanospilos and a harem of three G. watanabei and they all are very active. I think they would be too confined in a 58G, even if you only had one.

[tomtoothdoc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11518149#post11518149 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BangkokMatt
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/114759IMG_2303.jpg

that's the nicest male i've ever seen. i may be coming to bangkok in july or august.(my parents now live there). i'm planning to visit some people from siam reef club also. do you know chingchai? i gotta see his tank in person. i'm not a sps person but man his tank is sweeeeet.

[tomtoothdoc]

bangkok matt, i just saw chingchai got totm. i guess it's obvious you do know him. he must be very famous in thai reef community.

[BangkokMatt]

Thank you tomtoothdoc :)
It's great for the Thai Reef community that Chingchai has been awarded TOTM. I'm a Brit myself - now residing here.
Have PM'd you

[falconut]

Pictures of mine:

Female Blackspot (RIP)
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/524/45556mini-Blackspot-Web.JPG

Female Watanabei (RIP)
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/524/45556mini-100_1046.JPG

Female Lamark
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/524/45556mini-DSC_0099.JPG

Love the species.

[flameangel88]

It took 2.5 months and I'm finally able to get watanabe, swallowtail and bellus angels in the same picture.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/180g/DSC_0033.jpg

[HookedOnReefing]

flameangel88,

What a GORGEOUS!!!! collection.

What buuterfly's are those?

[xinumaster]

No male?

[flameangel88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12725904#post12725904 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HookedOnReefing
flameangel88,

What a GORGEOUS!!!! collection.

What buuterfly's are those?

Thanks. The yel is the semi and the blk/wht is the burgess.

[flameangel88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12725919#post12725919 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xinumaster
No male?

Had a male bellus but I was not able to get him to eat for 3 months and found him dead one day when I got home.

Actually the male was in the video just before it died--click on the red house

[CamBarr]

does this genus of angelfish fair well with SPS???

[john37]

yes, safest angelfish for a reef. i love the bellus angels the best(females)

[SDguy]

OK folks, I need some input on my male swallowtail. As I've mentioned in this thread, his overall color has darkened significantly. I've also notice the classic black spot on his chest that gives him his name has faded, like it's been smudged out. Now it seems the stripes on his forehead are moving/shifting/disappearing, again, like they've been smudged? Is he turning female?? Not sure..here are some side by side pics....

When I first got him:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/BlackspotAngelMale1Face.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Maleswallowtailangel1-27-07withflas.jpg

And now (the camera flash actually made the forehead stripes more prominant)...
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/IMG_0991.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/IMG_0989.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/IMG_0990.jpg

[BangkokMatt]

Peter - Visually, mine is virtually a female now, other than a few faded stripes. The tail was never fully male when I got him but the next sighn of the change was the smudging / loss of the blackspot. The lines on the head were the next to go.
It's interesting yet disappointing when they change.
It sounds like yours could be 'on the turn' so to speak. In the second to last pic it looks like he is getting the black outline on the tail.

[SDguy]

What a shame :( Wonder if throwing in another female would help (though the current one would probably destroy her, anyway)....

[BangkokMatt]

I thought of that when mine changed but I had previously attempted adding a watanabe. The female swallowtail killed her so was put off the idea.
There seems to be no 'rhyme or reason' as to why this change occurs. Mine is twice the size of the female and is clearly dominant, yet....

[SDguy]

Maybe the clear dominance is the problem....nothing to prove?

[BangkokMatt]

It's a possibilty which would fit with the 'harem' lifestyle of the wild. If you added another female it would need to be a fairly big specimen imo. I can't try it as I am very stocked. Keep us posted if you give it a go.

[SDguy]

I doubt I'll go that route. If he does change, it will be strange though, having the biggest female blackspot swallowtail that I have EVER seen :eek2:

[flameangel88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12821820#post12821820 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
I doubt I'll go that route. If he does change, it will be strange though, having the biggest female blackspot swallowtail that I have EVER seen :eek2:

How about swapping the female from a fellow reefer? Maybe your male needs a younger female. :lol:

[SDguy]

I don't cater to midlife crises :lol:

[flameangel88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12822359#post12822359 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
I don't cater to midlife crises :lol:

But if you do it could be a win-win situation and both of you will be HAPPY!

[SDguy]

Interesting take on this by Frank Marini:
http://forum.marinedepot.com/FindPost87614.aspx

[SDguy]

And a pic from today. Very interesting....note all the "extra" stripes forming between the originals on the belly, and the stripe "wedges" forming on the dorsal area. None of which were present originally.

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%207-5-08/Maleswallowtail_1.jpg

Shouldn't the stripes be fading is he was going female, not increasing in number? And his tail filaments just get longer and longer...shouldn't that stop too?

[BangkokMatt]

This was taken in March

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11518149#post11518149 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BangkokMatt
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/114759IMG_2303.jpg


And this yesterday

http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm357/Bangkokmatt/MaleGenicanthus.jpg

As you can see, the fish has changed dramatically over the 4 month period:rolleyes:

[SDguy]

I guess the writing's on the wall, I just don't want to read it :( :o

[blface]

I'm glad that this thread is till going strong.:cool:

Just an update on my female wantanabei. She has just been relocated to my new 210 FOWLR. Whlie I was waiting for the new tank to cycle I was selling off most of her tankmates in the 55. As soon as my pair of true percs were removed she became a royal pain. She was now the dominant fish in the tank & constantly chased the remaining fish. She ended up killing my pair of hooded wrasses.:mad: I never would of thought the female perc was the one keeping her in check. She has since been added to the new 210. I've added a coral beauty with no aggression from her so far.
Here's a few bad updated pics of her. Does anybodys have as long of tail filaments as mine??
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/thiellei/IMG_1283.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/thiellei/IMG_1284.jpg

[blface]

Here's a couple better pics.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/thiellei/IMG_1314.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/thiellei/IMG_1322.jpg

[arammell]

Hey everyone!!! I love all the pictures and I am super jealous of all of you! Which of the genicanthus is the hardiest?

Also, if I were to add two black spot females to my 210 at the same time...will one of them eventually turn into a male? or will they kill each other? Thanks guys!
I love the male and female bellus pair. How hard is it to get a male? Where did you all get yours?
Thanks again!

[Chelsey]

I'm seeing on LA's page that the watanabe is considered "difficult." Has anyone had problems keeping these fish?

[jda]

Nope. My Watanabei ate within an hour of being introduced, never fought with the other fish or hid. I would consider them VERY easy fish... other than availability and price.

[blface]

You have to make sure you get a healthy speciman to start. I see alot w/ swim bladder problems, especially males.

[DevilBoy]

Hi all

We have some nice angels in this thread. I am thinking of getting a female swallowtail... But i have read in a few places that this should be the last fish added to the tank. That they may get aggressive towards any new tank mates added after them. Has anyone had any problems this ?

[flameangel88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12989961#post12989961 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DevilBoy
Hi all

We have some nice angels in this thread. I am thinking of getting a female swallowtail... But i have read in a few places that this should be the last fish added to the tank. That they may get aggressive towards any new tank mates added after them. Has anyone had any problems this ?

I've Bellus, Watanabe and Swallowtail and the Swallowtail will chase the smaller genicanthus angels out of her area. Swallowtail is much more aggressive compared to the Bellus and Watanabe.

[xinumaster]

My male bellus chase my male watanabe for 3 days after I put the bellus in the tank.

[DarthSimon]

Just got a great pair of Wantanabe Angels....

How do they look guys??
Hoping the males strip come in more...


http://www.hometheaterforum.com/darthsimon/IMGS/wan3.jpg

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/darthsimon/IMGS/wan2.jpg

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/darthsimon/IMGS/wan1.jpg

[DamnPepShrimp]

Nice watanabei angels Steve! Are they pretty blue in person? I am looking for a nice blue angel and can't decide wether to get the watanabei or the bellus.

[lunner]

Very nice Steve! I love the 1st pic, very cute couple! :)

[tomtoothdoc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13296651#post13296651 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DamnPepShrimp
Nice watanabei angels Steve! Are they pretty blue in person? I am looking for a nice blue angel and can't decide wether to get the watanabei or the bellus.

i'm voting for the bellus. they have more colors than the watanabei's.

[Macimage]

I love the watanabe males. They are gorgeous!

Joyce

[DarthSimon]

They seem to be a lighter colored blue... Under the blue actinics, they are stunning!!

[Kinetic]

Finally, after 2 years of searching for a very small 2.5" bellus, I found her! I bought her off of LiveAquaria's Diver's Den, and I always have complete confidence in my purchases with LA.

After a 30 minute acclimation, I netted her into the tank. She immediately hid, but only for about 10 minutes. After 10, she came right out and swam around with the ocellaris and percula I have. The two clownfish have been with me for 3 years, and completely the most unaggressive fish ever.

So within half an hour, I was getting her to eat flake, mysis, brine, AND rod's food! HOLY CRAZINESS!

What an exotic fish that came so healthy and ready to eat. She swims around the water column constantly, with ZERO swim bladder problems or symptoms. I have seen a lot of swim bladder problems and she has NONE. She does no bobbing up and down, just smooth strokes through the water. Beautiful.

I did notice that she likes to pick at the little attenae of my snails. But that's the only picking she has shown, otherwise she chases stuff all over the water column.

Behavior wise, she swims in the strong currents, likes to hug the edges of the tank, and does not do the centrogype like slaloms through rocks.

Here are pictures I took just now:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/2871445037_140f491645.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/2871445037_ae3a9fbd8a_o.jpg)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/2872277616_6588ccc91b.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/2872277616_a00d196c0b_o.jpg)

[BangkokMatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13295357#post13295357 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DarthSimon
Just got a great pair of Wantanabe Angels....

How do they look guys??
Hoping the males strip come in more...


http://www.hometheaterforum.com/darthsimon/IMGS/wan3.jpg

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/darthsimon/IMGS/wan2.jpg

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/darthsimon/IMGS/wan1.jpg
They look great but I would say that the male is moving towards female colouring not the other way round. He has the female stripes on the outer tail and they are bold. Also the vertical stripes are fading. and the 'lightning stripes' on the central head are displayed .
But beautiful all the same.

[Macimage]

Kinetic-That's a beauty!!

Congratulations!
Joyce

[DarthSimon]

I thought that the males stripes looked faded... You think they will come back?

[GSMguy]

Kinetic thats the one i want, absolutely gorgeous

[BangkokMatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13389829#post13389829 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DarthSimon
I thought that the males stripes looked faded... You think they will come back?
Sorry to say it but I don't. The male definitely appears to be turning towards female colouration. But.....they are really beautiful so I wouldn't be too concerned :)

[big bank hank]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13388724#post13388724 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kinetic

Here are pictures I took just now:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/2871445037_140f491645.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/2871445037_ae3a9fbd8a_o.jpg)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/2872277616_6588ccc91b.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/2872277616_a00d196c0b_o.jpg)

Beautiful fish.

[DarthSimon]

So the male stripes won't come back??

[j-soler]

awesome thread!
hey guys just out of curiousity what do you feed them? ive heard these angels are very hard to keep because they are very picky eaters. ive been tempted to get anyone of the three redundant pairs in this thread ( my lfs always has them) but am scarred due to this rumor. any thoughts?

[BangkokMatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13394981#post13394981 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DarthSimon
So the male stripes won't come back??
If it is in fact on the turn from male to female the stripes will slowly fade away.

[BangkokMatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13399040#post13399040 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by j-soler
awesome thread!
hey guys just out of curiousity what do you feed them? ive heard these angels are very hard to keep because they are very picky eaters. ive been tempted to get anyone of the three redundant pairs in this thread ( my lfs always has them) but am scarred due to this rumor. any thoughts?
They eat anything and everything. Not picky in the slightest ime

[DarthSimon]

I don't understand why they are fading. I got them about 4 weeks ago. The males stripes looked faded then. I thought when you had 2 wantans one becomes the male???? Again a male that once had his stripes and lost them can't get then back? It doesn't make sense,,

[BangkokMatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13400492#post13400492 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DarthSimon
I thought when you had 2 wantans one becomes the male???? Again a male that once had his stripes and lost them can't get then back? It doesn't make sense,,
Not at all. The male can / will change regardless of whether a female is present. Maybe if you kept them in a harem then the male would stay put. In a pair there are no guarantees what so ever. Many keep pairs and more often than not the male will show female colouration.
The males can revert. You maybe lucky but I would expect your males stripes to fade away.

[blface]

I'm glad to see this thread is still going strong. It's been about 9 months since I started it. I saw an awesome female bellus today at my LFS for only $50.00. It really stinks being laid off & having no extra cash to spend on the tank. Just an update on my female wantanabei. She is still doing awesome in her new 220. She has really grown & is as fat as cow. Here's an updated pic of her.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/thiellei/IMG_1422.jpg

[Znut Reefer]

Whats everyone feeding these? Are you keeping them with sps,lps, zoos and clams?

Also if you bought 2 female Wattnabe females will one convert to a male?

[flameangel88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13735878#post13735878 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Znut Reefer
Whats everyone feeding these? Are you keeping them with sps,lps, zoos and clams?

Also if you bought 2 female Wattnabe females will one convert to a male?

FOWLR. They eat everything. I've two females since Thanksgiving last year and no change yet.

[lunner]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13400727#post13400727 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BangkokMatt
Not at all. The male can / will change regardless of whether a female is present. Maybe if you kept them in a harem then the male would stay put. In a pair there are no guarantees what so ever. Many keep pairs and more often than not the male will show female colouration.
The males can revert. You maybe lucky but I would expect your males stripes to fade away.

That is exactly what is happening to my male Wata. He is still a male with his stripes faded for over a few months now. Thinking of adding another female to see if he will revert.

[SDguy]

Some interesting ideas in a thread I started regarding that topic:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1440513&highlight=male+genicanthus

[BangkokMatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13736236#post13736236 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lunner
Thinking of adding another female to see if he will revert.

Add two if you have the space. That would be interesting. Keep us posted.

Disclaimer - I have tried adding extra females unsuccessfully as my present female goes wild. Others have added successfully, I haven't.

[flameangel88]

I got this female the day after Thanksgiving last year and it started to change couple of days ago.

These pictures were taken last night
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Genicanthus/IMG_4436.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Genicanthus/IMG_4441.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Genicanthus/IMG_4440.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Genicanthus/IMG_4449.jpg

[BangkokMatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13814192#post13814192 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flameangel88


http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Genicanthus/IMG_4449.jpg

Awesome pic! Good luck with the 'new' male

[flameangel88]

Here's an update on the change

11-24-08
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Genicanthus/IMG_4441.jpg

11-26
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_4531.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_4495.jpg

11-27
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_4564.jpg

11-28
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_4571.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_4591.jpg

I will update again after the complete transformation.

[blface]

She's changing really fast. I think the transitional phase is awesome. Can't wait to see more pics.

[Bret61081]

How many females do you have in there with her/him?

[flameangel88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13838528#post13838528 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bret61081
How many females do you have in there with her/him?

Originally had three females in there but lost one over the summer. The one that's changing grew and pack on some weight and was more aggressive toward the other female just prior to the change.

I also have two female Bellus and one of them got a bit darker and more aggressive toward the smaller Bellus this week. Not sure if this one is changing or not but I'll monitor the progress.

[sohalfr]

I've had 3 females watanabei since August last year and I'm still waiting for a change on the dominant one.

Your experience makes me hope for the future :D, thanks for sharing.

[flameangel88]

I was going to wait till it was complete but looks like the transformation will be done very soon.

Look at the pictures from yesterday
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_4602.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_4606.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_4609.jpg

and today
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_4793.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_4794.jpg

[E.intheC]

I LOVE these angels... they're so incredible and graceful in the water. I wish I could put together a large enough tank to have a pair of of Bellus angels

[Cheetos&Cocopuf]

I love the genicanthus and the pics on this thread make me smile.
Here's my newly rescued Watanabei... another foreclosure victim.

Hey BangkokMatt and others, do you think this is a female turning to male or male turning to female? He/she is living very comfortably with my female Bellus.

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb36/furyous67/DSCN1642.jpg

[flameangel88]

From looking at the lines at the bottom (belly) is fading I would say it's changing back from male to female. Comparing the pictures I posted above where the female is changing to male the lines are well defined.

[BangkokMatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13866378#post13866378 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flameangel88
From looking at the lines at the bottom (belly) is fading I would say it's changing back from male to female. Comparing the pictures I posted above where the female is changing to male the lines are well defined.
Agree

[flameangel88]

Who said the change will be quick? This all started back on around 11/20 when I first noticed. I've been waiting and it seems to stopped.

12/4
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_4807.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_4820.jpg

12/7
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_4857.jpg

12/11
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_4950.jpg

12/16
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_5185.jpg

[tcmfish]

Hey enjoy it while you can not many people get to see that! Awesome fish looks great. Nice and fat too!!

[flameangel88]

I'm enjoying this very much that I even said this was my early Xmas gift. I've taking pictures on a daily basis to document this transformation till 12/5 where the change slow down quite a bit and only taking pictures every couple of days since. I think on the last picture I begin to see a slight yellow line forming.

One other thing I want to mention is that just prior to the change the angel ate a lot more than usual and the weight she packed on was obvious. They are normally mid-column swimmer and feeder but as she started to change she was also sucking in water from the surface where there was no food but I read somewhere that fish take in the water from the surface (film of protein) for additional nutrition (I don't know this for a fact). As the change is near the completion he has gone up to the surface less now.

[tcmfish]

I doubt the fish sucking from the surface had anything to do with gaining weight because most the fish we keep don't come from area's with a calm surface or a surface. In this particular case they would have to travel quite a bit to reach the surface. Maybe it was just begging for more food.

[flameangel88]

Point well taken.

[SDguy]

My swallowtails, especially my "male" :rolleyes: are constantly biting at the surface, espacially the corners. No idea why they do that.

[nickiwit]

Here is a picture of mine. I have had him almost a year. He is more aggressive then I expected. He also nips at lps. I have several fish including the angel bite at the surface. I read somewhere that it makes them feel full.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/524/62379watanabei.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/524/62379watanabei2.jpg

[flameangel88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13962889#post13962889 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
My swallowtails, especially my "male" :rolleyes: are constantly biting at the surface, espacially the corners. No idea why they do that.

Does that mean the female biting the surface occassionally?


nickiwit--does your female bite the surface as well?

[nickiwit]

I don't have a female, just 1 male.

My regal tang goes to the surface and then comes down and blows bubbles out its gills. Then it chases them. My watanabei is the first fish I have had that will also chase the regals bubbles.

[flameangel88]

nickiwit--how long you have the male now? My understanding is that in the absence of a female the male will change back to female.

[nickiwit]

Okay I just checked my calendar to find the exact day I got him. I have had him 9 months.

I sure hope he doesn't turn into a female.

I have been looking for a female.

[flameangel88]

I hope you'll find him a female soon otherwise it may turn back. There's a picture of one turning from male to female on the previous page.

[GSMguy]

Will bellus and lamark females get along together?

[Canarygirl]

I have a pair of Bellus angels; the male is turning into a female I think as his coloring has considerably darkened, he's lost his yellow and the top half of him is a dark dusky grey now (bottom half is deep blue). He still has the deep swallow tail.

He still chases the female around, as he's done since the day I first introduced him. Lately I've noticed him biting at the surface of the water; he has also put on quite a bit of weight of late (the female has not).

Does anyone know whether two female Bellus angels in a 240 will cohabitate peacefully (there are lots of other fish too)?

[flameangel88]

When the female Watanabe was changing to male she packed on some serious weight in relatively short time frame and was also biting water at surface as well.

I've two female Bellus in a 180g without any problem so I don't you will.

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13963203#post13963203 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flameangel88
Does that mean the female biting the surface occassionally?


Yes, although my sarcastic smilie was more for my weird male not staying male colors but not getting female colors either :(

[flameangel88]

I can't tell what mine is going through right now and hope some of you can tell from the pictures. For some reason to me it looks like changing back to female. Hope I'm wrong on this.

12-1
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_4602.jpg
12-7
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_4857.jpg
12-10
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_4900.jpg
12-17
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_5269.jpg
12-23
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_5409.jpg

The other side
12-4
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_4807.jpg
12-19
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_5297.jpg
12-23
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_5431.jpg

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14003435#post14003435 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSMguy
Will bellus and lamark females get along together?

Anybody?

[flameangel88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14009032#post14009032 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSMguy
Anybody?

I never had a Lamark. I've 2 Bellus and they are pretty mellow. The only bully I ever seen in the Genicantus family is a female Swallowtail but it only bug the smaller ones and never go up against the bigger females. The longer the Swallowtail was in the more aggressive she got.

[GSMguy]

this lamark is just tiny, thanks Flame angel, i think i will try it.

[Chibils]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14009156#post14009156 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flameangel88
I never had a Lamark. I've 2 Bellus and they are pretty mellow. The only bully I ever seen in the Genicantus family is a female Swallowtail but it only bug the smaller ones and never go up against the bigger females. The longer the Swallowtail was in the more aggressive she got.
I know what you mean. Mine was fine at first but got increasingly aggressive starting around the three month mark.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14009193#post14009193 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSMguy
this lamark is just tiny, thanks Flame angel, i think i will try it. I picked up a 1.5" lamarck today. Good luck. :)

[Chibils]

I added my lamarck to my dt in a hamster ball for social acclimation and to get her feeding well after being introduced to her new environment. She was feeding, but not great (interest but not aggressively taking to it) when I gave her HUFA brine and plankton. Overnight she managed to get out of the ball while it was tethered (lid off) to the side of the tank. She shows interest in food--and will "stalk" it--but will not actually take any. IME, this is a good sign (as they are usually just adapting or learning to accept prepared foods), but how long will she last? She's tiny and I can no longer target feed her. I know with larger fish it's generally fine to the one week mark+, but she has a very fast metabolism as a tiny fish.

[flameangel88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14013493#post14013493 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chibils
I added my lamarck to my dt in a hamster ball for social acclimation and to get her feeding well after being introduced to her new environment. She was feeding, but not great (interest but not aggressively taking to it) when I gave her HUFA brine and plankton. Overnight she managed to get out of the ball while it was tethered (lid off) to the side of the tank. She shows interest in food--and will "stalk" it--but will not actually take any. IME, this is a good sign (as they are usually just adapting or learning to accept prepared foods), but how long will she last? She's tiny and I can no longer target feed her. I know with larger fish it's generally fine to the one week mark+, but she has a very fast metabolism as a tiny fish.

I don't sweat anymore with fish 3"+ as I've goten used to them taking 4 to 7.5 weeks to eat prepared food but I always feed twice a week live clams on half-shell to entice them.

The smaller say 2" and less they need to be fed every 2 hours which I can't do so I stay away from. In your case with it being only 1.5" I would soak brine for half an hour with small amount of garlic and more vitachem or selcon every couple of hours. Have you try NL finicky fish formula? Not all but most new fish likes NL when starting them with pellets.

[Chibils]

I soaked it in garlic last night--perhaps that's what sparked the feeding response. The HUFA brine is Ocean Nutrition, and my fish go nuts for it. They also love the prime reef, plankton, and PE mysis (way too big for her!). I'm struggling to find food small enough for her tiny mouth without going freeze-dried (NLS 1mm pellets, NLS THERA + A .5mm pellets--would love to get her on these for now, cyclopeze). Any suggestions?

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14013560#post14013560 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chibils
I soaked it in garlic last night--perhaps that's what sparked the feeding response. The HUFA brine is Ocean Nutrition, and my fish go nuts for it. They also love the prime reef, plankton, and PE mysis (way too big for her!). I'm struggling to find food small enough for her tiny mouth without going freeze-dried (NLS 1mm pellets, NLS THERA + A .5mm pellets--would love to get her on these for now, cyclopeze). Any suggestions?

I've had good results mincing the PE mysis while it is still frozen using a small knife.

[BangkokMatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14003435#post14003435 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSMguy
Will bellus and lamark females get along together?

I have had disastrous results in mixing Genicanthus so...ime don't do it. However, others have mixed them without issue. Who knows!

[flameangel88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14013596#post14013596 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
I've had good results mincing the PE mysis while it is still frozen using a small knife.

I've to try this next time. Only my Xhatch eat the PE now.

I would suggest soaking NL pellets in selcon and this will soften the pellets.

[BangkokMatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13962889#post13962889 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
My swallowtails, especially my "male" :rolleyes: are constantly biting at the surface, espacially the corners. No idea why they do that.
Same with mine

[flameangel88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14022002#post14022002 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BangkokMatt
Same with mine

Does the female do this as well? Only the male does this in my case.

[BangkokMatt]

Both male and female - and regularly

[flameangel88]

I added a male and female melanospilos and the male is about5". The female is a bit weak and got sucked on the side of the Koralia 4 twice so I'd to take her out and it's in the QT with much slower flow. She was breathingvery heavy last night but less this morning and I didn't think she would make it. But since this morning she has settled down and swimming a more and ate twice in small amounts since the late afternoon.

couple of pictures of the male
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Genicanthus%20melanospilos/IMG_5765.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Genicanthus%20melanospilos/IMG_5770.jpg

[flameangel88]

Update on the Watanabe

Today is the 7 week mark and the transformation is not complete yet.

This was taken yesterday
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_5861.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Watanabe%20Changing/IMG_5860.jpg

[Dooly]

let's bring this thread back from the dead..

I just saw a pair of small Bellus angels at a LFS.. Male seems to be about half an inch larger than the female.. and they both look to be swimming alright..

But I have heard that if they constantly bob up and down, it means they have bladder issues? All the Genicanthus at the LFS had a little bit of "bobbing" in them.. should I risk it and purchase both male and female?

They are about 2.5" female and 3" male.. and I have a 120g display with no large fish whatsoever..

And one last thing, If i DO end up getting them.. best to QT them?.. I only have a 10g QT tank.. but I can dose prazipro and feed gut loaded live brine to them in the 10g for a week or two..

[Macimage]

Yes, you should qt them, however, I wouldn't qt both fish in a 10 gallon. I'd suggest that you purchase a larger used setup (even a 29 gallon would work) and sell it after you are done with it.

[michael_cb_125]

Dang Kevin, that is one fat Watanabe. It is good to see fat healthy fish :)
~Michael

[HOBrien]

Did the female pull through Kevin?

[flameangel88]

Michael--thanks. Both Watanabes are fat but the one that just transitioned packed on weight very quickly just prior to change.

Heath--no, both Melanospilos didn't make it. The tank started with ich then quickly velvet.

[michael_cb_125]

When I first saw that picture of the Watanabe I instantly thought "FOOTBALL". :)
~Michael

[Dooly]

ok, just bit the bullet and got a male/female pair of bellus yesterday night.. they were at the fish store for almost 2 months prior to me purchasing and eating both cylopeez and newlife spectrum pellets at the store.

They seem like they tolerate each other very well, but in the beginning the male was harassing the female for quite a bit, but it has subsided now.

Only thing I notice is that the tip of the fins on both look like they are damaged/deteriorated but they werent like that yesterday. Possible from not being used to the high flow I assume.

Will post pics later.. :) :) :)

[flameangel88]

If fins don't look good check carefully for flukes. Better safe than sorry.

Good luck with them!

[SDguy]

My "male" blackspot from tonight. He's been exceptionally frisky with the female lately.....often courting...quivering tail and all.

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/1_1-4.jpg

[Dooly]

wish I could take great pictures too :(

here are my newest residents..

an almost full tank shot
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/tlxcivic/DSC01237.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/tlxcivic/DSC01228.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/tlxcivic/DSC01232.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/tlxcivic/DSC01235.jpg

[flameangel88]

I think he got to like eating live clams too

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Genicanthus/IMG_7666.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Genicanthus/IMG_7667.jpg

[Western_reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11518149#post11518149 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BangkokMatt
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/114759IMG_2303.jpg
How much do these guys go for?

[Western_reefer]

GORGEOUS angelfish everyone!!

[BangkokMatt]

How much do these guys go for? [/QUOTE]

I'm not sure of the US prices. They cost around $25 in Thailand.

[alprazo]

My new Geni's. They arrived last week. Sorry for the poor photos, I never get around to cleaning the glass in the QT.

THe larger is about 2.5" and the other 2. My bellus pair is about the identical size. The Bellus are in a 125 and I was thinking about adding these Masked together with the Bellus into the 250 simultaneously. Good or bad Idea?

I hope the larger changes into a male like the Bellus did. fingers crossed.

Better Photos to come.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/46949Gs3.jpg
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/46949Gs2.jpg
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/46949Gs1.jpg

[danielp]

I love my little guy:

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p241/danp1010/Picture251.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p241/danp1010/Picture270.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p241/danp1010/Picture252-1.jpg

[tcmfish]

alprazo and flame angel nice fish! :thumbsup:

Everyone's elses look great too, but those are two of my favs!

[Macimage]

Originally posted</a> by danielp
I love my little guy:

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p241/danp1010/Picture251.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p241/danp1010/Picture270.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p241/danp1010/Picture252-1.jpg

Your little guy is a little gal:).

Joyce

[29reef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13962889#post13962889 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
My swallowtails, especially my "male" :rolleyes: are constantly biting at the surface, espacially the corners. No idea why they do that.


This was posted a lot earlier( 1 year +) Id just like to add my .02 to this thread; generally when fish come to the surface to try and "feed" when theres no food it means that the fish is trying to eat the slick of bacteria and other items that collect at the tanks surface. Most tanks dont have stagnant zones but sometimes you'll find them at the corners. This is why I think SD guys fish was going to the corners to nibble at the surface. I think adding some sort of additive to the foods may help. I dont think the problem is harmful to the fish.

Great thread with lots of great photos and reading :)

[SDguy]

Interesting idea. My male still does it; female, not really... But then again, she is also about as wide as she is tall :eek2:

[jmaneyapanda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15576745#post15576745 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 29reef
This was posted a lot earlier( 1 year +) Id just like to add my .02 to this thread; generally when fish come to the surface to try and "feed" when theres no food it means that the fish is trying to eat the slick of bacteria and other items that collect at the tanks surface. Most tanks dont have stagnant zones but sometimes you'll find them at the corners. This is why I think SD guys fish was going to the corners to nibble at the surface. I think adding some sort of additive to the foods may help. I dont think the problem is harmful to the fish.

Great thread with lots of great photos and reading :)

Right, not so much an "underfed" issue, but a biological "need" issue. Protein intake.

[SDguy]

Hmmm, dunno about that. My fish get a ridiculous amount of high quality, high protein content food. Maybe he just likes the "taste" of whatever is up there. :)

[jmaneyapanda]

I have learned one thing in my career of working with wildlife. Never try to figure them out analytically. I have seen animal ingest the most ridiculous things in order to try to acquire some mineral or element their body told them they were lacking. Who knows, maybe it is taste, but regardless of the rationale, he is looking to ingest something that his body is "urging" him to eat. In the case of wtaer surface or bubbles, the "inkling" I get is protein.

[jmaneyapanda]

Well, I learned more than ONE thing in my career....:)

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15578981#post15578981 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jmaneyapanda
Well, I learned more than ONE thing in my career....:)

:lol:

I wonder if putting something like one of those pellets that you can press to the tank wall inside the tank would occupy him instead? What are they called... tetra tips or something like that? I have to admit that these angels put away an astonishing amount of food each day!

[SDguy]

Some pics of mine from today. Note the males lack of "male" colors yet no distinctive "female" colors either...
http://www.sdreefs.com/forums/imagehosting/5974a917c824e945.jpg

http://www.sdreefs.com/forums/imagehosting/5974a917c826ca09.jpg

http://www.sdreefs.com/forums/imagehosting/5974a917c828a4ac.jpg

http://www.sdreefs.com/forums/imagehosting/5974a917c82a3a30.jpg

[flameangel88]

I thought I post an update of the the female Watanabe transformation to male.

10 months ago
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Genicanthus/IMG_4440.jpg

today
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/New%20Addition/IMG_8337.jpg

I've a small female in qt and looking forward to forming a trio.

[InsaneClownFish]

This is a fantastic thread. Beautiful angels folks. But..where are the Lamarcks!??

More Lamarcks PLEASE :D

[LisaD]

This isn't my picture, but have you seen this one?

http://www.seadb.univpm.it/images/specie/big/Author-MASSIMO%20BOYER/Genicanthus-lamarcki-Lamarcks-angel-fish_576.jpg

[tcmfish]

That is a male. I think lamarcks are quite underrated.

[cccapt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15745489#post15745489 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by InsaneClownFish
This is a fantastic thread. Beautiful angels folks. But..where are the Lamarcks!??

More Lamarcks PLEASE :D
http://www.centercup.net/images/125build/lamarck_5-09.jpg

http://www.centercup.net/images/125build/lamarck_8-09.jpg

[twist of lime]

I just got a 1 3/4" female wantanabe angle she is awsome. She's pretty shy but eats anything like a pig
Here is a pic of her in quarentine
http://s410.photobucket.com/albums/pp189/twistoflime123/?action=view&current=037-1.jpg

[copps]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15747044#post15747044 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tcmfish
That is a male. I think lamarcks are quite underrated.

I agree... Lamarck's are very cool!

[joejoe1055]

i love this thread, i think i'm leaning toward a lamarck but luv them all

[Robka]

Wow great pictures everyone. I've tried twice (Swallowtail, bellus) to keep this species and neither made it through the quarantine period. It is good to see some success stories and would love any advice on taking care of these beautiful fish.

Thanks,

Robka

[Robka]

This was posted a lot earlier( 1 year +)

Great thread with lots of great photos and reading :)

I realize this is an old thread, but I hope some of the members r still out there with some info.

Thanks again,

Robka

[dieselab]

I thought I post an update of the the female Watanabe transformation to male.

10 months ago
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Genicanthus/IMG_4440.jpg

today
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/New%20Addition/IMG_8337.jpg

I've a small female in qt and looking forward to forming a trio.

Awesome transformation. I wish my male had those incredible lines.

[flameangel88]

Wow great pictures everyone. I've tried twice (Swallowtail, bellus) to keep this species and neither made it through the quarantine period. It is good to see some success stories and would love any advice on taking care of these beautiful fish.

Thanks,

Robka

Don't feel bad, I just lost a female in QT and females are usually pretty good. I suggest to get small females and allow them to pair off. My male Watanabe is still able to keep his form since his initial transformation last November.

[Robka]

Don't feel bad, I just lost a female in QT and females are usually pretty good. I suggest to get small females and allow them to pair off. My male Watanabe is still able to keep his form since his initial transformation last November.

Wow, beautiful fish. My first try was a single female bellus & she died from Ich in about 4 days (very frustrating) The next try was a pair of female Swallow tails. I was hoping one would change into a male. My QT tank is 40 gallons with excellent water quality. One of the females harassed the other so she wouldn't eat and died 6 days later. The remaining female was active and then developed Ich. I started hypo treatment but lost her one week later her stomach was very bloated and she continued to feed until the day before she died. These two angels were in the 4" range, so do you think I should have went with smaller females? I really want a pair, I like the Masked swallowtail, Bellus, Watanabe, or Yellow swallowtail. Should I try one at a time in QT or again with two at once?

Thanks for all your help,

Robka

[flameangel88]

I've a pair (M/F) of Watanabe that were 2.5" two years ago and still have 2 females Bellus (from 20 months ago) that hasn't changed yet but the larger one is 4-4.25" while the smaller one is about 3". My Watanabe started to change around 4.5"+. My suggestion is get them in the 2.5-3" and stick with females is the best way to go plus it's so much more fun watching them transform to male (maybe not in the case of Bellus because the females are better looking). I've tried buying males of Watanabe, Bellus and Swallowtail and all short lived.

I would love to get two (females of course) Genicanthus semifasciatus down the road.


Picture of the bigger Bellus
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/Genicanthus/IMG_4549.jpg

3" Bellus hanging out with other angels
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/reeftankpix/DSC_4533.jpg

[Robka]

I've a pair (M/F) of Watanabe that were 2.5" two years ago and still have 2 females Bellus (from 20 months ago) that hasn't changed yet but the larger one is 4-4.25" while the smaller one is about 3". My Watanabe started to change around 4.5"+. My suggestion is get them in the 2.5-3" and stick with females is the best way to go plus it's so much more fun watching them transform to male (maybe not in the case of Bellus because the females are better looking). I've tried buying males of Watanabe, Bellus and Swallowtail and all short lived.

I would love to get two (females of course) Genicanthus semifasciatus down the road.

Is the reason for choosing the smaller females because they are less likely to harass each other during the quarantine period?

[flameangel88]

Is the reason for choosing the smaller females because they are less likely to harass each other during the quarantine period?

What I've been told is that the larger specimens are poor shipper especially males which are normally bigger and this has been my experiences as well. All the males I've purchased the last 2 years are all dead and only the females have survived.

One more thing--QT and treat for internal parasites.

[Robka]

What I've been told is that the larger specimens are poor shipper especially males which are normally bigger and this has been my experiences as well. All the males I've purchased the last 2 years are all dead and only the females have survived.

One more thing--QT and treat for internal parasites.

Thanks for the great info. When I locate a pair of small females, I will be sure to treat with the Prazipro. I have read that I should get them to feed first and then treat for the parasites. Does this sound right and if so how long after they are eating should I begin the treatment? I really appreciate all your help:)