Can you keep multiple Genicanthus angels together?

sugartooth · #1 09/03/2007, 08:00 PM

Hello,
I'm in process of setting up an 8 foot tank. (320 gal)
Right now, the confirmed fish are:

- 7 ventralis anthias (1 male. 6 females)
- 1 pair Flavicauda (Tonga)

I would like to add in the future Watanabei pair and Bellus.
Would this mix be alright?

OR.....if there are others that are better companions, please jump in.

Also, are the japanese swallowtails hard to find/get? I've only seen pictures.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Bret61081 · #2 09/03/2007, 08:08 PM

From what Ive heard you can mix females but not the males. Even though its a 320G they will cover the whole tank! there is a pair of Bellus at my LFS display tank and they are always all over the entire tank!

sugartooth · #3 09/03/2007, 08:14 PM

Wow thanks. I thought they were super peaceful, so I thought I would be able to mix.

If I mix the females and just pick one male (say Watanabei) will they all stay female?

Cultivatedcoral · #4 09/03/2007, 08:24 PM

Yes, you can have 1 male watanbe and a number of female watanabe's, a harem. If you lose the male one of the females may turn from what I have heard.

gasman059 · #5 09/03/2007, 10:52 PM

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falconut · #6 09/04/2007, 10:23 AM

I had a female Blackspot (3") and a female Watanabei (5") in my tank. They made a pecking order, but really didn't do much to each other. Only a 1 second chase on occation. The anthias also figured into this.

I had a pair of small (3") Watanbei's a while back and the male did chase the female more than the females chase each other. But from what I remember, still not too bad. Would probably be OK in your size tank. Probably good to only get 1 male though. HTH

jda · #7 09/04/2007, 12:49 PM

I had a pair of watanabei in with a pair of blackspots. Males were fine.

There is no guarantee that they will stay a sex or change. It is most likely that they will stay the way that they were when you get them - less than 5% change from what I can tell.

snorvich · #8 09/04/2007, 05:12 PM

I had a female G. watanabei go from female to male and back to female. It will not tolerate trying to add a male.

sugartooth · #9 09/04/2007, 06:49 PM

Woa!

Well, what's the likelihood for the following:

1 Watanabei pair + Bellus females = 1 of the Bellus changing to male?

Are the ones that are readily available usually adults?

Does anyone know if any of the following are available:

Takeuchii
Personatus
Semifasciatus

and/or any behavior info would be great.

Would any of those be more suitable than the Watanabei and Bellus?

Thanks again for all of the input.

sugartooth · #10 09/04/2007, 06:50 PM

Gasman- beautiful!!!!

gasman059 · #11 09/04/2007, 08:20 PM

sugar-genichantus are readily available in the hobby- but mainly 3-wata-bellus and japs. The rest are going to be a lil bit harder to get.

Just make sure u check them swimming adequately because they get swim bladder disease from collection.

BTW I'm going to try a female bellus to the mix soon- a very small one.

mark97r6 · #12 09/06/2007, 05:10 PM

I had a Bellus pair in my last tank. It was a 320g tank, they did indeed cover the whole thing really open swimmers.
Very peacefull though the male would give hard chase to my coral Beauty whenever it swam close, so i believe the rumours regarding male- male aggression.

HTH
Mark