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.

[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....

[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???

[SDguy]

Originally posted 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.

[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]

Originally posted 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:

[BangkokMatt]

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







BTW - love your Watanabei BLFace

[BangkokMatt]

[gasman059]

Had many of them over the years.
Currently have a female.
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[SDguy]

Originally posted by BangkokMatt

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

[BangkokMatt]

Originally posted 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

[SDguy]

Originally posted 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]

Originally posted 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.
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[tcmfish]

anyone with a male lamark?

[Philwd]

Thanks Gasman.