Angels (FOWLR Question)

[Anonymous]

I'm about to set up a 90g FOWLR tank. I would like to have an angel. I have not tried to decide on one yet because although I know about them, I do not really know which are difficult and which are easier to keep. I don't want to buy one and kill it out of ignorance.

So I'm looking for input. If you were in this situation:
1. Which angel would you get?
2. What is the approximate price?
(baby expenses limit fish expenses or medical expenses for me exceed both, haha.)

Thanks!
John Pavao

 

[Anonymous]

The hardiest angel you can buy is the passer angel (Holocanthus passer) period. You would have to hang it out to dry to kill it. Unfortunately, they are among the most aggressive of angels. Maculosus angels are very hardy, and very pricey. Chryserus angels are very hardy, but hard to come by. The argi angel is a great choice, maybe the best, because it's small.
The rest should be left in the ocean as far as I'm concerned. That isn't to say that a person here and there isn't keeping any number of the other species healthy, a vast majority of the ones sold in the stores though perish. They just have requirements that are beyond the abilities of most aquarists to handle long term. If any fish is likely to get ich in a new tank, it's usually the anglel of not the tang.
If I were you, given your financial sitiation, I wouldn't bother with the angels just yet, especially in a tank so small. Or, set the tank up with small, hardy, moderately aggressive fish, and ad an argi angel last, but before a six line wrasse if you decide on one of those.
Angels are one of the biggest traps or pitfalls facing a would be fishkeepr. Their beauty is irresitable, but they are in comparison to some other fishes, just not suibtable for the home aquarium.
Feel free to email me and I can give you an exhaustive list of fish and their compatibility with your tank.
[email protected]
Hasta
Jim

[ October 19, 2001: Message edited by: JimM ]

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Jim. I guess I was a little too enthusiastic...

John P

 

[Cruiser]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

The hardiest angel you can buy is the passer angel (Holocanthus passer) period. You would have to hang it out to dry to kill it.Unfortunately, they are among the most aggressive of angels

True! True! True!
Wouldn't buy one if it was 0.5 in in size!

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

Maculosus angels are very hardy, and very pricey

Cultured Mac's aren't to badly priced ~ 35-50 dollars. Fairly shy angel fish, easily maintained. Asfur angel is another nice angel and equally priced.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

Chryserus angels are very hardy, but hard to come by

Besides hard to come by it is also one of the more ridiculously expensive angels.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

The argi angel is a great choice, maybe the best, because it's small.

This is a good choice, but one of the more agressive centropyge angels.

My choice of easy to maintain, feed & average angel aggression:

C. bispinous - Coral Beauty
C. potteri - Potters Angel
C. aurantonotus - Flameback Angel

E. Navarchus - Majestic Angel
E. sexstriatus - six bar angel
P. zonipectus - Cortez angel
P. paru - French Angel
P. arcutas - Grey Angel
P. annularis - Blue ring angel
P. semiciruclatus - Koran Angel
P. imperator - Emperor angel

Hope this helps

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Cruiser.

I assume you're joking, but why do you say you wouldn't buy a passer even if it was .5"? Too tough???

Thanks!
John