adding a second centropyge

[Anonymous]

Currently have a coral beauty in my 120 FOWLR. Have my eye on an African flameback, which I would love to have. Always wanted this gorgeous little fish. My lfs would take it back if all hell breaks loose but I'm hoping the tank size and amount of live rock will allow both to co-exist. Tank is 5 foot long.
Thoughts/experiences?

 

[Len]

It'll be rough. I had a 4' 120g with a C.hotumatua where i tried to add new Centropyges. The existing specimen would always harass the new introduction to the point of death But some people have reported much better success, so I'm sure it's doable. You might not see the new angel for a few weeks though, depending on how vicious your CB is.

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I have my concerns. I can move some of the rocks around. I'm also adding a masked bannerfish at the same time (H. monoceros), so hoping two new additions might throw off some of the territorialism. The CB is not terribly pushy and in fact pretty much minds his own businenss. In spite of the risks. I think I'm going to try it and hope they can work it out. If not, I'll be going fishing.
Thanks Len

 

[ChrisRD]

IMO rearranging the rock would be a wise idea.

I had success keeping a Centropyge vroliki and Centropyge eibli in a 75 gallon FO tank for years but they were introduced together. They actually swam around and fed together. My guess is maybe I got lucky and had a male and a female (these species are known to crossbreed).

I tried combining a Centropyge loriculus with a Centropyge bispinosus once before that and it didn't work.

My last attempt at two Centropyge angels in the same tank was my current 180 FOWLR. I added a Centropyge loriculus and a Centropyge bispinosus together. They never liked each other much, but were coexisting with no serious problems until the Flame went carpet surfing...

I think the Coral Beauty is more "relaxed" now as the lone Centropyge...

JME & HTH

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Chris, and yes it does help. I'm having second thoughts now and have until Monday to decide. I may just opt against the flameback to avoid potential problems, even though there are so many mixed reports of success. Learned a long time ago in the hobby not to tempt fate, too often at least!.

 

[Anonymous]

Well, didn't do it. Went with conventional wisdom and figured one dwarf angel was enough in a tank my size. The thoughts of dismantling my rock structure to catch one of them if it didn't work also factored in to the equation. Appreciate the advice.

 

[ChrisRD]

I gave some thought to adding another angel after losing the Flame, but came to the same conclusion - I don't feel like capturing or rearranging. Adding an angel from another genus is an option, as dwarfs can potentially mix peacefully with larger angels.

Personally, I don't want to add anything overly large/aggressive to my tank so that narrows the choices considerably with angels, but there are some interesting species in the Apolemichthys, Genicanthus, Chaetodontoplus genera that seem like they could fit the bill.

If I get serious about trying it I'll ask the guys in the fish forum for advice...

 

[ron101]

Alternatively you could try adding multiple dwarf angels. I had 3 in a 90gal (flame, potter's, bicolor) that got along ok. Ironically the flame and my maroon clown did not and it was the clown that got the worst of it.