MACULOSUS ANGEL
Dear Bob,
I have just read a question / topic on your daily column from 1/26/2000. It was about the MACULOSUS ANGEL, that you recommended someone get. Could you please tell us a little about it. It seems very similar to the asfur angel.
Thanks, Matt
>>
They are indeed very similar... if you will sympatric species... about same distribution, size, temperament, and genetics... someone is actually producing young of this species in captivity! And they are gorgeous...
My better rendition of what this species is to the ornamental marine interest can be found in an article stored at www.wetwebmedia.com... and I hope to have my better images of both species there soon... and wish you and I were diving in the Red Sea taking their pix right now! 
Bob Fenner, who is going out to Maui two days hence... and needs to!

Pomacanthus imperator and Pomacanthus maculosus
Hello bob,
My dealer had some show size angel and I fell in love with the 16 to 18 inches imperator and maculosus angel
immediately I saw them. do you think at this size (16-18inches) are they easy to keep?
<Decidedly not as easy to keep as ones collected at "reasonable" (a few inches) in length and raised in captivity... Fishes (actually all animals) collected "large" are less adaptable to captive conditions... like food acceptance, getting along with other "novel" species... And shame on the collectors and retailers for extracting adults... leave these in the seas to reproduce.>
at the moment they look great. if you were me which one will you purchase? the maculosus or the imperator angel. and why?
<Mmm, neither... as I am morally opposed to their collection in the first place. Bob Fenner>

Asfur angel in a reef
Hi, Bob,
First, thanks for the great web site. I just love browsing there; learn
quite a few things every time. Noticed one mention of an Asfur in a reef
tank but no details.
<Let's cover them here>
Briefly, I've always loved angels and have had my eye on the Asfur since the
late 80s when I remember seeing them go for $800. They are much more
reasonable these days and I'm tempted to add one to my reef tank as the
center piece. I'm pretty tolerant of coral nipping and have already made
adjustments for my flame and fisher's pygmy angels. I'm wondering what you
think my chances are with this angel. From what I've read for a large angel,
these aren't too bad in reef tanks but it isn't clear just what the risks
are.
<You may not know, but this gorgeous species is now "bred, raised in captivity"... accounting for its consistent availability, size and much-reduced cost. It is notably "easy going" and a good risk for many types of reef systems of size. To place specifics here, at least two hundred gallons for a small specimen, three hundred plus for a larger (six inch plus) one>
The tank is 6 feet long and 36" front to back with lots of medium to small
caves and crevices and a wide channel in front of the main LR for swimming.
One corner of the tank has a large, hidden swimming area but there is no
back-channel. Invert stock, in addition to typical cleanup crew, are: SPS
tolerant of picking from the angels (Montipora, a hardy Acropora,
Stylophora), various leathers, some LPS, lots of zoanthids, 4 bubble tip
anemones (thanks to several splits).
Fish stock is fairly mild tempered: 9 green Chromis, 4 "lemon" damsels (no
id), the flame angel and the fisher's angel, a P. sankeyi, 2 maroon clowns.
The larger maroon is a tad territorial but mostly with the lemon damsels.
<No worries>
The flame occasionally chases the fisher's, but not very aggressively.
<Again, no real problem. If the Asfur starts here at near three inches or so, it will become the dominant specimen almost immediately, and actually reduce the potential aggressive dynamic in your system>
The
sankeyi never picks at anything and seems quite tame for a Pseudochromis.
I'd like to add a purple tang although I would take the asfur over the
purple. (Thoughts on how those two would get along given their coloring?)
<They should be fine together here>
Also looking at some fairy wrasses at some point.
<A very good choice>
I'm willing to tweak coral selection for a fish but if there is a chance of
the angel laying waste to my tank in a few days, that's another matter.
<Not much chance>
While I've got your attention, I've tried a number of tangs and have
returned them for various reasons. (A sohal was doing fine but I
accidentally trapped him while catching another fish and decided to return
him given the horror stories I heard about them as they got larger. An
earlier purple tang was returned after eating my xenia but I understand that
is unusual and it occurred after a 10 day period where I neglected to feed
him his romaine so I'll take the blame for that.) Any thoughts on a tang if
I was going to add just one? I've always liked the purples myself...
<The xanthurum for sure would be/is my first choice as well. Be chatting. Bob Fenner>
Thanks,
Marc

Re: Asfur angel in a reef
Hi, Bob,
Just an update based on our discussion last week; no need to reply.
You got me fired up about using an Asfur as a centerpiece in my reef tank.
So with Christmas coming up, I decided to see what I could find in
preparation for a gift request on my part. I was expecting to have to mail
order. I got lucky and found almost exactly what I was looking for at one of
my LFS. I didn't find an adult tank raised Asfur but I did find a juvenile
with a hint of adult coloration. He was "larval reared" (I guess caught at
young stage and raised from there).
<Yes>
My LFS had him in the store about a year
ago and he was returned for eating Xenia. They've since had him for 2 months
and he looks to be in excellent condition. So, given the history and the
fact that he looked great and had been held for some time, I purchased him
yesterday. (The price was good, too.)
<A fortunate find>
As you may recall, I was also interested in a purple tang. My LFS had only
one their main tanks: it had been returned to them with lateral line
disease. But he had one in his show tank and was willing to sell it. Since
it was very healthy looking and had been there 9 months, I went for it. (Not
so good a price: towards the high end for purples but I'll pay a premium for
fish that look good and have been doing well in a tank.)
<Yes>
So, here's keeping my fingers crossed. The tang settled in immediately (I
have no other tangs and don't plan any more). The Asfur angel was more shy
but not as shy as my pygmies have been on introduction. The tang and the
angel went at it a bit at first but no damage seems to have been done.
<No, natural>
Normally, I much prefer the adult colors of an angel to the juvenile colors
and I certainly hope the Asfur gets its adult colors. But his juvenile
colors are attractive enough that I wouldn't be crushed if they never come
in.
<They will>
He does look like he might be on the edge of changing and I'll try to
encourage that with Caulerpa from my seahorse tank and sponge foods for him
in addition to the more standard foods. My seahorse tank is about 45G and
while productive in algae I'll need to supplement greens with Nori and
romaine.
<Very nice>
Anyway, thanks for the help and the encouragement.
Marc
<And thank you for the follow-up. Bob Fenner>

Re: Asfur angel in a reef
Hi, Bob,
Yeah, ROI is a terrible thing ;-) The Asfurs must be a wonderful return.
There's been lots of Pseudochromis raising in the past decade which is also
attractive (although not quite as).
<Yes... a lot of work by Martin Moe, Jeff Turner, Dave Palmer... other friends, associates>
I was asking around a bit for tank raised angels and have come across some
tank raised maculosus but no Asfurs yet. Know anyone raising Asfurs? 
<Not directly>
Are they
usually juvenile in coloration when tank raised?
<Yes... two and a half, three inches generally... look like miniature adults. Gorgeous>
I'm really looking for the
adult coloration, partly because I can't tell the juveniles apart and I
really want an Asfur.
<Mmm, look at the tail. Read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/pomacant.htm
and the Mac FAQs: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/MacFAQs.htm
Bob Fenner>
Thanks,
Marc

Re: Asfur angel in a reef
Hi, Bob,
Thanks for the quick reply.
I didn't realize the Asfurs were tank raised these days. I definitely prefer
tank raised and it is great for the hobby to be reducing sea-harvest.
<Yes... amazing... I did my masters work on hormonal manipulation of mullets (Mugil cephalus)... later to find I might "get" a whole nine cents US a pound (gutted). Oh boy! I wonder what sort of ROI, ROE there is in Pomacanthus Arusetta asfur! I'd bet a few orders of magnitude more a pound!>
The info below is quite helpful! I'm definitely going to indulge my weakness
for angels and try this out.
Thanks again,
Marc
<You will not be disappointed. Bob Fenner>

*Maculosus/Asfur
Hey Bob.
In your article on the Maculosus you mention that it is closely related to
the Asfur and are comparable as far as hardiness but that you prefer the
Maculosus due to it's outgoingness.
<Yes>
Could you please expand on what you meant there? You gave me great advice on
a Maculosus about a month ago and I was about to make the purchase yesterday
when I saw 2 gorgeous Asfur.....now I'm confused again! They have so much
more color yet I keep going back to the rave reviews of the Maculosus. Is
the Asfur really AS hardy as the Maculosus?
<Yes... and especially the last few years offerings... they are "cultured".>
Thanks for your time once again Bob.
Rick.
<If you have the space, inclination, do try one of these magnificent fishes. You won't be disappointed. Bob Fenner>

Asfur Angels
I was wanting to know your opinions on Asfur angels, other than being incredibly expensive and beautiful. Good/bad, easy to take care of/ challenging, just over all specs. 
<Pretty much the same as the other member of the subgenus Arusetta. Read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/angels/Pomacanthus/maculosus.htm and the linked FAQs beyond>
Oh, and also, what has Bob been up to. 
<Same ole pet-fish madness... writing, diving, living...>
I used to e-mail almost daily for questions about 2 and a half years ago. I don't know if he would even remember me, but I owe what knowledge I have impart to him, and now you guys. You guys are  learned people. I should start my emails with Doctor from now on :-) Just wanted to say thanks for the years of knowledge. Keep it up. Tell the coot hi if ya see him.
John Moyer
<Hello to you my friend. Bob Fenner>