Coral Beauty Angel Question - Aggression? Killer?

[Honda619]

I've had my Coral Beauty Angel for several months now without any issues...that is until I tried to add 2 more Bartlett Anthias to go with my single male Bartlett.

Within hours the Coral Beauty singled out one of the newly added Bartlett's and would not stop attacking it. I left all the lights off for over a day and when I turned them on, sure enough the Bartlett was dead...

Has anyone had similar experiences with their Coral Beauty Angels and Anthias? I never would have guessed that this angel would have his mind set on killing this Bartlett. Now I am starting to wonder if I should consider re-homing my Coral Beauty to avoid any other aggression towards the Bartletts.

 

[Anthrax15]

All angels can be hit or miss. It boils down to the individual fish. And now that your CB has established it's territory, you are gonna have a hard time adding any peaceful reef fish. I'd suggest removing the CB before he does it to your other Barletts. Or start picking at your coral.

 

[zrogst]

Seconded. Dwarf angels can be very aggressive, and once established in a tank with territory it will be hard to add other fish without harassment (I know, I've tried adding 3 new fish after an established Cherub.)

You could try removing the CB temporarily, rearranging the rock work, and re-introducing him a few days later. That might let the new residents get established and shake up the existing territories in your tank.

 

[Honda619]

Thanks Anthrax15 and zrogst. I guess I will start looking for a new home for the Coral Beauty. I thought I had lucked out with him because he has never touched any of my corals...but if he decides to start killing off my Bartletts then he needs to go...

Let me know if you or anyone you know might be interested in a Coral Beauty. He is decent sized, around 3 1/2 to 4 inches. Beautiful fish too...very active and has yet to touch an assortment of corals.