Flame Angel Reef Safe???

[KB70]

I have a 38-gallon reef tank and want to get a Dwarf Flame Angel. I see on multiple sites it says they are "reef safe with caution". I plan to have soft and LPS coral. Is this fish a bad idea?

 

[Dean Ladd]

I have a 38-gallon reef tank and want to get a Dwarf Flame Angel. I see on multiple sites it says they are "reef safe with caution". I plan to have soft and LPS coral. Is this fish a bad idea?

It is hit and miss with them. The reason they are list reef safe, with caution, is most Angel fish will have tendency to nip at corals and clam mantles in search of food. I have had a Coral Beauty forever in my reef with mostly soft, LPS and even a larger Dersa Clam. It occasionally would nip the clam mantles with no ill effects. I recently added a Flame and it has been an model citizen and hasn't touch a Coral.

Is it a bad idea. I will would say no! They are a very active fish and 38gal aquarium might be considered to small but if you are not ovestocked with other fish and there is plenty of open areas for the fish to swim in and out of your rocks it will be fine.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Flame Angel Reef Safe???

They are about 80% safe. Many that do pick do not actually result in damage to the coral. But sometimes you will get ones that decimate certain corals. They won't eat everything but you might not be able to keep certain corals. Fleshy LPS are most likely to be eaten, if they are going to eat coral.


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[hijinks]

I've found if they are fish you add before coral they are generaly reef safe

 

[OrionN]

See this thread. Cumulative experiences of all angels in reef.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1661153&highlight=angel+to+end+all+angels
The OP summary everything in and Excel file that you can down load and view.