Flame angel troubles

[TWallace]

Yesterday my flame angel discovered the taste of crocea clams and it was much to his liking . He repeatedly pecked at the mantles most of the day, which made them all close up. Interestingly, he left the derasa alone, never even sampled it. I thought for sure I'd have to get rid of the flame angel, so I already ordered a fish trap (not that I'm sure that those actually work). However, when I got home from work tonight, all 3 croceas look fine, full extension and the flame isn't bothering them. I think this is too good to be true and the flame will likely start pecking at them again, but I'm holding out hope that this isn't the case and they will co-exist fine. I know that's naieve, but has anyone had a similar experience where a pygmy angel sampled their clams and then left them alone?

 

[JamesJR]

I would be skeptical as he may nip at them again. Keep an eye on him.

 

[gkarshens]

My Flame went after my clam when I put it into the tank. I immediately built a trap and caught him the next day. Since then I have had better polyp extention on all my corals by a huge margin. I love Flame Angels, but will never own one again.

 

[Craig Lambert]

I think Flames often times mouth things without doing any damage. Mine nips at the rocks all day, and also mouths a few corals but he's never damaged anything.

 

[Douglas LEHMAN]

Hello
Sorry. One or the other will have to be removed. I ended up with a happy flame in the 75 gallon, and the clams were moved to a 40 gallon aquarium...

 

[theatrus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8264629#post8264629 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Craig Lambert
I think Flames often times mouth things without doing any damage. Mine nips at the rocks all day, and also mouths a few corals but he's never damaged anything.

I've noticed this behavior before. On my polypy SPS this doesn't really cause a problem. My pocillepora and stylo both have great polyp extension and no dead spots even though I've noticed the flame check them out on the rare occasion.

 

[Angel*Fish]

I had a Singapore nip my clams and I moved them to the refugium for a couple of weeks - wasn't too good for the clams.... anyway after I put them back - he never touched them again.

The point being just because an angel samples something doesn't mean it's going to make it a regular thing.

Maybe once he realized how well fed he was going to be he decided to leave a less favorite food (like clams) alone or maybe he just didn't care for them.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8264629#post8264629 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Craig Lambert
I think Flames often times mouth things without doing any damage. Mine nips at the rocks all day, and also mouths a few corals but he's never damaged anything.

Thats basic angel behavior, and people dont seem to be able to grasp that. Angels do it, tangs do it, rabbitfish, IE anything thats a grazer.

yet for some reason angels get a bad rap, and tangs dont.

If hes not harming the clam, dont worry about it.

 

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8267429#post8267429 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley


yet for some reason angels get a bad rap, and tangs dont.

I think it's because some angels will chow down on a coral like Clinton on a BigMac and they confuse this with the sampling you're referring to

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8267480#post8267480 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Angel*Fish
I think it's because some angels will chow down on a coral like Clinton on a BigMac and they confuse this with the sampling you're referring to

But so will tangs.

I've seen tangs eat everything from zoos to clams to LPS. The dwarf angels just get blamed more often.


Anything that is a grazer is a risk to eat corals.

 

[Angel*Fish]

I've seen tangs eat everything from zoos to clams to LPS.

Wow, seriously? They just eat them all up? I don't keep tangs, BTW---- tank's not big enough

 

[TWallace]

I know the flame wasn't doing any damage to the mantles, but my concern was that he was causing them to retract, thus preventing them from getting the light they need. Thanks Rich and Angel*Fish for the reassurance. I have increased the tank's feeding in response, hoping that the flame will be better fed and won't have any desire to try out the clams again.

 

[WarrenG]

I've watched Flames in Hawaii and they don't live anywhere near clams or coral polyps (they're 50-70 feet deep anyway). The do seem to like sponges and some algae. Look for the frozen foods made for angels-these tend to have sponges.

 

[JustOneMoreTank]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8267886#post8267886 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WarrenG
I've watched Flames in Hawaii and they don't live anywhere near clams or coral polyps (they're 50-70 feet deep anyway). The do seem to like sponges and some algae. Look for the frozen foods made for angels-these tend to have sponges.

Fish behavior in the ocean is very different than fish behavior in a small glass box. Fish will often display more aggression, territoriality, and different feeding behaviors in the confines of a relatively small container.
Unfortunately dawrf angels get blamed most often for nipping at corals and clams because they are often sold under the pretense that they "might" pick at these items therefore more people take the risk with these fish.