Flame angel ???

[kg4izw]

The last time I started a thread on a fish I was considering it helped me a lot. So there is one more fish left to be added to my tank. I am thinking about a flame angel. The tank is 24 gallon Aquapod with a 150HQI. The current residents include a percula clown pair, one clown goby, a firefish, and 19 varieties of corals (all soft).
Will a flame angel be a good fit for my final fish?
The LFS owner says this one is not nipping polyps.
Is this a sign he will not nip mine as long as he is well fed?
Anything I need to know about this fish?
Thanks in advance, Paulb.

 

[MaryBebo]

I would think that the tank is to small for a flame angel.

 

[Nitroq2]

I would agree with Mary on that, especially considering you already have 4 fish in there. Even though they are small its still a small water column with the live rock in place. Also when the flame gets larger they travel alot, and you wouldn't be giving it alot of swim space. I had the Bicolor Mary has and it was a very active fish, and covered my entire 90g without a problem. I won't say it wouldn't live in the cube I just don't know that it wouldn't get territorial due to the size.

 

[DrHank]

You really have a nice assortment of fish. I personally wouldn't add any more. I just finished setting up a 29 gallon and have a pair of juvenile cinnamon clowns in it. I won't add more than two more fish and I'm not even sure I'll add any more.

Your softies are going to get big on you and you will probably end up having to reduce either the number or size or both. Have you considered a shrimp, a few blue legged hermit crabs.

Also, even though a dwarf angel isn't bothering any of the items at the LFS, there is no guarantee as to what it will do in your tank. My Coral Beauty wasn't bothering anything in my 110 for six months. Last week he decided it was time to pick on the Xenia. Why? Who knows. I can tell you that is is extremely well fed, is all over my tank all day. Maybe it was just because he felt like it.

 

[kg4izw]

Thanks for the responses. They definately have and will continue to help shape my tank.

 

[barron]

Pygmy cherobs are small cute and affordable. Lots of color added to any nano

 

[DrHank]

I agree that Centropyge argi (Cherub pygmy angel) are very nice fish. Being in the same family as the Flame, Coral Beauty and Lemmonpeel Angels (to name a few) their behavior is very similar. They are usually collected at a smaller size than their other family members. They will however grow to the same size as the others. Here is a link with additional information.

http://www.marinedepotlive.com/pygmy-cherub-angel---centropyge-argi-fish--angels--dwarf-.htm

I still would not recommend any angelfish for your tank and will not add one to my 29 gallon.

 

[Big Goose]

I have a Flame Angel, Coral Beauty and Orange Angel and they all get along. I don't have any problems with them picking on corals but they do a good job of picking "stuff" off the rocks.

They help clean my Sun Polyps when detritus gets stuck on them.

The flame angel is one of my favorite fish.

If you are worried about bio load consider a Hog Fish. They are small and add a flash of color. Mine is bright yellow with red stripes.

Other small but fun fish: Scotter and Lawnmower Blenny.

Do you have any Sea Urchins? I have six and they are the best reef cleaners and are fun to watch.

Goose