norfolkgarden
New member
We have acquired a group of Flame angels over time. Adding tinier Flames to established fish has worked well.
This approach has also worked well with Longnose Hawkfish and Ocellaris clownfish.
It did not work well with the Cherub angelfish. :facepalm: The smaller one had to be relocated within a day.
We now have 4 Flame angels. Had a 2.5" Flame for over a year. Added a 1.75" Flame several months ago. They are fine with no problems, occasional chasing for a foot or so but no big deal. When a slice of purple seaweed is added, both are lunging for it with the other seaweed eaters and no problems. They see, and ignore, each other 80 to 90% of the time.
The 75 gallon tank has about 80 pounds of live rock and a sand bottom and lots of hiding places. Minimal line of sight throughout the bottom 2/3 of the tank is due to a "corals on sticks" look, that will keep the soft corals from eventually oozing onto the LPS and SPS.
The local LFS received three .75" Flames 2 weeks ago. We bought 2 of them and they all seem fine and getting along 4 days later. The 2 new additions are out swimming where ever they want to after 2 days. The 2 tiny Flames seem to be small enough that the other 2 don't care about their presence too much.
The medium sized Flame angel seems a little more concerned about the new additions than the largest is. It reminds me of kids getting to know each other. The closer the age group, the more competition.
As for feeding, the tiny Flames haven't figured out the seaweed sheets yet, but they will eat frozen cyclopeez, P mysis, Formula 1, Formula 2, Dwarf angel food, Hikari Spirulina gut loaded Brine shrimp, and glass worms with no problem.
For long term happiness for these fish, should we add the 3rd available tiny Flame and make it a harem of 5 fish? or should we just stick with 4 fish and hope that several years down the road they will become 2 mated pairs?
If we stay with just 4 fish and they become 2 mated pairs, I'm assuming we will most likely have to relocate 1 pair to a new similar sized tank. That won't be an issue.
Otherwise, should we plan long term to keep them together as a group of 5? We can export the other fish in the tank to other tanks as necessary.
Or should we plan on these 5 adult fish needing a tank larger than a 4' long, 75 gallon just for themselves?
Thank you,
Matt
This approach has also worked well with Longnose Hawkfish and Ocellaris clownfish.
It did not work well with the Cherub angelfish. :facepalm: The smaller one had to be relocated within a day.
We now have 4 Flame angels. Had a 2.5" Flame for over a year. Added a 1.75" Flame several months ago. They are fine with no problems, occasional chasing for a foot or so but no big deal. When a slice of purple seaweed is added, both are lunging for it with the other seaweed eaters and no problems. They see, and ignore, each other 80 to 90% of the time.
The 75 gallon tank has about 80 pounds of live rock and a sand bottom and lots of hiding places. Minimal line of sight throughout the bottom 2/3 of the tank is due to a "corals on sticks" look, that will keep the soft corals from eventually oozing onto the LPS and SPS.
The local LFS received three .75" Flames 2 weeks ago. We bought 2 of them and they all seem fine and getting along 4 days later. The 2 new additions are out swimming where ever they want to after 2 days. The 2 tiny Flames seem to be small enough that the other 2 don't care about their presence too much.
The medium sized Flame angel seems a little more concerned about the new additions than the largest is. It reminds me of kids getting to know each other. The closer the age group, the more competition.
As for feeding, the tiny Flames haven't figured out the seaweed sheets yet, but they will eat frozen cyclopeez, P mysis, Formula 1, Formula 2, Dwarf angel food, Hikari Spirulina gut loaded Brine shrimp, and glass worms with no problem.
For long term happiness for these fish, should we add the 3rd available tiny Flame and make it a harem of 5 fish? or should we just stick with 4 fish and hope that several years down the road they will become 2 mated pairs?
If we stay with just 4 fish and they become 2 mated pairs, I'm assuming we will most likely have to relocate 1 pair to a new similar sized tank. That won't be an issue.
Otherwise, should we plan long term to keep them together as a group of 5? We can export the other fish in the tank to other tanks as necessary.
Or should we plan on these 5 adult fish needing a tank larger than a 4' long, 75 gallon just for themselves?
Thank you,
Matt
