Typography
New member
In the past I've gone through quite a few, but they never last long. Is there something about them that makes them hard to keep?
Hardiness of Flame Angels
- Thread starter Typography
- Start date
3FordFamily
In Memoriam
I don't know what it is. They seem to do OK for a few days to a couple weeks and then keel over.
I have had a lot of trouble with live aquaria flames, not sure why.
If you have one that's been living at the LFS for a long time, and you see it eat, you greatly increase your chances.
They are not tolerant of copper, hypo, or really any treatment of ich. I suspect flukes kill several. But I bought mine (I call the ugly duckling because he is the ugliest flame i have ever seen, wish I had looked closer before I bought him) from a local hobbyist. He is doing fine but I hope he eventually decides not to be ugly.
I have moved every year or two for the past 10 years in this hobby, and the moves seem to kill flames a lot. They starve for oxygen quickly, swimming at the top of the water. The BEST way to keep them is with an airstone constantly going during any move.
Once established for a month, they're tough until you move or something. Once established, mine live a year or two (until I move).
Not moving for another couple years now, finally built a house.
I think they're almost as tough as potters angels. I recommend the same treatment with them. Find one that lives at the LFS for a good time (2-4 weeks) and eats heavily. I also see that smaller potters angels seem much hardier. With flames, medium seems best. Tiny and very large are not as hardy. Anyway, if they can live in bad water (most lfs have high nitrates with lots of parasites) then they will do fine in most tanks.
Just my .02
I have had a lot of trouble with live aquaria flames, not sure why.
If you have one that's been living at the LFS for a long time, and you see it eat, you greatly increase your chances.
They are not tolerant of copper, hypo, or really any treatment of ich. I suspect flukes kill several. But I bought mine (I call the ugly duckling because he is the ugliest flame i have ever seen, wish I had looked closer before I bought him) from a local hobbyist. He is doing fine but I hope he eventually decides not to be ugly.
I have moved every year or two for the past 10 years in this hobby, and the moves seem to kill flames a lot. They starve for oxygen quickly, swimming at the top of the water. The BEST way to keep them is with an airstone constantly going during any move.
Once established for a month, they're tough until you move or something. Once established, mine live a year or two (until I move).
Not moving for another couple years now, finally built a house.
I think they're almost as tough as potters angels. I recommend the same treatment with them. Find one that lives at the LFS for a good time (2-4 weeks) and eats heavily. I also see that smaller potters angels seem much hardier. With flames, medium seems best. Tiny and very large are not as hardy. Anyway, if they can live in bad water (most lfs have high nitrates with lots of parasites) then they will do fine in most tanks.
Just my .02
Flames are a lot less hardy than they used to be. Back 25 years ago, when I first started keeping them, they were really quite easy. Now, not so much. Not sure whether it's where they're being collected, or how, but your experience is not atypical.
I'm not a fan of letting a fish sit at the LFS, frankly; just more likely to bring in diseases. My own observation is that a mature tank, with plenty of live rock is essential. Both my flame and my potters pend most of the day scraping algae of the rocks and the back of the tank. Neither feed all that aggressively on prepared foods; but both are of good weight - particularly the potters which is essentially a swimming egg it's so chubby.
I'm not a fan of letting a fish sit at the LFS, frankly; just more likely to bring in diseases. My own observation is that a mature tank, with plenty of live rock is essential. Both my flame and my potters pend most of the day scraping algae of the rocks and the back of the tank. Neither feed all that aggressively on prepared foods; but both are of good weight - particularly the potters which is essentially a swimming egg it's so chubby.
lespaul339
Reefer
A Flame Angel is one of the last fish I plan on introducing to my tank. This is interesting because I didn't know they were this fragile. From everything I've read about them in the past they were fairly easy to keep.
3FordFamily
In Memoriam
My tanks have ich anyway (rather than assuming somehow magically they are devoid of it) my fish are immune. I can add a fish with ich and my original inhabitants will show little or no signs, and survive. The only fish at risk is the new addition. As such, for me, sitting at the LFS has given it time to build immunities and adapt.
everyone says they are easy - but i have not witnessed this
Having an ich free tank is certainly not 'magic' though it does require a bit of effort and perhaps a bit of fairy dust (aka, luck). Lots of things worse than ich though. Hey, if it works for you it works for you. I'd not recommend it though.
Typography
New member
Sad why cant flame angels be as hardy as coral beauties
3FordFamily
In Memoriam
Yeah once established they're usually pretty tough.
By the way my next ford purchase will be a 2016 Shelby cobra GT
What used to be called the gt500
OrionN
Moved on
I added one then two and then three. All are doing great in my 320 gal tank. I also added two to my 65 gal reef at the office. They are doing great also.
I never seem to have any problem with Flame angel. Not bother any coral and healthy as a horse. It is really interesting to see a male try to spawn with two females at the same time. He switched from one to the other like a yo-yo until he got them both spawn one right after the other.
I never seem to have any problem with Flame angel. Not bother any coral and healthy as a horse. It is really interesting to see a male try to spawn with two females at the same time. He switched from one to the other like a yo-yo until he got them both spawn one right after the other.
lespaul339
Reefer
reeferaddict
New member
I've read some of the short term issues were like Potters and linked to capture practices- but idk..
