Help me decide on a future angel

Chelsey

Chelsey

Clownfish Addict
Premium Member
Within the next 6 months or so I am looking at purchasing an angel for my reef tank. I would obviously prefer the fish be reef safe, and while I realize that only the Genicanthus species are guaranteed it'd be nice to know that I at least have a 50/50 shot. I have a 100 gallon cube with a total system volume of probably 175 gallons or so. The tank currently houses a chocolate tang, a leopard wrasse, a pair of picasso clowns, neon goby, redheaded goby, black capped basslet, and a midas blenny. Someday I will get a juvenile interruptus, but only if it's captivebred so I'll be waiting until RCT is back up and running, and who knows when that will be. Here are the fish I'm considering, and I would prefer juveniles if I can get my hands on them.

-bluespotted angel
-regal angel (which locale is most likely to be reef safe? Red Sea?)
-goldflake
-watanabei

Your opinions and experiences are welcome. Thanks in advance!


Chelsey
 
I don't have much advice to offer but you could check out Bellus angels. They are a geincanthus sp. and stay relatively small. I'm very new to the hobby so don't have experience with them.
 
I have a Red Sea Regal in my reef tank. She is by far my favorite fish. She will eat out of my hand, and will even let me pet her. I have never seen her pick at any corals. I even can put polyps in with her with no issues.

I vote for the Regal. (Just remember these can be very sensitive fish )

~Michael
 
Very sensitive as far as water quality or what? I know they can be hard to get acclimated and get eating, but other than that?
 
Regal!! Hands down. Not that the others aren't beautiful, but how could you refuse the challenge of a Regal as well. OBTW, Red Sea all the way.
 
IME Regals are not super difficult fish to keep. The key points IMO are:
Get a Red Sea Specimen.
Be CERTAIN that it will be the First Angel in the tank
Stay on it when it comes to feeding. Try, and try, and try
Be sure to feed a large variety of foods.
Keep stress low.
Be sure to keep the water quality very high.

After they are acclimated they are a very hardy, bold but not aggressive, beauty.

~Michael
 
I vote for any Genicanthus species. They are beautiful and better with corals. I have a Bellus and a japanese swallowtail.
 
Are Red Sea angels less likely to nip?
Click to expand...

Please be aware, I have not kept one, but I have done a lot of research. It seems to me, (and your just going to love this answer) that it is a roll of the dice. Zooanthids and clam mantles (go figure) seem to be one of the tid bits that they love, but I'm sure it comes down to the individual. I'd give it a shot. Put it in a QT and after a while, put some zoo's in and see what happens. :beer:
 
Although michael_cb_125 has me considering a Regal, Im seriously contemplating a Majestic Angel. Ive heard many peolpe say no, but no one has come with personal experiance only hearsay.

I recently got this guy, i have mostly sps, but also, lps, and zoos, he is a model citizen.



IMG_0306.jpg
 
My Majestic. She was an amazing fish, and had so much personality. She never bothered any corals or clams. But she was a unique specimen. The first food she accepted in my 240 was large pellets :)


SANY0502.jpg





My Regal. Was in the same tank as the Majestic. This is my baby, and will even "jump" out of the water to eat from my hand. She stuck her head out passed her gills the other day. IME this is a very reef safe large angel.

SANY0778.jpg



000_0016-1.jpg



Both are great fish :)
~Michael
 
I've got three bellus (one male, 2 female) in the reef and a regal by itself. My red sea regal - a diver's den fish, only ate clam for months - Now will eat anything in a clam shell (including lettuce) but nothing else. Not even lettuce on a clip. I keep trying, but in 4 + months, no way is it ready to compete with the other fish for food. I also worry about my clam.

You cannot go wrong with the bellus / any genicanthus. Why take a chance on a risky fish.
 
I'm thinking that I'll either go with a watanabei or a juvenile regal. I do know of one place that I could get a juvenile goldflake, but it's going to have to still be in stock when I'm ready to purchase.

In your opinions is my tank big enough for two of the three? I am religious about water changes and have an oversized high quality skimmer(deltec).
 
What are the dimensions of the cube? 100g doesn't sound much, especially if its a cube, I'm thinking 30"x30"x25"? That really isn't much room for a larger angel. I would look into a dwarf angel instead.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13798227#post13798227 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AquamanE
Although michael_cb_125 has me considering a Regal, Im seriously contemplating a Majestic Angel. Ive heard many peolpe say no, but no one has come with personal experiance only hearsay.

I recently got this guy, i have mostly sps, but also, lps, and zoos, he is a model citizen.



IMG_0306.jpg
Click to expand...

What angel is this one? Its a beauty!!
 
RS Regal, had one now almost 3 years with SPS.

One of the harder angels to get eating and will require lots of work.

A very rewarding fish just as Michael has stated.
 
I would take a Goldflake over a Regal any day. As stated in the previous posts, Regals are difficult to get to eat and could take weeks or months to get them to eat anything. They are best kept in a mature reef where they can survive off the live rock until they take prepared food. Some never adapt to captive life and never eat. I have attempted two and they are alot of work for even the most dedicated fish/reef keeper. Some other angels that I am looking to add are the MAle Personifer, Male Scribbled, and a Chrysurus. I am also on a waiting list for a Blueline Angel. Obviously with any of Angels mentioned, including a GoldFlake, you would need an upgrade in the next 2-3 years.

IF you want to keep Centropyges (sp?) I would go with Potters, Multi color, Venustus.
 
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