I just need a straight answer on Angels

Turf

Turf

Active member
Ok, so basically as I've learned over the years is that there is no one way to do ANYTHING in saltwater so here's the deal...

I've read all I can read and I need some opinions.
I'm getting rid of all my corals for no particular reason and wanted to get a large angel (but as a juv.) I currently have a

90gal
125 lbs. of LR...
1 - atlantic blue tang ~ 3.5" (more on the tenatious side)
1 - Royal Gramma I'm hoping jumps out of the tank and into my net... not likely
1 - Potters Angel that I've had for awhile

I'd be ok parting with the tang if need be but now I need to know is there any large angles that would work in this situation... at least for a few years till a larger tank comes along. I was thinking of ones like a Queen, imperator, koran, blueface, etc. etc.

I'm reading VERY mixed info so thanks for your input.
 
one other thing... I've got a cleaner shrimp and I just assume he lives... I know some of the angels are knowen to visit red lobster
 
Any small juvie angel will be fine in a 90 for several years but I would stick to the smaller species unless you plan to get a very large tank. All of the four species you mentioned will need a pretty big tank eventually and some species like the queen can be quite aggressive. I would do some research on large angels and do some planning about ultimate tank size, tankmates, temperments, ect. I love angels but to be successful long term you really have to have a tank set up for them.
 
I plan to get a 150gal and the "nature" of temperment is where I keep reading all the contradictions... ultimatly I just need to know opinions concerning if they would get along with my current tank mates as I don't plan on getting any others.
 
Angels are fine with most inverts but its hit and miss with certain corals and clams. They like the services of cleaner shrimp a lot from my experience.
 
They might chase the potters a bit, but I dont see any compatability issues.

However.....even a 150 would be too small for any listed at full growth. You could make it work, but if you plan on keeping these fish long term and happy, the more room the better.
 
Most of the angels you have chosen (Queen, imperator, maculousus) can all be very aggresive towards other tank mates. Especially other angels. IME maculousus is one of the meanest angelfish. The imperator and mac. both can grow pretty quickly. A medium juvi emperator can grow to a pretty large adult in 2-3 years given good food and water quality.

As KT stated do some research. An excellent book is Scott Michaels "Angelfish and Butterflyfish."
 
If the tank you will upgrade to is a 150 I would stick with angels that can grow out fully in a tank that size. If it were me the only Pomacanthus or holacanthus I would consider would be the majestic which is the smallest Pomacanthus and one of the least aggressive. I have a 180 and I chose to stick with some of the smaller "large" angels. I ended up with a flagfin but I had decided to stick with the angels that max out at 8-10 inches rather than the really big guys who can get up to 15-16 inches. I looked at the flagfin, Red Sea Regal, Personifer(Meredithi), majestic, goldflake, bluespot, bluestripe, and all of the genicanthus which can be kepk as a pair or harem.

All of the angels I listed stay under 10" (some much smaller) and would be a great fish for a 150. I kept one of the large angels in my 90 (an asfur) and it took about two years for him to outgrow the 90, angels dont grow as fast as many fish but they will become aggressive if they feel crowded. Like LA said that Scott Michael book is gold when it comes to these beautiful fish.
 
as far as aggression goes, i bought home a vegabond butterfly and a koran juv the other day, my scopas tang went nuts, moved the rockwork around did what i could woke up to find a very beaten up butterfly dead. the angel on the other hand delt with the aggression and now gets on fine with the tang. no issues at all, they seem like good mates but the tang does have a few nipped fins but i have not seen any sort of aggression since the butterfly died. i reckon the angel just said look mate dont f*** with me!!!

all the other issues regarding tank size are quite true, ive committed to sending my koran back after 3 years, LFS has no problems with this, BUUUUUUT if it gets to that time and im too attached to my new angel i have no issues building a monstorous system as the saltwater bug has got me real bad.... i just cant build that system right now as i will be buying my own home within the year.

good luck.
 
what about a regal angel? they dont get as big as the one's you listed and i think it's prettier as well. but i'm biased.
 
i would go with a blue face. they are the most striking in appearance(i think) and they grow very slowly. at least mine has. i have one by itself in a 55 (40 gal sump). i bought it just after it had changed to adult colors and it has grown about 1 inch in 14 months. it is now about 4.5 inches. i have a 125 to put it in but until it gets above 6 inches i am keeping it in the 55. in a 90 one should be fine until it gets above 8 or 9 inches imo.just make sure you have a lot of hiding places in the rock and it will be fine.
 
If you're wanting a verdict on the mixed info - IMHO you can use S.Michael's book mentioned above as the final word mentioned by KT and LA.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7755505#post7755505 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LargeAngels
Most of the angels you have chosen (Queen, imperator, maculousus) can all be very aggresive towards other tank mates. Especially other angels. IME maculousus is one of the meanest angelfish. The imperator and mac. both can grow pretty quickly. A medium juvi emperator can grow to a pretty large adult in 2-3 years given good food and water quality.

As KT stated do some research. An excellent book is Scott Michaels "Angelfish and Butterflyfish."
Click to expand...

i agree...
 
really... the maculousus can be really mean... I figured they all were to a degree but i've only read that they have the nicest temperment.
 
I would go with a navarchus or goldflake. Both are stunning and would do fine in your 90 with the other fish you have. They shouldn't grow larger than 5" and if they do, then upgrade to your 150.
 
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