Is Flame a big risk?

[Jpergamo]

would a flame angel be a big risk of picking at sps and other mixed corals in a 180? ive heard some horror stories but then heard they are perfectly safe...ive had a coral beauty for a long time with no problems and love the pygmys.

 

[fancyfish]

I have a cherub, a flame and a potters in my 180. I have mostly zoo's and lps. some mushrooms and two anemones. no sps and I have no problem. I have had the cherub for over 3 years and I have had the others for about one year.

 

[Gools]

your going to here both sides. It all depends on which one you get. He may be perfect or he may be the devil. I'm going to put one in a Q tank with some digi, and a few small frags and see what happens, unless I can find someone who is getting rid of one that was fine in a reef.

 

[Jpergamo]

good call ill QT him with a frag or 2 if i decide to go with him...anyone with some negatives to sway me the other way?

 

[Bonebrake]

I have a flame in a 90 and he recently started nipping at corals about one month ago and I have had him for a little over five months. The nipping is pretty harmless just the occasional peck at a clam and it will close up. No noticeable damage. I would assume even if you had a real nipper and had enough corals the buck would get passed around enough to not cause any real damage. Keep them well fed and they may be less apt to forage on their own.

 

[Pepito]

I would just ask if its worth the risk? They are awesome fish, but its like playing with matches imo

I think the QT with frags idea is a good one tho for sure.

By the way I did own one before in a 65 reef tank, so it was worth the risk to me. That said, it did very aggressively go after my lps corals only and was impossible to catch.

 

[erendon]

I had a Flame Angel in my 180, when it died I got a Coral Beauty angel now and I see it NIP at my SPS's every now and then. I wish I could put a Flame in there now but they would fight.
I see my Yellow Tangs nip at my SPS's more than the Angel.
I say go for it.

 

[jadeguppy]

I am wondering if the nipping is picking of pods in most cases or if they are doing real damage. I have seen my bi-color and coral beauty appear to nip at a coral, but I see no evidence of damage and have figured they must have been going after a pod.

 

[AquamanE]

ive had mine in my mixed, lps, softies, and some sps for a few months. like said before it harmlessly nips at things. then again so does my purple tank. no harm done. my lfs guys keeps telling me its a matter of time before i have to take him out. i will wait before getting a clam.

 

[Beach Bum 70]

i have a 90 gal with SPS and zoos some LPS but also feed heavy to keep them happy and have had no problems I a Flame CB and MAle female watanbei in there