Large angel owners please chime in

[Creetin]

I have a large emp angel around 8 inches, and i am picking up a 9 inch majestic angel this friday, and a 5 inch clown tang. My question is how should i introduce Them?
I am QTing them first, but would like some thoughts on how i should introduce the new guys. I dont want to stress out both angels, But the majestic is pretty layed back as he is with a blueface and a dogface puffer at the lfs.
I am hoping by adding both at the same time the emp distributes the aggression evenly, or not at all but i can hope!
Please share what worked for you.
Thanks!!!!

 

[marrone]

I would worry about placing such a large Majestic with an Emperor as the Emperor can be pretty aggressive and the Majestic usually aren't as aggressive and can be stressed out to the point where it will not come out and may die. If you want a Majestic I would get one that is a lot smaller than the Emperor as you'll have better results.

As for the Clown tang, they're also are aggressive, but have a bad track record, and placing all 3 in a 180gal reef tank will be tight.

 

[Creetin]

I plan on upgrading in a year or 2 to a MUCH larger tank, But for now i have a 190 and a new 180 acrylic coming. The 190 will be a frag tank hidden in a small room behind the display. I can remove the majestic if necessary and put him in the 190 frag tank.
The new tank should be up in 2-3 weeks, and i'll have close to 400 gallons of water volume and 4 fish. I may add a mandarin or 2, But thats it. They will be out of Q a week after the setup is finished.
I have a skimmer rated for 500 gallons and change 20 percent water weekly and a TON of flow. The oxigen levels are very good in my tank i have a crazy amt of surface flow so these fish will have a great home be it a little small and i know that.
If i cant get them to live together i will have them in their own tank till i can move and build my dream tank. I would rather them together but i know i cant say that they will accept each other.
I have had fish for over 20 yrs mostly freshwater and i know sw fish are a different beast, But i am devoted and will do whats best for the fish ultimately. I have no reserve on pulling my corals out and liverock to save a fish. The fish mean more to me than my sps or any other coral.
I know i should get one really small but i found a once and a lifetime deal on this large beauty. He is basically costing me what a small juvi would.

 

[marrone]

The really problem isn't about your equipment or tank space but it's more about putting 2 large angel together where one can be very aggressive and may beat up on the other angel. Being that they're close in size this may cause a problem. If there was a size difference there would probably be a better chance for them to co-exist in your tank. Since you do have the other tank and it will be ready in 2-3 weeks, which is about the time the quaratine period should be for the Majestic, you can chance it and then move the Majestic into the other tank if problems develop.

It's great to get a deal on a fish but if the fish can't get along with what you have and it dies or another fish dies it's really not a great deal.

 

[Creetin]

I was thinking on making a eggcrate box and floating by attatching stro to the sides of it to see if the emp attacks it with the majestic inside.
Has anybody done that?

 

[Creetin]

Thanks marrone, But i wont risk the fish. I can always sell the maj if need be. I have the best intentions i wont risk the life of these fish. Hense the searching i have been doing the last couple of days to see peoples tanks with other large angels.
I agree with you 100 percent its not a deal if fish die.

 

[jda]

I would introduce the clown tang into your LFS's tank and stay away from it.

The large angels could get along, but the might not. As long as you have a place for the majestic, then give it a try... otherwise, wait until you do.

Many people have done the eggcrate or acrylic thing. Angels can exist for a long time and then decide to fight. I had a passer turn on a maculosus after a year of growing and getting along - in 1 day he almost beat the mac to death. It took 3 months in isolation get the mac to come back out again and get back to normal.

 

[marrone]

The big problem with keeping Angels together usually is the size difference. Angel of difference size can be kept together for quite some time. What happen is when they start to grow, and they get close in size, problem can start. All of a sudden the smaller angel, that was submissive, is now fighting back. Eventually they can change places and the other becomes more dominant over the other. A lot times this will lead to on killing the other or trear it apart or having one Angel hiding all the time.

Passer Angels are all together different. They're very aggressive and actually can be, or should be, housed with large Triggers, Eels and Groupers and for the most part usually take over the tank. I have one over 16 years old and another that about 12 years old and they pretty aggressive. On the possive side they don't get to large.

 

[LargeAngels]

Mac's and passer's I have found to be the most aggressive.

I agree with jda on the clown tang. Mean son's of $#%@$#. I had a nice 5" guy who even beat the @#% angels, fairy wrasses, clowns, etc. He is now back to the LFS.

If the majestic was smaller or if the emperor was smaller and added after the majestic I would say your odds are pretty good. Adding an angel of about the same size to a tank with an already established emperor can be very risky. If I was to attempt this I would remove the emperor, let the majestic establish itself for a few weeks then add the emperor. But you may still have problems.

 

[Creetin]

Thanks for the feedback He just may be a frag angel.
He's a beauty!!! I dont think i'll risk it with them in the same tank.
Its the biggest majestic i ahave EVER seen!

 

[Creetin]

Well i passed on the clown tang, Maybe when i get my dream tank, But for now i am happy. My emp will live in peace, and the majestic will have his own home along with a couple cleaner shrimp, and a liverock corner in my 190 frag tank. (Nice big cave)
Thanks All! Even though that would be a sight to see 2 large angels in one tank i dont want to risk it for now.
I'll post a pic with him (Majestic)next to a ruler whem i get him home.

 

[LargeAngels]

What LFS did you get him at?

 

[Creetin]

Stingraybay.

 

[Creetin]

Here he is my Qt tank is set up and running well so i added him.
I will get him a nice size pvc tube to hide in later today.
I cant get close he freaks out since i just acclimated him and he has no place to hide yet. I added some mardel stresscoat.
Not the best pics but the wood paneling right behind him is 8 inches. 9 inches from black outer edge to the other sides black outer edges.

 

[Creetin]

Heres what would have been his compitition. Not a nice guy at toll. I seen him beating on the hippo tang today. He (emp) may be an only large fish in the display if it gets worse. Or he will be banned to the frag tank. LOL I watched him alot this morning acclimating the maj, He is a pistol, He was just being terratoril because he thought he was going to be fed. LOL