Majestic Angel fish - Reef Safe?

[Stickboy97]

I am considering buying a majestic angel, but before I do so I'd like to know if they are reef safe.

I don't have any corals yet but I'd like to get some in the future. If I have a majestic what corals can I have or not have? Would I be better off looking for a tang instead?

thanks
Shane

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I had one for a few years that was safe except with clams. My little guy now picks at SPS. They are about 80% safe according to the angelfish survey I did a while back (n=16).

 

[Untamed12]

I can't speak for all Majestic Angels, but the one I have doesn't pick at SPS, LPS or my clams. I've had him for about 2 years now.

 

[Stickboy97]

Did you raise him from a juv or small fish? (either of the above) I figure if I have him in a FOWLR tank for the first year & keep him fed without corals then he should avoid them when I put them in as being something foreign & not food. Well thats my hope anyway.

 

[Chooch1]

I had one that picked at SPS, LPS, softies and even mushrooms.

 

[Untamed12]

After two years, mine is still relatively small. He looks small in my tank anyway. He's maybe 4" now. When I got him, he had already changed to adult coloration so I would not say he was a juvi.

I feed a LOT, which might contribute to my success so far. I also have a bicolor angel (3 yrs) and rusty angel (6 months) which are also no problem so far.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Did you raise him from a juv or small fish? (either of the above) I figure if I have him in a FOWLR tank for the first year & keep him fed without corals then he should avoid them when I put them in as being something foreign & not food. Well thats my hope anyway.

My first, the safe one, was bought as a small adult (4") and was safe except with clams. My new one is a 1" juvie.

In the little ones defense, the SPS he's picking at weren't doing so hot anyway, so it might be fine with healthier SPS.

 

[Stickboy97]

WOW, 1" juvie. How tall is he? I was looking at a juvi online but if he is only 1" my 3" hawaiian lionfish may try to eat him.... that would be an expensive lunch!

 

[Stickboy97]

Just picked this guy up from DD. 2 1/4" should be fine with my 3" lion!!! I'm pumped!

 

[snorvich]

Well, putting it in with a lion is rolling the dice . . .

 

[DJREEF]

Well, putting it in with a lion is rolling the dice . . .

No doubt. You're making an assumption that the angel, at the very least, is going to keep pace growth wise with the lion. I wouldn't put $ on that.

DJ

 

[minhvu]

Mine been reef safe with sps, zoas, and clams. She does have a taste for acans though

 

[Stickboy97]

Well the lion is a Hawaiian lionfish, aka dwarf green lion, D. Barberi. She'll only get to 6" and is 3" now. If the angel is 2 1/4" long it should be at least 1 - 1 1/2" tall that is what will keep the lion from eating it. I have had lions before with angels and others and as long is the fish is taller than the lion thinks it can fit in its mouth, no problem. They will eat fish that are as long as they are but nit very tall. If I am wrong and the juv angel is not very tall I've already got plexi ready to install a divider in my tank.

 

[The Reef Expert]

A controversial question that cannot be truly answered. I know people hate to hear when they say it depends on the fish, ... but it does. It's like fish psychology. It depends on the fish itself, it's size, where it came from in the wild, what age it was harvested, how big your tank is, it's tankmates, and whether or not the fish feels like it. So really in conclusion there is no true answer. If you really want something, than do/get it and try it out.

 

[Stickboy97]

True, that is all we can do. I'll keep my fingers crossed that he doesn't become a very expensive lunch.

 

[The Reef Expert]

True, that is all we can do. I'll keep my fingers crossed that he doesn't become a very expensive lunch.

lol:lmao:

 

[greenlime100]

Have had mine about a year now, My tank was FOWLR until about a month ago when I started adding corals, My angles didnt touch any so far. Saying hopeful and will post if it changes behavior.

 

[rssjsb]

FWIW, I have had a majestic for at least five years. I bought it as a very small adult (between 1 & 2 inches).

It's currently in a tank with sps (montipora, acros, and pavona), leathers (naphthea, toadstools), gsp, ricordia, a torch, and five different gorgs. It nips three of my gorgs occasionally but doesn't seem to do any real harm. I tried some anthelia, which was devoured almost immediately. I also suspect the majestic in the disappearance of some yellow polyps (which was fine with me). And all my angels (the majestic, a singapore, a mulitbar, 2 potters) went after some poccilopora and birds nest frags until they were all gone.

I had a clam for a year or so with the majestic and it never seemed to notice. (I lost the clam, but think it was to some sort of non-fish mollusk predator.)

 

[MrTuskfish]

As if the angel being lunch wasn't enough... Large angels species will often torment lions; much like triggers.

 

[greenlime100]

Still have my Majestic, it started picking on mushrooms and my galaxea corals. Well at least I suspect that it is, all my parameters are fine but mushrooms in particular never seem to last....