Most Reef Safe Dwarf Angelfish?

Charley Diesing

New member
Well I love the Coral beauty and bi-color. Not that big of a fan of the Flame just too gaudy for me.

Also I remember reading somewhere that angels don't react well to copper. So is the only way to QT them for Ich is by hypo-salinity?

I am a beginner so don't really wanna start with a potters or anything.

Thanks,

Charley
 
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I have a Multi-colored angel that leaves healthy corals alone. I've seen him pick at corals which have been trimmed recently, but nothing damaging.
 
Not considering they get up to 10" and are deepwater species, so I'd say no. Some people have reported success in a 55 temporarily but I wouldn't do anything smaller than 75.

I've done a considerable amount of questioning and research for dwarf angels and coral safety. Most people reported that their coral beauty angels are for the most part reef safe. They might pick on a single type of coral but a remedy that seems to work is to "close" the coral off. You can do this by using a plastic caging of some kind or a soda bottle cut up this will keep it from nipping. Once it gets over wanting to nip you should be good to remove it.
 
Not considering they get up to 10" and are deepwater species, so I'd say no. Some people have reported success in a 55 temporarily but I wouldn't do anything smaller than 75.

I've done a considerable amount of questioning and research for dwarf angels and coral safety. Most people reported that their coral beauty angels are for the most part reef safe. They might pick on a single type of coral but a remedy that seems to work is to "close" the coral off. You can do this by using a plastic caging of some kind or a soda bottle cut up this will keep it from nipping. Once it gets over wanting to nip you should be good to remove it.

Mkay thats what I thought. On LA they only say 7 inches. But whats the difference. Too Big!

So I guess I want to go with a Coral Beauty.

Any thoughts on QTing?
 
It obviously depends on the fish, but I had a coral beauty that would not leave my toadstool leather alone. He left the LPSs and Xenia alone, but I ended up having to move the leather to another tank to save it.

What are your concerns with quarantining? Are you concerned about specific medications, getting the fish to eat, etc?
 
It obviously depends on the fish, but I had a coral beauty that would not leave my toadstool leather alone. He left the LPSs and Xenia alone, but I ended up having to move the leather to another tank to save it.

What are your concerns with quarantining? Are you concerned about specific medications, getting the fish to eat, etc?

I'm concerned with Ich, and Marine Velvet. I lost almost all my fish except a flasher wrasse two weeks ago too what I think was Ich. Now I got the wrasse in a 10 Gallon QT. Gonna wait 10 weeks to rid of Ich. Wrasse doesn't appear to have Ich, but I'm still gonna treat him for it.

But when I add new specimens in. I don't want Ich, none of it. lol

So I was planning on treating new inhabitants with Cupramine and Prazi-Pro
 
you arent going to find any 100% reef safe dwarf angelfish(Centropyge), but if you had a larger tank any genicanthus angels are a great addition to a tank. but since you only have a 40 breeder you should try an african flameback angel, i emphasized the african due to it having the best track record of any available flameback for being reef safe. that being said, any fish can do anything. you may get a coral nipper on your first try or you could get an "angel" of a fish. but you have to be prepared to take that risk.
 
You may want to run a search because there is a thread that have a spreadsheet of people's experience with angel fish in reefs. It's very helpful.
 
+1 on the spreadsheet, but you kind of have to take it with a grain of salt since everyone's angel is in a different environment/tank and taken care of differently.

I tried to gather information a couple of years ago that expanded upon this (asking questions like what/how much people fed each angel, if they quarantined first, etc.), but some RC people were too closed-minded to even have a discussion on the "reef-safeness" of some angels, and the thread got too far off-track to ever get legs.

I personally feel that if you feed them enough (at least three times per day) of the right foods, then most angels will leave most inverts/corals alone. Some are more likely than others to revert to picking, but I think the spreadsheet is useful in that it shows which ones can venture in that direction more/less frequently than others.

As for quarantining, dwarf angels don't seem to be bothered by copper treatment as much as the larger angels. I actually just recently completed treating my Potter's Angel with Seachem Cupramine, and he didn't seem phased one bit throughout the whole process. I think the key with treating (particularly with more sensitive fish) is to start dosing in small amounts over a period of several days (not just a couple like the instructions say) until you've reached your desired Copper level.

Good luck!

-Chad
 
Thank you so much for your responds, ya'll! You guys seemed to answer all my questions much appreciated. I decided on going with a Coral Beauty. Wish me luck!

Also going to be doing a stock list for my 40 Breeder feel free to post on that, too! :D
Thanks,

Charley
 

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