Hi, I just found this forum about a week ago. I have a 125 reef mostly dominated by lps. The tank has been running for about 6 years. Great forum by the way. Tons of information. My question is would a potters angel be safe in a tank with mostly lps? I see alot of you guys have angels with no problems. I've always loved these fish but thought they were a big no no.
Potters angel
- Thread starter thereject
- Start date
Well
a) I'm not expert
b) I don't even have experience with that fish
but it seems the prevailing wisdom with regards to most angelfish are that you are rolling the dice, and it varies with the individual fish. Some angels will eat your corals, and others of the same species won't.
Of course, that's just my relatively uninformed opinion.
a) I'm not expert
b) I don't even have experience with that fish
but it seems the prevailing wisdom with regards to most angelfish are that you are rolling the dice, and it varies with the individual fish. Some angels will eat your corals, and others of the same species won't.
Of course, that's just my relatively uninformed opinion.
Ironsheikh
New member
potters are hard to get eating --mine lived off liverock for 4 months. Then it started with brine/mysis later flakes and even my wrasse's fish poop! So, make sure you have enough live rock to sustain it when you first get it
BTTRFLYGRL
New member
Like stated above, all Angels are hit and miss...I have a Flame in my reef that is behaving wonderfully...
Make sure the Potters is eating before you bring him home...They don't have a great survival record
Make sure the Potters is eating before you bring him home...They don't have a great survival record
RichConley
New member
"Hit or miss like most dwarves"
THats one of the most prevalent myths in this hobby, and it drives me nuts. Yes, there is some chance that any dwarf angel will eat corals, but for some of the species, its lower than the chance that your tang, or your blennies wills start eating corals. Anything that grazes is a risk.
That statement is almost as bad as saying "wrasses are jumpers" or "wrasses will eat your shrimp." Yeah, some are, and some will, but some are absolutely no risk. Broad statements about large groups of species are almost always wrong.
Some dwarf species are MUCH more likely to eat things (lemonpeels,etc), while others are much less. I've never had problems with potters, or coral beauties. I also feed 5-6 times a day, so that helps.
The toughest part of Potters is getting them to eat. I DO NOT reccomend putting this fish in a typical QT setup. If you're going to QT the fish, put him in a fuge like setup.
I have personal experience with this particular fish too, so...
Mine was difficult to get to eat anything other than what was on the rock for the first several months. I would personally avoid them if you don't see them eat at the store.
Mine was a model reef citizen (but so is my Lemonpeel). There is a great deal of variation between individuals on most species of dwarf angel in the degree of being "reef-safe". The key I have found is multiple feedings per day to keep them "reef-safe". Between myself and my wife, our fish get fed 3-5 times per day and stay fat and happy.
I would suggest that you maybe consider a Flame, Coral Beauty, Cherub (Atl. Pygmy), Flameback, Fireball, or as a last resort a Golden (they are also typically difficult to get to eat, although less so than the Potter's IME)
Rich- The idea of QT'ing in a fuge type setup is great! I really do agree with you that it's probably the best idea when it comes to observing them.
Mine was difficult to get to eat anything other than what was on the rock for the first several months. I would personally avoid them if you don't see them eat at the store.
Mine was a model reef citizen (but so is my Lemonpeel). There is a great deal of variation between individuals on most species of dwarf angel in the degree of being "reef-safe". The key I have found is multiple feedings per day to keep them "reef-safe". Between myself and my wife, our fish get fed 3-5 times per day and stay fat and happy.
I would suggest that you maybe consider a Flame, Coral Beauty, Cherub (Atl. Pygmy), Flameback, Fireball, or as a last resort a Golden (they are also typically difficult to get to eat, although less so than the Potter's IME)
Rich- The idea of QT'ing in a fuge type setup is great! I really do agree with you that it's probably the best idea when it comes to observing them.
zemuron114
In Memoriam
i've had many many potters and shipped many many potters.
I always recommend putting them directly in a reef or a tank with lots of live rock that is very well established (6 years is well established for you)
Keeping them in QT will 90% of the time result in death because they are such picky eaters. I dont even bother trying to get them eat most of the time before i ship them. I tell the customer, add to estblished tank.
Most people i have shipped to have gotten them to eat right away. Small ones always do better (although larger ones can live and thrive)
they may or may not eat corals. Most, if not all SPS they will be fine with. They may nip at LPS. I would, however, rather add a potters then say a flame. I think the potters has a better rep for not eating corals. Also, if you keep them well fed, then you shouldn't have a problem - its just getting to the stage of getting them to be "well fed" of prepared foods that is difficult.
i would say add it... They are so beautiful. One of my favorite angels.
I always recommend putting them directly in a reef or a tank with lots of live rock that is very well established (6 years is well established for you
) Keeping them in QT will 90% of the time result in death because they are such picky eaters. I dont even bother trying to get them eat most of the time before i ship them. I tell the customer, add to estblished tank.
Most people i have shipped to have gotten them to eat right away. Small ones always do better (although larger ones can live and thrive)
they may or may not eat corals. Most, if not all SPS they will be fine with. They may nip at LPS. I would, however, rather add a potters then say a flame. I think the potters has a better rep for not eating corals. Also, if you keep them well fed, then you shouldn't have a problem - its just getting to the stage of getting them to be "well fed" of prepared foods that is difficult.
i would say add it... They are so beautiful. One of my favorite angels.
LargeAngels
Premium Member
As zemuron114 (my lineatus wrasse connection, which they are doing excellent by the way) said potters need an established tank. I do QT potters, but my QT for fish like this is an established tank with lots of grazing for the potters so it is just like putting them in established tank. I've also found that my potters love to eat frozen cyclopeeze. They hover in the current and eat them as they float by. One of my favorite fish. I also think they are "safer" than flames. In this tank the only one that gave me trouble was the flame angel. Many angels can be kept with minimum problems, but always have a backup plan to remove them.
zemuron114
In Memoriam
glad the lineatus are doing well! How about the cleaner?
I thought you had a scribbled angel??
I thought you had a scribbled angel??
LargeAngels
Premium Member
The Hawaiin cleaner was doing excellent for weeks. Even eating veggie flake food. In fact it prefered it. Then one day it just disappeared. I believe it found a small crack somewhere and jumped out. It was just too healthy to have just died.
No scribbled. Blue spots, potters, flagfins, RS regals, asfur, goldfalke, multicolors, flames, etc.
No scribbled. Blue spots, potters, flagfins, RS regals, asfur, goldfalke, multicolors, flames, etc.
zemuron114
In Memoriam
do you like scribbled?? I got some 8" males a little while ago. One of the nicest angels i have ever seen. The males are so electric blue! I dono if you have room for anything else in there.. lol
Amphiprion
Premium Member
C. potteri has been documented to feed upon Scleractinians in the wild (on more than one occasion). As such, they should be considered with caution. I have one in my tank and I have had good luck so far--but that doesn't mean all individuals will be good 'citizens.' While they may be 'more reef safe', I have had a good handful of people who have had problems with this fish and corals.
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