Preferred Dwarf Angel for a Reef Tank - Bicolor OR Flame?

[RyanCS]

I'm finishing up stocking of my 75 gal reef tank, which means I'm about to add and most aggressive fish, a dwarf angel. I am have a hard time deciding between a Bicolor Angel and a Flame Angel. I love the way both fish look but I only think 1 is a good idea.

I'm looking for something that is least likely to eat my corals and will not bully the smaller fish.


Current residents are:

1 pair medium clowns
1 firefish
1 mccosker's wrasse
1 pink banded goby
various LPS
ornamental shrimp
Clean up Crew

Thanks in advance for your insights.

 

[AquaticFins]

I would suggest the Flame over the Bicolour.

The Bicolour gets quite a bit larger than most dwarf angels and is not an easy fish to keep. They don't seem to ship well and have a hard time adapting to captivity and prepared foods. If you're going to buy one, I would suggest you do it locally and ensure that the store has had it for at least a week or two and that the fish is eating everything in sight.

They also seem to be among the most likely of the dwarf angelfish to nip at corals.

 

[Moort82]

Bicolour is by far my favorite but the flame is so much safer.

 

[RyanCS]

Thanks for the quick replies

Thanks for the quick replies

My LFS actually told me the opposite, so it's nice to get some consistent feedback. I'll let you know what I decide and how it goes.

Bicolour is by far my favorite but the flame is so much safer.

 

[ACBlinky]

I vote for the flame. I just bought a Hawaiian flame for my 150g, my goodness they're pretty fish. Bicolours pale in comparison IMHO. As to whether or not they'll snack on coral... it's a risk, but flames do stay smaller so at least if a flame went rogue it would eat less :S

 

[wliang]

I prefer the flame as well.

 

[paglaum22]

My flame angel constantly nip on my sps, I have no experience with the Bicolor...

 

[DrSalty]

+1 for flame. Mine has been a model citizen in my reef tank.

 

[cramideas]

I like the looks of the flame myself

 

[RyanCS]

Thoughts on reef safe, non-aggressive and colorful (not red or yellow) fish?

Thoughts on reef safe, non-aggressive and colorful (not red or yellow) fish?

Thanks again for the feedback. I think I'm going to go with the flame and hope for the best.

Nerding out a bit here, but since I do not have any dark green or blue fish in my current stock, and I'm not willing to risk the bicolor angel, any suggestions for fish that are reef safe, non-aggressive, etc that might work?

 

[b0bab0ey]

Thanks again for the feedback. I think I'm going to go with the flame and hope for the best.

Nerding out a bit here, but since I do not have any dark green or blue fish in my current stock, and I'm not willing to risk the bicolor angel, any suggestions for fish that are reef safe, non-aggressive, etc that might work?

Blue/Green Chromis would be perfect, but they seem to have poor survival rates these days.

A CB Angel would give you purplish blue, but I probably wouldn't mix that with a Flame in only a 75.

There's some reef safe wrasses here that might fit the bill:

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=15+1378

 

[scott tang]

id go flame but quarantine and make sure it eats at the store mine died and wouldnt eat

 

[sullyfish]

Th flame will nip on SPS & LPS but softies should be OK