Regal and Goldflake Angels

[aandfsoccr04]

I'd really love to try a gold flake angel but keep primarily Lps so I am nervous. I keep several acans, fungi, brains, goniopora, and chalices. They are by far the most beautiful angel to me though. I'd be nervous about aggression issues as well...

 

[dbraun15]

I have had my Regal for about 2 years now. Got him from DD as a 2" Juvenille, would say he is about 4" now. Eats everything like a horse.

Concerning Corals, He nips at all randomly and at various intervals. For example, when I add a new SPS, he will pick at it for a few days to a week until he seems to realize it is a not a great food. At that point as long as the frag is healthy, it will survive it and move on.

Concerning LPS, I have a brain that he nips at regularly. That being said, it is so random that the coral simply heals up the nips. Doesnt bother Zoanthids.

The problem is, even if you get one that does not nip right away, that does not mean that they one day might now. Or, more likely they will sample any new corals put in after them.

At the end of the day you simply have to decide if you want this fish (or any others that are at risk types) in your tank enough to risk the coral damage. If you arent, dont get the fish. You will just be frustrated in the end.

 

[echoreef]

I used to have Acans in my Reef tank, but now it's mostly SPS. Both the goldflake and regal angels get along great and never bother any of my corals.

 

[sohal1025]

I have had both in a mixed reef in the past and they didn't touch my LPS, although I did keep mostly frogspawn, Torches, etc. They will nip at SPS, however if the coral is healthy it can survive a few nips. I would chance either in your reef as their beauty makes up for the possibility of coral damage. Both needs a lengthy QT and must be treated for fluke and internal parasites. Getting both as juvi makes it a bit easier to get them to adapt to captive life and feeding. Try to avoid the larger 4"+ Goldflakes. There are a few of us on the board that have had the larger GFs mysteriously die after doing well for months. Good luck with whatever you choose. BTW, I am a big proponent of getting the GF direct from a wholesaler in HI, as to avoid the normal wholesale chain. You avoid exposing the fish to more parasites and disease.

Why the lengthy QT?

 

[saf]

I have had a regal angel is my tank for a long time. I have SPS, LPS, and Clams in my tank. He has never picked on anything. I agree a good QT before introducing it into a tank. They are notorious for being very picky eaters and need a lot of different foods thrown at them to entice them to eat.

 

[Alex T.]

I've actually heard of people purposely introducing angels to their established SPS tanks so that they would pick at SPS tips. Some have reported increased growth in their SPS from the angel's picking. Again, this is in an established SPS tank with good size colonies. It may be a death sentence for a newly setup reef with lots of frags though.

If you flip through the Tank of the Month winners you'll note that Reefbum (Keith Berkelheimer) has a beautiful Regal Angel in his SPS dominated reef. His sand has many LPS as well. Progression shots of his tank seem to have taken off after the introduction of the Regal Angel as well. Hmmmm.

 

[gorally]

I have a Juv goldflake and it is nipping my sps. It also eat the brain but that i carelesse. I have an oragne peel that just nip on anything which I want them both out. I love the GF but if it continue doing this, I will take it out.