Tips on keeping angelfish in a reef tank?

gibbus123

gibbus123

New member
I have a 105gallon display sps dominated tank. I am considering adding angelfish to it. Maybe flame angels. A majestic and regal is also considered by me but I'm not sure if it'll be big enough for them.

My question is what techniques do you use to keep them from eating corals? Can a trio of flames be added? If the majestic or regal would they be happy in a 100gal? Or do you have a different angelfish to suggest?
 
Their is no specific way to keep them from picking at corals. It all depends on the fish itself, I have a multibarred angelfish in my mixed reef and he only picked at a wellso that I got rid off. He does leave my sps, zoas, clam and other lps alone.
 
Unfortunately my Brother, A 105g Won't work for a Majestic, or A Regal Angel.It will however work for a Flame Angelfish (1).Dwarf angels usually
Don't work to well in pairs or trio's, best if kept singly.

As for getting Angels not pickin at corals, they either have to be Fed several times a day, or not have an appetite for corals, some Angels I've seen love to destroy any coral it can, as fast as it can, others, not a nibble out of them.My LFS had a Flame angel in there Display 315g and it never ate corals, it however died, and the owner put another Flame in there and it starting Nipping at corals to the point of taking the fish out!Its all a Gamble.
 
El richie said:
Their is no specific way to keep them from picking at corals. It all depends on the fish itself, I have a multibarred angelfish in my mixed reef and he only picked at a wellso that I got rid off. He does leave my sps, zoas, clam and other lps alone.
Click to expand...

Multibarred angels are one of my all time favorite fish. I would so love to have one in my reef but I have never dared risk my SPS's or clam. It is good to hear that it may be possible.
 
I had a Flame for over 2 years before he started bothering corals. Not all, just select ones: Xenia, Green Zoas & Poclaporo (spelling?). I added a large Half Black and he was nipping everything within days of being added. It's just a gamble whether the fish will or won't bother corals. After being Angel free for a year or so, I added a Lamarck Angel and she's been great. Not the bright colors of some of the others, but a nice striped pattern.

Another local reefer, QT'd his angel and adding some coral frags to the QT to test the angel and after it didn't bother any, he put him in the reef. A few months and he's still doing good. Just be ready to remove either the fish or coral is the angel starting nipping or eatting.
 
One of the tricks I use is put them in a QT tank for a few months after a while they get lazy and don't graze much, they just wait for there owner to drop ready made food in.
 
alton said:
One of the tricks I use is put them in a QT tank for a few months after a while they get lazy and don't graze much, they just wait for there owner to drop ready made food in.
Click to expand...

My buddy has an emperor in a fish only tank he's trying to convince. me to take since he got a bigger one. since it has nothing to graze on that's what I'm hoping for.
 
BTW I do have.a potters Angel for 5 months. He's been pretty good . he does nip occasionally I think he's going after something else besides the corals.
 
alton said:
One of the tricks I use is put them in a QT tank for a few months after a while they get lazy and don't graze much, they just wait for there owner to drop ready made food in.
Click to expand...

That's a good suggestion. What angels has it worked successfully with so far?
 
Reef264 said:
Unfortunately my Brother, A 105g Won't work for a Majestic, or A Regal Angel.It will however work for a Flame Angelfish (1).Dwarf angels usually
Don't work to well in pairs or trio's, best if kept singly.

As for getting Angels not pickin at corals, they either have to be Fed several times a day, or not have an appetite for corals, some Angels I've seen love to destroy any coral it can, as fast as it can, others, not a nibble out of them.My LFS had a Flame angel in there Display 315g and it never ate corals, it however died, and the owner put another Flame in there and it starting Nipping at corals to the point of taking the fish out!Its all a Gamble.
Click to expand...

I know, just wishful thinking of having a big angel.:)
 
I currently have 6 dwarf angels, they all pick to some extent, some worse than others. There is one common thread, they all love to eat flesh LPS -- even my C venustus, which doesn't touch any other corals.

There really isn't any trick, though I suppose having lots of corals to spread out the damage would help, you just have to count on them picking, and if they don't be happy about it.
 
Mysis ,rods, lifeline, nori (it doesn't eat a lot of it). I just try to feed all my fish at least 3 times a day wich I think helps a lot.
 
I mean it took my Dwarf Pygmy 2 years to pick at a Coral at all, or it took me 2 years to catch it in the act, I enjoyed the fish for the time I had it!I think about adding another one every now and then, but it gets about that far...a thought!
 
In the past 2 flame angels. Right now I have a juvenile blueface and a imperator together. I have added GSP, bird of paradise, other SPS and mushrooms, with no problems. Next week I will try candy cane and Acans. If they make that I will add them to my 300
 
Ok I'm taking the plunge! I'm gonna get a flame angel. My LFS has a confirmed pair so I'll be asking if they'll sell me just one if not I'll have to decide if I can risk 2. Since they have been in QT for 5 weeks and eating mysis and pellets I'll be dropping them into my reef.
I'll post my experiences here.
 
I just removed my Flame Angel for picking at my SPS, and sold him cheap to a club member. The FA was a sneaky little bastage about it, but every time a new SPS with good PE was added and I carefully observed (web cam) he was the culprit in picking at exposed/extended SPS polyps. I was unable to capture him for removal without tearing the tank down. He was removed in a recent tank upgrade. No more dwarf angels or other angels for me.. I consider my tank a coral tank with fish; your priorities may be different though. JMTC & GL!
 
A flame angel for about 2 years. Has never picked at zo's, xenias, mushrooms, or clams. He does frequently nip on the live rock, but I've never seen any damage to the corals.
 
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