will you risk angel on a reef?
- Thread starter bullitr
- Start date
I've always had angels and always will. I've only had to remove one and I knew he would be a big risk, the lemonpeel.
Either I've had excellent luck or angels tend to get a bad rap. I currently have a potters and a swallowtail (G. milanospilos) in a mixed reef with sps, lps, ricordea. I've previously had luck with flames, coral beauty's and multicolors.
I've never kept clams so I can't speak as far as those go.
Either I've had excellent luck or angels tend to get a bad rap. I currently have a potters and a swallowtail (G. milanospilos) in a mixed reef with sps, lps, ricordea. I've previously had luck with flames, coral beauty's and multicolors.
I've never kept clams so I can't speak as far as those go.
Genicanthus angels (lamarck, swallowtail, watanabe) would be safer than a centropyge. That's what I'd do.
If you have your heart set on a centropyge it depends how much you value your corals. They may nip or may not. You'd probably be fine in a 225 and would hardly notice (even if you got a bad one) if they nipped a little at everything.
I had a coral beauty before with no problems, a lot of people keep flames. Even though I have no personal experience, I have heard many times that bicolors are the least likely to be reef safe of all the centropyges, so you may want to take that into consideration.
If you have your heart set on a centropyge it depends how much you value your corals. They may nip or may not. You'd probably be fine in a 225 and would hardly notice (even if you got a bad one) if they nipped a little at everything.
I had a coral beauty before with no problems, a lot of people keep flames. Even though I have no personal experience, I have heard many times that bicolors are the least likely to be reef safe of all the centropyges, so you may want to take that into consideration.
Packersfan21
New member
Flame is probably least likely. Both have some rish though.
muddymudskipper
New member
Won't know unless you try. One of the most exciting things, and frustrating at the same time, is that there are no absolutes in this hobby. It comes down to whether or not to gamble. I took the gamble. I put four angels (female watanabe, flame, coral beauty, and an atlantic pygmy) into my 300 gal. reef. It's been almost two years with only two casualties (spiny gorgonian and an open brain). I provide seaweed (green and purple), in addition to a varied frozen diet, daily. Other than the two casualties listed, I've observed very little nipping from my angels. Also, my maxima clam is doing fantastic. For me, it has been totally worth it! For you, would it be worth it? Good luck!!!
Patrick12
Crypt Assassin
I have an Emperor Angel in my reef. I have had her fo nearly 3 years and she has nipped at a brain coral and I did have one mysterious clam death.....but I did not ever see her nip at it and I watch the tank an awful lot.
Still, I would rather have the fish over any clam or coral. She leaves everything else alone.
Still, I would rather have the fish over any clam or coral. She leaves everything else alone.
mattsilvester
Team RC
That just about sums the whole thing up really.....
Two things to ask yourself before you add an angel to your tank:
1. What will you do if it starts to nip / eat / kill any corals or clams?
2. How will you impliment your decision?
i.e. if it starts to damage corals or clams, will you suffer the loss of that coral / clam? If yes, then obvisouly deep down you would rather the fish than the coral / clam. If no, then you will have to catch and remove the fish...... a dwarf angel means the onyl way you'll do it is probably breakign down the reef, and removing every single rock and coral......
With most dwarf angels it would seem there is a greater chance that they will NOT damage corals / clams than there is a chance that they WILL damage them. However, the risk of teh latter is considerable, and there is enough anecdotal evidence to suggest that it is far from a rare occurance, hence the likelihood of you having to make a decision whether to loose corals / clams OR break down yoru reef structure would be too high a risk in my view.......
mattsilvester
Team RC
Me too..... but mine nips and tears at just about everything.... not that I have a full blown reef tank.... far from it.... but he has a go at all the leathers..... the only things he has left alone are star polyps and 'shrooms.....
Here is what 6-7" of coral munching terror looks like
Angel*Fish
cats and large squashes
Re: will you risk angel on a reef?
If my angels eat a coral I bring home, the coral goes, not the fish ! :fish1: The flame, btw, is probably your better bet.
Jeffrey Porter
Cradle Robber
so far been lucky with a dwarf golden. been just over a year.
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