Worried about Emperor Angel

[jkopp36]

I've had an Emperor Angel for about 4 months now. When I first introduced it to my tank (225g SPS DT) it was immediately active and even ate out my hand the second day I had it. It would race to the front of the DT to greet me and moved around the tank a lot. The past few weeks it has gotten more into the habit of hiding a lot (there are LOTS of hiding spaces in the tank) and I can no longer get it to come up and eat out of my hand regularly. It does still seem to be eating ok although not as ferociously as before. I did some searching and it seems to be common for them to like to hide out but I couldn't find any threads or google searches that mentioned a behavior change like this. My fear is the switch in behavior. Anything to worry about or does it mean it is just settling in? I would really hate to lose this fish. I have become quite attached to it. Everything else in the tank - fish and corals - is doing great!

TIA

 

[Recty]

Is it the biggest, most aggressive fish in the tank? Usually when you see this kind of behavioral change something in the tank is stressing the fish.

 

[jkopp36]

Hmmm, I would say sorta. It is the biggest fish in the tank but no the most aggressive. My purple tang knocked it around pretty good the first couple days but there has been no disputes since then that I have seen. Of course, I cannot see everything. Would it be a good idea to try to pull the PT out of the tank for awhile? They sure don't seem to have an issues with each other now???

 

[Recty]

In my experience, emperor angels dont hide a lot. I'd think something is scaring him, threatening him or stressing him in some manner.

What size is the purple tang? It could be challenging him at night or something that you're not seeing and keeping him quite stressed.

I'm not saying that's the cause for sure, but I'd think it could have something to do with it.

 

[BANDIT ANGEL]

Emperors are active fish and won't hide alot, you shall beware that the purple tang is bullying it. Purples are known to kill larger tankmates at night.

 

[fish stalker]

I would be nervous of the tang as well. In my aggressive tanks it's always the tang that needs watching and not the triggers IMO and IME. Good luck hope it works out as this is a great fish.

 

[jkopp36]

Just following up on this...

I have not changed the tank inhabitants situation at all and the Emperor continues to hide a lot. It will actively come out and greet me when it is hungry but spends most of its time browsing the many hiding place in the DT. The Emperor is VERY healthy and really only eats NLS pellets (voraciously) and nori anymore. When I first got it, it would eat anything I put in the DT. It is fat and healthy looking though so I believe the NLS and nori are doing their jobs.

I am in the process of setting up a 180g FOWLR and plan to try to catch and move the PT to it although I really want to put some cool angels in there too. I'm considering prolonging moving the PT until I have the FOWLR mostly stocked so its the last fish to go in there. That could be quite awhile. I guess as long as the Emperor looks healthy and continues to pursue food like it does I shouldn't worry too much.

BTW - The Emperor is in a SPS dominant 225g tank and hasn't caused any issues with the SPS corals. I have noticed that the rogue zoas, aptasia, and mojanos have really receded and/or been kept in check. I have never seen the Emperor "feed" on any of them but nothing else has changed that what have caused a decline or leveling of any of them that I can think of.

Just a little update. Still would love to see this gorgeous fish out in the open more.

 

[snorvich]

In my experience, emperor angels dont hide a lot. I'd think something is scaring him, threatening him or stressing him in some manner.

What size is the purple tang? It could be challenging him at night or something that you're not seeing and keeping him quite stressed.

I'm not saying that's the cause for sure, but I'd think it could have something to do with it.

I would tend to agree.

 

[jkopp36]

I would tend to agree.

Thanks for your input!

 

[geaux xman]

how big is the emp? i'm assuming it is an adult colored emp?

i have a 4" emp juvie and he is always out and about. him and the powder brown are always out swimming together while the blueface is the outcast, often times in seclusion.

 

[duncantse]

Is it still eating? If it's still hiding and not eating, then that's usually a bad sign meaning it will die over the next few days.

 

[jkopp36]

how big is the emp? i'm assuming it is an adult colored emp?

i have a 4" emp juvie and he is always out and about. him and the powder brown are always out swimming together while the blueface is the outcast, often times in seclusion.

It is still changing. It's stripes are almost completely smoothed though. About 6" long. It use to be out and swimming all the time with all the other fish but has chilled in caves mostly for the past few months.

Is it still eating? If it's still hiding and not eating, then that's usually a bad sign meaning it will die over the next few days.

Eats NLS pellets like crazy. Will eat nori too when I put some in the DT. Mostly ignores other food now although it did eat almost anything at one time. It is very fat and healthy looking.