flame angels? reef safe?

[GQ22]

i know there are few ppl whbo say they nip at stony corals..has anyone ever experienced this? i really like the color but really dont want to get one that does nip corals

 

[marrone]

They're not reef safe and they will nip at corals. They mayn't do it now or a month from now but there is a chance that they will. So that a chance that your going to have to take. So if you can stand them nipping at certain corals then it's worth the chance. Remember if you need to remove it from the tank take into account how hard that maybe be before you add one.

 

[GQ22]

thanks marrone..that makes it final..no flame angel :-(

 

[Sean]

really then the flame angels I've had in a couple of my reef tanks for a year to three years are killing all the healthy corals?

Marrone I disagree but then again agree.

It's one of those risky fish which sometimes works and other times don't. But I find this to be true with all angels

 

[nyfireman3097]

Seans right there a chance they wont pick but I had one and it picked i had to tak EVERYTHING rock corals everything out of my tank t catch him and then in a couple of days all my sps looked a million times better

 

[marrone]

That is the chance you take with all angels that at some point in time they're going to pick on some thing. It could take a week or a month or even a year but there is a chance that it will happen.

Reguardless on how well these angels are fed it doens't really matter as since they graze all the time, and they're in a closed system, the chance they may think some thing is food is great. The thing is once they start to pick at some thing they'll most likely will keep doing it.

Some people get lucky others don't, so you have to weight the risk of it happening and either live with it or not.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

i personally wouldnt do it... even if someone has one succesfully... it just aint worth the risk of loosing ur corals when mr. flame angel becomes hungry... jus my .02c

 

[fritz]

I remember reading somewhere the autopsies done on dwarf angels show that their diet greatly changes once they reach "puberty." It is once they reach maturity that they realize (sometimes it would seem) corals = food.

 

[tomzpc]

It depends on the individual fish. Some will nip at corals and others will leave them alone. It's the chance you take to keep such a gorgeous fish.

 

[masterswimmer]

really then the flame angels I've had in a couple of my reef tanks for a year to three years are killing all the healthy corals?

Marrone I disagree but then again agree.

It's one of those risky fish which sometimes works and other times don't. But I find this to be true with all angels

Sean, you're absolutely right. The fact that you've got some FA in your reefs doesn't change this fact. In good conscience, to a customer/friend of yours, would you recommend a FA for a reef tank?

swimmer

 

[Sean]

I'd explain the risk and let them make a decision

 

[Dace]

well if ever catch mine he's going into my refuge sump

 

[NYPDFrogman]

my flame is one of 3 angels in my tank (regal, Asfur) he constantly grazes but I havent seen any coral damage. I have witnessed all my angels pick at a drying coral. I agree it's a chance but I love the way my reef looks with the angels in it!

 

[pecan2phat]

Russ,
I would not recommend a FA in a full blown reef tank unless the corals are secondary to the fish.
FWIW, the only angel that does not nip on my SPS corals is the RS Regal. The Golden pygmy, Goldflake angel and Magnificent foxface all nip at my corals.

 

[aaron23]

my foxface rabbit and oh hey Didn't i tell you i bought another regal :smash:, But this one looked very good and was eating brine at the shop. Its now eating angel sponge food and mysis shrimp. ...... and... Hopefully it will be a model citizen HEHE :scratchch

 

[masterswimmer]

Russ,
I would not recommend a FA in a full blown reef tank unless the corals are secondary to the fish.

To me this sounds like a responsible statement. Although, I couldn't suggest making the corals secondary to the fish. As reefkeepers I think we have as much responsibility to the coral as we do the fish. At least you are approaching the relationship between the FA and the coral as tenuous at best.

swimmer

 

[PalmTree]

I had a FA in my old 75 gallonand he was a model citzen. I took the chance and I got lucky. I'm still debating weather or not I will do it again. It really depends on the person I guess. Unfortunatly he has since passed on. :frown: RIP FA..

 

[barebucta]

This is funny, I was just researching/looking into buying one....once again you huys read my mind.

 

[glipper69]

I've had 2 in all my reef experience the latest one in my tank for about 4 years now. they have never touched a coral. It likes to scavenge all over the tank for bits and pieces. it nips at the corals but not to eat them just to scavenge various material. in my opinion it's a great fish, great color, great personality. I love them for any reef.

Frank

 

[charile1]

When you refer to coral...do you only mean sps or lps and softies as well?