Reef Angels

[Kellogg]

I have a 90 gallon sps reef with acros, montiporas, and other sps. I also have 1 2.5" purple tang and 2 1" ocellaris clowns. I'm looking to add either a small regal angel or a Genicanthus watanabei angel and a fairy wrasse. I have heard that both angels are reef safe, anyone had experiences with either in sps tanks? Does anyone know how big the watanabei angel gets? I know the regals get kind of big, but would a small one be ok for a year or two until i get a larger tank? If anyone has had success with regals, what have you been feeding? Any thought on the commercial foods that contain sponges?

 

[esmithiii]

I do not have any personal experience with these fish, but would caution you that angels are notorious for nipping, and a species that is reef-safe for one reefer may not be for another. I would never risk my tank again for an angel or dwarf angel. Getting them out is near impossible once they go in.

E

 

[texman]

I have a 600g reef tank and recently introduced a regal angel (died due to shyness and inability to get it to eat), a Watanabei angel - doing extremely well and eating flakes, blueface angel, majestic angel and venustus angel. All the surviving fish are eating very well, however the majestic angel is picking at my open brain corals and in fact has killed one. I have not seen any of them attacking my SPS corals at all. Interestingly, the majestic angel ate all of my stinging hydroids which were spreading like crazy throughout a colony of Clavularia - the angel did not touch the clavularia at all. The Watanabei angle doesn't even go near any of the corals at all and you would definitely not have to worry about it. I purchased my angels from the Marine Center and they were all in excellent shape and eating when I got them. The regal angel was very shy and was constantly being attacked by my purple tang. Eventually, it would not move from its hiding place and starved to death.

 

[Kellogg]

Thanks for the advice. Looks like the Watanabei is the way to go. Anyone else with Watanabei Angel experience have any other advice or experiences?

 

[Anonymous]

No angel is "reef safe". Most(close to all)will pick at inverts. Even the dwarfs.

 

[Kellogg]

All angels of the genus Genicanthus are plantivores, just like anthias.