Flame angel and sps

[Jdubbs]

I decided to take the risk and try a fiji flame angel with my reef tank - sps, clams, acans, lps, ect. He seemed to be a model citizen, but i caught him nipping at some of my acros - and their polyps are retracted. They haven't lost color yet but this is the first time I caught him.

He's my favorite, so would hate to get rip of him (plus he'd be impossible to catch). Does anybody have any suggestions on maybe how to turn him off to them? I would of thought keeping him well fed may help - I feed mysis and spurlina brine shrimp, and algae on a clip as well. I tried some angel frozen food with sponge but he didn't go for it.

Any ideas? :irked:

 

[D1J8Z]

either let nature take its course or try and get him out.


unfortunately yelling at a fish and telling it bad just doesn't work.

 

[aznt1217]

Keep observing and see what happens.

 

[Jdubbs]

Has anyone had a really bad experience with a flame taking out whole colony's?

 

[cthoughts1]

I'd take off my belt and threaten to spank him with it if he keeps it up..

 

[OGGISPORTS]

i had one eat like 5 heads of acans

 

[Jdubbs]

damn. im a bit nervous. I have a lot of coral. i honestly dont think I could get rid of him without tearing the whole tank apart..

 

[aznt1217]

Give it time. Like when you feed him... I mean FEED HIM. Please include garlic in the food so he gets used to the taste.

 

[Jdubbs]

Thanks for being reassuring. I do feed garlic. Any other suggestions for food or other ideas?

 

[pecan2phat]

There is literally 1 thread a week asking if and what angels I can keep in a reef tank with SPS. The answer is always none.
They won't kill your colonies but you will also never really see full polyp extension either.

 

[lanacane214]

dont feed him for a couple of days, go to target in there sporting depatment they sell fishing hooks really small ones for like 2 dollars,hook the biggest mysis shrimp you can get on it and youll catch him, you shoul defenitly get him out

 

[tosiek]

Get him out. He will end up killing things from either eating or bugging and stressing them out.

Some people have alot of success with them not eating things, you like me aren;t one of them =(

 

[Jdubbs]

This sounds awful. Has anyone ever had success weening them off of nibbling by consistent feeding (and water changes) or any other methods? I not only don't want to get rid of him, but think it will be impossible. The hooks a good idea -but I think id end up catching one of the other more aggressive eaters.

 

[Awibrandy]

Reports have it that the lamarck angel is safe, and mine has been good thus far.
I would not put a Flame in anything other then a fowlr.

I don't like the hook idea. A fish trap would do the trick. I made mine out of a soda bottle, and some fishing line. The thing is that 1) you have to starve the fish, and 2) I rapped the food in mesh material so that the smell got into the water column, but they couldn't get to the food.

 

[aznt1217]

I've had 3 flame angels... they were all fine with corals. I know a member here with a crazy SPS tank and his flame angel has been fine with it too. The SPS polyps fully extended and been extended over the years.

I fed spectrum pellets, thera-a, and mysis with garlic. You can also try behavioral conditioning. It's a pain but worth it. It's worked for me. When the flame angel approaches the colony take a turkey baster and blast him or scare him. After a long time.... he should get used to it (if he's smart enough). Yes guys, I'm serious on this one lol.

 

[Awibrandy]

You can also try behavioral conditioning. It's a pain but worth it. It's worked for me. When the flame angel approaches the colony take a turkey baster and blast him or scare him. After a long time.... he should get used to it (if he's smart enough). Yes guys, I'm serious on this one lol.

Only problem I see with this scenario is that you are not always by the tank to see it go for the corals.
I'd love to have one in my reef as well, but will opt to put it in my fowlr instead.

 

[Jdubbs]

The behavioral conditoning sounds like a good idea, ill give it a shot. He appears to have onmy been going after a few of the colonies leaving most things alone. Ill also try to get them to eat pellets- any ideas from the guy with the crazy sps tank that worked for him?

 

[krak256]

dubbs, how much are u feeding? i have a pygmy angel in my tank and he doesn't nip. i think its because I feed a good amount every other day. perhaps you're not feeding enough?

 

[Jdubbs]

I'm certainly trying to feed as much as i can without over polluting my tank..

 

[qy7400]

The hard part with this is no 2 fish are the same, you can have a model citizen for years or a one who goes to town all day.

After seeing Joe Burgers tank I went with 3 Flames along with a Coral Beauty and so far no issues from any of them, quite surprised how well they actually get along; only a few SPS with them but so far so good but I am a classic over feeder at twice a day everyday.