Anyone keeping Dwarf Angels in their reefs?

Ryan15236 · Nov 19, 2015

reefish said:
I've had 3 dwarf angels so far, all of them picked/ate my corals.
First flame - picked and my leathers and acans
Second flame - freaking terrorized all of my fish in my 75 g and picked at my toadstool, montipora, little bit of everything softies, lps
Multicolor - Is slowly killing my large toadstool, he will actually pick off polyps. I feed 4x a day too, last angel fish for me.

Dang that is rough. 0 for 3 is not good odds and you must have taken the hit for all these other folks having the success!

gacolt · Nov 19, 2015

I keep a blue pygmy angel in my reef there's sps,lps,zoas and anemones and no problems so far but that could change at anytime and im ready to pull him from the tank the first sign of trouble.I say go for it but be ready to rehome him If and when he starts picking at corals/inverts.

Ryan15236 · Nov 19, 2015

Definitely. I know there risk is definitely present but I do love these fish and I feel like you're not guaranteed any fish as being "reef safe". I have a clown bugging LPS corals to death because it wants to move in.

saltyhog · Nov 19, 2015

I had a beautiful flameback that was a model citizen for 8 months.....then he decided acans tasted good. I gave him to a friend with a FOWLR. When he moved he gave him to a club member but forgot to warn him. The flameback wiped out his acans and zoas in short order.

7hogwarts · Nov 19, 2015

I have a Flame Back that is a model citizen. If only I could get him to eat blue clove polyps.

Ryan15236 · Nov 19, 2015

Seems like I have seen pretty good success with the flameback angels and coral beauties. Food for thought I suppose.

I am more worried about my rastas, gold maul, fire and ice, watermelons, open brain, torch, and bi color hammer more than anything. Rest of my stuff is pretty common and hardy SPS frags.

jlanger · Nov 19, 2015

I have a Lemonpeel in my Fluval M60 that picked at the rock flower anemones at first, but after some time and the fish realized I was the source of food it has stopped picking at them.

I just added a rehomed Flameback into my 120gal and so far it is behaving well.
It constantly is picking at the rocks but I have yet seen it nip any LPS, SPS or zoanthids.

dailydriven911 · Nov 20, 2015

I have a Pygmy Cherub and Flame in my 60 cube. The Flame chases the Pygmy every once in awhile but they both leave my corals alone.

TheWhiteFord · Nov 21, 2015

I have a coral beauty angel in my tank and he doesn't touch any corals

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marvelousone · Nov 21, 2015

I have 2 flames. one is a zoa eater the other does not mess with anything.

steve&mari · Nov 21, 2015

Man I'm in the same boat I want them but nervous about it. I almost pulled the trigger last night on a potters n a coral beauty to try but let em go because of lps n want a clam.

tj w · Nov 21, 2015

I have quite a few lps with coral beauty,flame,and lemon peel and havent had a problem yet. I keep them well fed and they graze on the nori clip as well. Also have an emperor as well.

Reefrookie220 · Nov 21, 2015

Ryan I've seen your tank when it was newly set up, the question for you is not about the risk, but however it's about "if it nips and I want it gone, how the heck will I ever get it out?" I feel this is an important factor a lot forget when choosing fish like these.

twon8 · Nov 21, 2015

Ryan15236 said:
I have a 125 gallon mixed reef tank. I would love to be able to have a flame angel in this tank. I had one in my previous fowlr and it is probably my favorite fish. I know it can be done but is it worth it is the question? Do you guys keep them and find that the good outweighs the bad or are they too destructive on your corals? Also if you are keeping them in your reef tanks maybe share what species of angelfish you have as well as types of corals you have. In my reef tank I have a little bit of everything. Acros, Milles, BN, Montis, Hammers, Torch, Brains, Leptos, Duncans, Zoas, etc.

In a tank that big you have a decent chance of a flame leaving your corals alone.

Ryan15236 · Nov 22, 2015

Reefrookie220 said:
Ryan I've seen your tank when it was newly set up, the question for you is not about the risk, but however it's about "if it nips and I want it gone, how the heck will I ever get it out?" I feel this is an important factor a lot forget when choosing fish like these.

Very good point Waylon. I will definitely have to consider that. I just like dwarfs so much. My flame was my favorite in my previous fowlr that went to a reef and it started with Kenya trees and I said alright you gotta go it's only going to get worse from here. Took a whole aquascape rearrangement to do it too.

IMO it is hard to beat fish like the flame, potters, coral beauty, etc. It is a tough decision and I know deep down what would give me more piece of mind but I want to believe otherwise...

WhoKnowsSebastian · Nov 22, 2015

Let's piggy back. Anyone have success keeping multiple dwarf angels in the same tank? If so which ones?

Yakland · Nov 22, 2015

I have a pair of Joculator Angels in my tank and they are doing great with corals and no nipping at all.

mfinn · Nov 22, 2015

I've always kept multiple dwarf angels in my reef tanks. Never had a problem.
I had a Flame and a Coral Beauty together for 10+ years.
However when I upgraded my tank, I was moving all the fish into a small holding tank I lost the Flame.
The Coral Beauty was with me another 1-1/2 years, before it died.