Brutal introduction of a second angel

[mbuch21]

Just wanted to share quite a harrowing experience. I have a 55 gallon Fowlr with about 100 pounds of live rock, up and running for 8 months. The tank boss is a three inch coral beauty. 9 fish all get along great.
Today I finally found a 2 inch flame angel that I fell in love with. I had been reading up on introducing a second dwarf angel into the tank and the reports seemed to be split, that it could possibly work, but unlikely, notwithstanding plenty of hiding spots for the new juvenile flame.
In short, it was a disaster. The very first second that I placed the flame into the tank, the peaceful and gentle coral beauty went BALLISTIC. It was chasing and nipping mercilessly. I let it go for about 3 minutes hoping it would let up, but the violence and relentlessness was brutal.
So I pulled the gorgeous flame angel to bring it back to the lfs tomorrow. It looks fine. But I’m still rattled!

 

[Karen00]

Just wanted to share quite a harrowing experience. I have a 55 gallon Fowlr with about 100 pounds of live rock, up and running for 8 months. The tank boss is a three inch coral beauty. 9 fish all get along great.
Today I finally found a 2 inch flame angel that I fell in love with. I had been reading up on introducing a second dwarf angel into the tank and the reports seemed to be split, that it could possibly work, but unlikely, notwithstanding plenty of hiding spots for the new juvenile flame.
In short, it was a disaster. The very first second that I placed the flame into the tank, the peaceful and gentle coral beauty went BALLISTIC. It was chasing and nipping mercilessly. I let it go for about 3 minutes hoping it would let up, but the violence and relentlessness was brutal.
So I pulled the gorgeous flame angel to bring it back to the lfs tomorrow. It looks fine. But I’m still rattled!

OMG, I am so sorry to read this! I totally understand how traumatic that can be to watch. I had it happen with a couple freshwater fish. I'm glad to hear the flame is doing well. Hopefully that traumatic experience hasn't changed his personality (either extremely scared or becomes a bully).

 

[Zionas]

IMO a 55 might not be big enough for two dwarfs. Plus an 8-month gap means the Coral Beauty would have been well-established. It’s a 4’ tank but the 18” width really doesn’t give much depth for rock work. Personally I’d want a minimum of a 90.

 

[Cell]

A standard 55 isnt even 18" wide, it's only 12".

 

[Dbichler]

With multiple angels you would want 3 of the same type. Especially in a smaller tank.

 

[WVNed]

You should see that with large angels. It goes on for 30 days too.
But then it just stops.

The large ones ignore the little ones. The little ones got along almost instantly.

 

[Waters]

Yeah trying that in a 55 will always end badly....especially with 9 fish already (one being another angel).

 

[Zionas]

To my knowledge many large angels (not Genicanthus) form pairs not harems but small angels and Genicanthus (considered taxonomically more similar to Centropyge and Paracentropyge than Holacanthus, Pomacanthus, maybe Apolemichthys etc.) form harems.

Either way a 12” wide 55 is too small.

 

[Zionas]

Nice pair of Bicolors. How did you get them to pair up?

 

[mjh712]

You should see that with large angels. It goes on for 30 days too.
But then it just stops.

The large ones ignore the little ones. The little ones got along almost instantly.

Do you think the smaller ones got along quicker/better due to the larger angels?

 

[jtf74]

Nice pair of Bicolors. How did you get them to pair up?

Wondering that too. I have a 280 gallon with a bicolor and larger flame. Would love to add another bicolor so the flame has to chase two.

 

[jaganshi066]

IMO a 55 might not be big enough for two dwarfs. Plus an 8-month gap means the Coral Beauty would have been well-established. It’s a 4’ tank but the 18” width really doesn’t give much depth for rock work. Personally I’d want a minimum of a 90.

I’ve had the dwarfs in a 40 but I think it just depends. I had to take the flameback out and introduce my multicolor then after two months I reintroduced the flameback angel. In my other 60 Gallo. My flameback and multicolor are so peaceful but yes three years might be too long of a time gap. @mbuch21 The coral beauty is probably the ruler and knows every little inch of that tank by now.

 

[jaganshi066]

You should see that with large angels. It goes on for 30 days too.
But then it just stops.

The large ones ignore the little ones. The little ones got along almost instantly.

Woah a pair of bicolors, so beautiful

 

[jaganshi066]

Nice pair of Bicolors. How did you get them to pair up?

I just asked the same thing haha, didn’t see your post but would love to know how they paired up also

 

[WVNed]

I just asked the same thing haha, didn’t see your post but would love to know how they paired up also

I put them in and next day they are following each other around.

 

[jaganshi066]

I put them in and next day they are following each other around.

I’m going to try that with my flamebacks but one of the ones I have is so aggressive so I’ll buy like two more. Your bicolors are so beautiful. No nipping at corals? Sorry is it a

 

[WVNed]

The large angels occasionally nip at the gorgonians. I have not seen the small ones do it.

 

[Squidward]

Same thing happened to me but opposite fish. Put in a coral beauty and my flame angel chased, harrassed, beat it up so badly in half an hour...its fins were messed up and developed pop eye. I had to take it out and left it in the sump for a month so it can heal. And this was in a 300g! Finally added it later and thankfully the flame didnt go nutts and today they co-exist but still a small chase here and there but nothing crazy aggressive like before.

 

[Zionas]

I wonder if you keep any pairs of angels?

And out of curiosity is your 300 an 8 foot tank?

 

[jft]

I had a coral beauty kill my flame and Harass another smaller coral beauty and ebili angel for 72 hours, Now the coral beauty swims with the smaller coral beauty and ebili together . this was in a 125 gallon tank with lots of rock. All angels introduced at same time. I won t do it again I tried saving the Flame but it was TOO LATE!