Flame angel eating coral - solutions?

[carlson]

I had a beautiful gorgonian that constantly had its polyps extended and was growing rapidly until kh flame angel decides he was going to try eating coral. Now he picks at repeatedly and I havent seen its polyps in at least a month. It's really sad to watch it die but sadly the flame angel doesn't pick at anything else and is my fav fish so I won't be getting rid of it. Do you think it may also pick at future sps I will get? Is there any way to make him stop? If there is I'd really love to know!

 

[JFrar]

YA I've always loved flame Angels... Got one on a great deal of $40. And it nipped at my montis and some lps.... He had to go =(

 

[JFrar]

Feed him often is only thing I could think, at least twice a day and maybe if he'll eat some seaweed....

 

[eatbreakfast]

They usually dont pick at sps. The flames I have seen pick on coral in the past have always seemed more interested in zoas, fleshy lps and clams.

Once an angel starts to pick I have never seen one stop picking on whatever the prefered coral may be.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

They usually dont pick at sps. The flames I have seen pick on coral in the past have always seemed more interested in zoas, fleshy lps and clams.

Once an angel starts to pick I have never seen one stop picking on whatever the prefered coral may be.

This has been my experience as well.

 

[carlson]

He's still picking on it and it's been extending these long strings from its tips. My zoas around it are starting to close up so do you think I should just go ahead and take out the gorgonian?

 

[angelsandtangs]

He's still picking on it and it's been extending these long strings from its tips. My zoas around it are starting to close up so do you think I should just go ahead and take out the gorgonian?

Time to find a new home for the flame

 

[Waters]

I agree with everyone else. I speak from experience (I have tried roughly 6 dwarf angels). Once they start targeting a specific coral, they will not stop. If you remove that coral, they will most likely just find something else to pick at. I would remove the fish.

 

[carlson]

Alright I will. Thanks

 

[Bbaz123456]

Ya, it sucks when they flip. I have had a flame for 6 years now, who has been a model citizen. Over the past few months I have caught that lil ***** eating zoas and nipping at my stingrays. I feed 3-4 times a day

 

[carlson]

I saw him this morning going crazy. I had a pH drop so he's been insane picking at all my fish at keeping my corals closed up. He also had what looked like the beginning of ick/ velvet I guess they don't do good with changes. My kh got down to 6 ( I know its crazy) but he's going in the sump until I can take him to the lfs

 

[carlson]

I finally caught him after about an hour of moving rocks. I really hate yo have to get rid of him even after he's been eating all my coral. I'll be taking him to the lfs for s t ore credit tomorrow. I'm thinking about a sailfin yang to replace him?

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

How big of a tank?

 

[carlson]

It's only 75 I know i wouldnt be able to keep him forever

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

I would pass on the sailfin. They can get huge. There are many other options out there.

 

[carlson]

Ill be watching the divers den for a nice fish that's pretty and will fit in my tank

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

Nice. Let us know what you get.

 

[JFrar]

I swapped my flame angel for a Midas Blenny, and couldn't be happier.awesome personality, and good community fish ( just sayin)

 

[4FordFamily]

I've had flames that did not have a taste for coral, I've had potters that didn't either. One of my potters though took a liking to clams and zoas, so I moved it to a different tank.

Unfortunately your options are to let it eat some of your coral and eventually wipe out all of it that it likes, or remove it and try again.

 

[carlson]

I ended up taking Jim to the fish store the next day. Somebody else bought him for 80 dollars so I got 40.pretty good considering I bought him on sale from life aquaria for 25