Flame angel in a reef?

STP wellsophyllia · May 10, 2013

A couple of days ago i saw a gorgeous flame angel at my LFS but i didnt get it because ive seen that they pick at lps.. I would like to ask your opinion on this since ive also seen these fish in advanced coral populated reef aquariums.

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Mr. E Wrasse · May 10, 2013

I have hammer coral, chalice, echinatas and other lps and have had no problem with my flame

GHill762 · May 10, 2013

Bigger worry is SPS and clams.. it's a toss up though, some will behave forever, some will never behave, and some will just snap one day..

bigcapct · May 10, 2013

I have one in a mix reef. Doesn't touch a thing. So far lol

bucksfan1976 · May 10, 2013

GHill762 said:
Bigger worry is SPS and clams.. it's a toss up though, some will behave forever, some will never behave, and some will just snap one day..

+ 1 I had one that was a model citizen until he passed, I got a 2nd one and I removed him less then 72 hours after he went in, he was going nuts on everything

3Twinklets · May 10, 2013

My Flame Angel is at least 10 years old and has never bothered anything, including clams. I keep my fish very well fed that may, or may not, make a difference.

GHill762 · May 10, 2013

3Twinklets said:
My Flame Angel is at least 10 years old and has never bothered anything, including clams. I keep my fish very well fed that may, or may not, make a difference.

this approach worked for me with a pygmy until I got a clam.. it was like catnip..

Trex · May 10, 2013

Been keeping dwarf angels for decades now, and currently have 4 -- including a flame. One thing I have noticed is that they always love fleshy LPS, other corals will be nipped at, but no real damage. Never had an issue with any of my dwarfs with any clams.

Sacohen · May 10, 2013

I had 1 in my 125 years ago and didn't have a problem.
I have another one sitting in a bag on my desk at work ready to get acclimated when I get home.
Brett from Nicewrasse.com just dropped him/her off.

franklypre · May 10, 2013

My flame picks at SPS and clams but never does any real damage, LPS however have been injured though not too badly. It's really hit or miss, fish all have different personalities.

STP wellsophyllia · May 10, 2013

Yeah ive kept personality in mind. Is there any behaviors that i should look for in the lfs?

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ritter6788 · May 10, 2013

I've had 3 Flame angels and they all nipped. Like Trex mentioned, fleshy LPS like Trachyphyllias, Acans, Scolys were always picked at. They don't seem to bother Euphyllia. One picked at sps. Didn't seem to do any damage but I didn't like my hairy milleporas with no polyp extension.

larangcon · May 10, 2013

I have a 3 year old Flame in my reef tank, one of the best fish in the tank and does not bother corals in the tank

Sacohen · May 10, 2013

This is the guy Brett just dropped off.

zibba · May 10, 2013

Beautiful fish. I just had to get rid of my flame angel as it was nipping at my sps -- didn't cause damage, just caused polyps to retract. No hard and fast rule with angels, unfortunately.

I wish there was, they're some of my favorite fish.

Best of luck!

Here's a pic of the sps-terror that I had -- so pretty that I seriously considered setting up a FOWLR tank:

Eienna · May 10, 2013

A lot of people come to hate having a flame angel on their reef because of the damage they often do. I would seriously steer clear of this one if you have corals or clams.

Ike · May 11, 2013

I've had Centropyge angels be model citizens for years and then all the sudden nip. Once they start they don't stop. It doesn't seem to have any corealation with how well they're fed either since I've always fed very heavy. With most it's just a matter of time IMO.

WVUreefer · May 11, 2013

The only angel I've ever owned that did not bother corals or clams (though he was a holy terror to any new fish arrivals in the tank) was a Caribbean pygmy angel..