I feed my tank frozen food multiple times per day and have fresh nori out 24/7, and my flame angel still insists on pecking at my acans (we knew this was a possibility going in). This may be a silly question, but is there any way to curb this, or is my only option to get rid of him? He's my partner's dream fish so I'd like to try to find a solution, but he's also pecking on some reaaaally nice corals.
Flame angel vs. coral
- Thread starter Erin Kathryn
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landlubber
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if it's healthy and disease free perhaps your LFS would consider trading up for another angel that isn't so interested in your acans. it's still probably 50/50 with all small angels and I don't suspect the behaviour improves as they grow.
a fish only tank is the other solution.
a fish only tank is the other solution.
Scotty Buttons
Valuable Member
Once they get a taste of coral is not going to stop. I had the same thing happen and ended up re homing my flame angel. I feel your pain, that's my favorite fish also, but I like my coral better.
rkpetersen
walked the sand with the crustaceans
Unfortunately this is pretty common with flames, and no way to stop it once it starts.
It's one of my very favorite fish too but this is why I'm not keeping any at present.
It's one of my very favorite fish too but this is why I'm not keeping any at present.
FishyDP
Active Member
I agree that once a fish gets a taste for coral it's time to make a choice.. rehome the coral, or fish.
A coral beauty may be less likely to nip at your acans. Mine does not touch my acans.
A coral beauty may be less likely to nip at your acans. Mine does not touch my acans.
FishyDP
Active Member
Put your corals in a hamster ball in the tank. I did it when I had a fish go rouge on corals, worked well. You will lose some par through the plastic, so you may want to move your corals a little higher.
Or if you have a sump and an extra light they can go in there.
Or if you have a sump and an extra light they can go in there.
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roberthu526
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Most angels will figure out what corals taste good and keep nipping on it until the corals are gone. Sorry for offering bad news.
Aardvark1134
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I would ask her if you can trade it in for a new flame angel at the LFS. Each one is a coin flip. Most LFS will let you trade them as long as yours is healthy and you hand them a $20 for the trouble. Your next may behave better...or worse
wrasse man
Active Member
I have a potter's angel and it does touch a single coral. One of my favorites in the tank, might try one of them out.
Dave Cureton
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Out of curiosity how large is your flame angel? I have not had issues with them nipping but I try to get as small as possible to start.
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Once the repeated nibbling starts you have to get rid of them as you can't untrain that. If it were just taking the occasional exploratory nip that would be one thing (my Coral Beauty does it once in a great while) but repeated nibbling means it's only going to get worse. What I would recommend is to remove it and try again with another Flame Angel. BTW how big is it? It might be worth going with a smaller one as it's had less time to develop bad habits in the wild.
Phycodurus
Well-Known Member
Acan-size model (assembly required)
