Golden Dwarf Angel - Centropyge aurantius

Waters · May 12, 2015

Anybody have any experience keeping these? They are a shy, deep water Dwarf Angel that is pretty hard to come by in the hobby (although they have become more common at a higher price point). I swear I wasn't going to try anymore Angels in my mixed reef due to coral nipping but I couldn't resist picking this one up. Just wanted to hear about any experiences with them, good or bad. Thanks.

KoleTang · May 12, 2015

I'm interested as well.

Breakthecycle2 · May 12, 2015

I've had one for almost two years. When I got him, he would only eat LPS. I would get the cheapest frags available to feed him. After a month or two, I got him to eat pellets. He loves Elos food and as of right now, it's really the only thing he will eat. He does not hide and is out almost all the time. When I broke down my old tank (and didn't have a tank for 5 months), he was the only one I kept and had my LFS hold him because I know how diifcult it is to get one to accept food.

Waters · May 12, 2015

Mine was eating frozen mysis at the LFS so I should be OK there. My main concern is coral picking. I have already tried (and removed) a Flame, Bi-Color, and Eibli. Good to know yours didn't hide though.....so far, day 3, I can only catch a glimpse of him as he goes from one live rock hole to the next. Definitely no issues as far as aggression with any other fish in the tank.

Breakthecycle2 · May 12, 2015

My guess is once he gets accustomed, he might start nipping at the fleshy corals.

eatbreakfast · May 13, 2015

I have found golden angels to be among the worst in regards to nipping at corals. It is a very cool fish besides that, especially once it begins to get more comfortable.

Waters · May 13, 2015

Yeah, he is far from comfortable and already showing some interest in a Favia and a Chalice :cry: I will keep an eye on him.....everything I have read on them states that they irritate the coral more then eat/kill them (they eat the slime coat?) but depending on the coral, I am sure death is a possibility.

Trex · May 13, 2015

Had one for about 6 months --- pair of pink skunks chased it into their S. haddoni --- in that time I never saw it eat prepared foods. However, it did gain weight, maybe this is why,

[video=youtube;_-Ma1xsjMTY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-Ma1xsjMTY[/video]

Breakthecycle2 · May 13, 2015

Trex said:
Had one for about 6 months --- pair of pink skunks chased it into their S. haddoni --- in that time I never saw it eat prepared foods. However, it did gain weight, maybe this is why,

[video=youtube;_-Ma1xsjMTY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-Ma1xsjMTY[/video]

How did you get those three angels to all get along?

o2manyfish · May 13, 2015

I have been keeping this fish for many years. It's a special fish for me. I was present when the first ones came into the US for the hobby trade. Shy doesn't been to describe the hiding characteristics of these fish. I usually only expect a glimpse every couple of months. Even with a pair of them in my tank for 4+ years with lights on they are seldom seen. So Seldom that after my tank crash 18+ months ago it was over a year before I caught a glimpse of one still in my tank, and another few months after that before I saw the smaller of the pair. There seem to be 2 variations, the dark brown color and a brighter rusty red. While I was doing a work project at home for a month, and working in front of the tank day and night, I did spot them much more frequently out and about when the lights were out in the tank. When out with the lights off they did do some coral picking/nipping but didn't seem to do any damage.

o2manyfish · May 13, 2015

Also wanted to say that after 4+ years with a pair, they don't come out for any time of prepared or live food. And in the 4+ years they haven't appeared to have grown at all.

Dave B

Breakthecycle2 · May 13, 2015

o2manyfish said:
Also wanted to say that after 4+ years with a pair, they don't come out for any time of prepared or live food. And in the 4+ years they haven't appeared to have grown at all.

Dave B

See, I have the complete opposite expereince with them. Mine is always out and eats pellets and sometimes mysis.

Trex · May 13, 2015

Breakthecycle2 said:
How did you get those three angels to all get along?

An acclimation box helps a great deal. Been mixing dwarfs for the last 10+ years, only had one issue --- the golden above and a potter's. Moved the potters to another tank.

Waters · May 13, 2015

I have the rusty red version.....he definitely has a preference for coral unfortunately. Since I don't think I will ever get him out without totally destroying an established reef, I am going to remove the few corals that he seems to have a preference for and continue to watch him. As of right now, he doesn't touch any SPS, Zoas, Hammers, or Frogspawn. He seems to enjoy the smaller frags that I have (Acans, Chalice, Favia) and my Trachy. As most everyone else stated, he doesn't come out at feeding so I am not sure if he is eating anything besides coral slime lol. My reef may be turning into a Euphyllia/Zoa/SPS tank.