Is there a reef safe angelfish?

[larisa Raykh]

Hi reefers. Looking for a reef safe angels or other beautiful reef safe fish. Not expensive, about $50

 

[JaimeAdams]

Most of the small angels can pick at coral. That being said I have seen many people with coral beauty, flame, cherub, potters that have been fine in their reef tanks, but there is always that risk. Things like Bellus are a more sure choice, but they don't fit the $50 max budget. Anything not in the genus Genicanthus may nip or eat coral. Anything in the genus will not touch coral.

Beautiful reef safe fish, I would look at flasher wrasses and fairy wrasses myself, some are cheap and amazing.

 

[andrewkw]

Genicanthus lamarck, and regular swallowtail angels, can't think of the genious off hand should both be under $50 angels that are reef safe.

 

[GatorScott]

Get the swallowtail angel. That fish is just plain beautiful in person.

 

[vertigo01]

Many of the deep water swallow tailed angels are reef safe, However as with any angel, I would use caution.

 

[csgreen]

Hi reefers. Looking for a reef safe angels or other beautiful reef safe fish. Not expensive, about $50

Angel swallow .Get 2 females and one will turn into a male and have beautiful stripes

 

[mtraylor]

The dwarf angels are reef safe with caution. I have Potters Angelfish. Great reef fish!

Try a flame angel or coral beauty. But again be careful. If you want a true angel, then just forget about it unless you have an all SPS tank and you will need to figure out which ones you need.

 

[Robthorn]

The genus is genicanthus. At least I think that is what you had and were looking for.

I have a pair of genicanthus Bellus that ("knock on wood") I not seen anywhere near polyps.
I do feed them a very large variety of frozen food. No idea if that matters.

Genicanthus lamarck, and regular swallowtail angels, can't think of the genious off hand should both be under $50 angels that are reef safe.

 

[andrewkw]

The genus is genicanthus. At least I think that is what you had and were looking for.

I have a pair of genicanthus Bellus that ("knock on wood") I not seen anywhere near polyps.
I do feed them a very large variety of frozen food. No idea if that matters.

I typed genus but meant species. The swallowtail angels are Genicanthus Melanospilos and typically under $50.

 

[o2manyfish]

The Geniacanthus Angels are Planktivores - They are always going to be reef safe. They feed out of the water column and not off the rock work. The pygmy angels vary. The most important part is how big and healthy is your tank. The bigger and healthier the tank the less chance of the angels deciding they like eating your corals. Certain angels like to feed naturally and will seldom take prepared foods. They need lots of pods and sponges to feed on else they will turn to your corals. Your bigger issue is probably the $50 price point. That's not too many angels.

In my 400g display tank I currently have a Flame, (2) Flamebacks, (1) Golden, (3) Venustus, (2) Colini, (3) Bellus, (2) Mis-bar Orange Regals and (2) Goldflakes --- Corals of every kind and the only thing currently being picked on is a couple of small acan colonies.

Watch the angels on your own schedule - live webcam --- o2manyfish.com/webcam

Dave B

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

I have a coral beauty and it has been a model citizen. I knew the risk when I tried it and won the gamble. Mixed reef with no nipping.

 

[ccerone]

I have had a coral beauty for 4 years, never touched coral. She does fight with my 6 year old male clown when they are hungry.

 

[Ento-Reefer]

I think it is worth the risk. In many cases you can avoid keeping the coral that your angel decides is on the menu. For my rock beauty the only coral I haven't been able to keep with it is chalice and fleshy brains. There may very well be other corals it would eat but there are plenty that it ignores completely.

 

[mtraylor]

This is my little guy and he has never touched a coral.

 

[Adam G]

I have a flame Angel that loves acans. Now I don’t have acans, but I have a beautiful bright orange angel that is a model citizen with all of the corals. He stays away from everything else so I figure he is worth keeping around. He loves to pick algae off My live rock and is a joy to watch maneuver in and around the rock work.

I personally love wrasses as well. I currently have 5 in my 110 gallon and they are amazing little guys to watch too. You can usually find them in the $50 range. Be sure and do your home work though. You want to get reef safe ones and you have to be very careful when mixing multiples. Lots of great reading hear on R2R that will tell you all about how to select the right wrasses for your reef.

 

[randy4083]

This is my little guy and he has never touched a coral.

What type is this? It's very pretty

 

[domination2580]

What type is this? It's very pretty

That is I believe a potter's angel

 

[rlman41299]

I have a few angels in my tank and so far they have not bother anything to a point that a coral becomes a meal or die from stress. They sometimes nip but not to a point that they will make a meal out of it. I have flame, potter's and flameback on a 120g

 

[RobertP]

I have a flame angel and he picks everything in the tank except softies. He doesnt focus on acros as he picks rocks and glass and just about everything. I keep him well fed but still nips things. Since he does not focus on my sps I think its ok.

 

[smokin'reefer]

I have a wantanabea angel. She is definitely reef safe. Might be hard to find 1 in the $50 range, i think i paid closer to $75 for a female. Males are a bit more pricey. A little more than you wanted, but worth it.

She was referred to as a Japanese Swallowtail by my lfs. Others might know more than me and fancier names I can't spell. I'm sure I butchered wantanabea.
Beautiful fish though and a model tank mate.