Large Angels that can be okay with reef tank?

badstorm48 · Jun 18, 2016

I like a lot of fish, but I have come to find a passion for large Angels. I have a mixed reef tank with a yellow tang, ornate wrasse, watchmen goby, tribal blenny. I tried a regal angel and that didn't go to well and I have a thread with all that info. So, anyway I want to look at getting a angel as a juvenile and raising it to a full grown adult. I'm okay with taking the chance with my corals. So, does anyone have any recommendations? I lake majestic Angels though don't know much on them have heard a couple success stories. Though, I don't know of other Angels successfully kept in a reef tank.

Greenstreet.1 · Jun 18, 2016

Lamarck , watanbei ,masked swallow tail and Japanese swallow tail are just a few you can also try imperator Angel juv also but they may go after your lps I have one from juv he bothers some of my lps but it's the ones I don't mind he also like non toxic zoas

jdl513 · Jun 18, 2016

Depends on the coral you want to keep as well. A majestic is unlikely to feed on sps or mushrooms. I keep an imperator with my sps and have not had a problem. However an angel will almost certainly pick a rock clean of acans or zoas.

badstorm48 · Jun 18, 2016

Okay. I really like emperor Angels, but haven't heard any stories of how they are. You know how it'll say not reef friendly, but yet there's plenty of success stories and really the fish is a hit or miss on it being reef safe.

Greenstreet.1 · Jun 18, 2016

Mine is not to friendly dont bother my sticks mushrooms the one acan I have and like I said above a few of my zoas

jdl513 · Jun 18, 2016

I have found it depends on what you want most. There is a trade off for every system. If you love zoas can't keep a majestic and vice versa. I think most would agree the majestic is the lowest risk of the more common large angels. By low,risk I mean stay smaller and less territorial than say an imperator or blueface.

Goldflakes are a good choice too if you can float the cost. Regals are tough even for the most seasoned of hobbyist.

badstorm48 · Jun 18, 2016

How are majestics as in hardiness and adapting to the aquarium environment?

4FordFamily · Jun 18, 2016

badstorm48 said:
How are majestics as in hardiness and adapting to the aquarium environment?

Moderately hardy, they're not so strong upon arrival but after a month established they're pretty hardy. Relative to other large angels I would put them toward the back of the list but definitely easier than regals

jdl513 · Jun 18, 2016

If eating without hesitation at your LFS a majestic should do well so long as you don't have any established troublemakers in your tank already.

This is assuming you have a 120 gallon plus. They are not the biggest of angels as adults but can get a good 8 inches and stocky.

4FordFamily · Jun 18, 2016

jdl513 said:
If eating without hesitation at your LFS a majestic should do well so long as you don't have any established troublemakers in your tank already.

This is assuming you have a 120 gallon plus. They are not the biggest of angels as adults but can get a good 8 inches and stocky.

They can also be a bit more shy and cryptic than their cousins, except for blue face they're even more shy IME until they get larger than say 5" or have been in the tank for a couple years.

germs101 · Jun 18, 2016

I hear Half moon angels can be a good option. They are beautiful. I want one in my tank, but I have hesitated because of the risk. I think I'd be more willing to try if I knew what to do with the angel if I needed to remove it.

badstorm48 · Jun 18, 2016

I have a 40 breeder now and am looking at upgrading in the next year pretty much may be sooner. That's why I want a juvenile. The upgrade will prob be a 125 at the smallest. I would like to go bigger, but that depends on how the misses feels. I always thought it would be cool to get fish and keep them until they die of old age. I will always make sure they have sufficient room and have the right care.

4FordFamily · Jun 18, 2016

I wouldn't put any large angel, even a juvenile, in a 40 breeder. They really need more space and as a group they stress easily and small quarters tend to stress them a lot.

jdl513 · Jun 18, 2016

I would wait until you upgrade. There are several nice dwarf species out there. I like flamebacks but that is just my preference on the dwarfs.

badstorm48 · Jun 18, 2016

Yeah I guess Angels I should wait on. Sucks I really like them but the biggest I could prob go to now is a 75. Just didn't want to spend the money again and was trying to wait till the 125 to upgrade.

4FordFamily · Jun 18, 2016

badstorm48 said:
Yeah I guess Angels I should wait on. Sucks I really like them but the biggest I could prob go to now is a 75. Just didn't want to spend the money again and was trying to wait till the 125 to upgrade.

Just wait, gives you something to look forward to.