Love that Flame
- Thread starter Carl Rode
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melypr1985
totally addicted
My experience: 50/50 shot that they will eat your LPS and soft corals (it's not if, it's when); Can be aggressive - not all of them are this way
I've also had much better luck with them when they go through our copper system with Prazipro than when we put them in one of the coral tanks without any meds.
I've also had much better luck with them when they go through our copper system with Prazipro than when we put them in one of the coral tanks without any meds.
melypr1985
totally addicted
In this situation my advise to my customers is always this: Which one do you love more? If you love this fish and can't live without it then get it and take the chance. If your all about the corals and would be heartbroken to lose them, then leave the fish.
I have a customer who got into our hobby all because he wanted a majestic angel. He has a full blown reef with lots of prime stuff in it. He asked me the same question about the majestic angel. I told him that if the angel was the reason he got into the hobby then he should probably go for it. It seemed to me, after talking to him, that he wanted the angel more than the corals. Of course knowing he could bring the corals the angel decided to much on to me for store credit made the decision just a little easier as well. I ordered the angel and he should be picking it up this week.
I have a coral beauty that ive had for over 10 years and a flame ive had for 3 years and they don't touch anything. Ive only had coral in the tank for a little over 2 years i know im probably lucky or they forgot they can eat it.....i also feed my tank heavy.....very heavy
Rattooth
Active Member
I have kept a lot of dwarf Angels , including several Flames in reef tanks. The only invertebrates they harm are clams and sometimes open brains. So if you get a flame, never with clams. And open brains iffy? SPS , soft corals, zoanthids, mushrooms are safe.
There nature is to constantly pick at things as they forage around tank. So you commonly see them pecking everywhere. But only clams and occasionally the open brains seemed hurt. The other corals grew and spread. Main part of diet in nature is algae . I think the trade off is worth it.
There nature is to constantly pick at things as they forage around tank. So you commonly see them pecking everywhere. But only clams and occasionally the open brains seemed hurt. The other corals grew and spread. Main part of diet in nature is algae . I think the trade off is worth it.
Salty1962
Wrasse and SPS Lover
I don't know how big your tank is but if you have the space, a Regal Angel is very nice. Adds allot of color to your tank. Mine nips on my LPS, many Scolys, but doesn't eat any corals. Like any Angel you get, it's going to eventually become slightly aggressive. Mine is @ 4" and it is the boss
but doesn't bully any of my wrasses.
but doesn't bully any of my wrasses.
Duke4Life
Just a crazy eel guy, LMAS
That's excellent advice! Get what you want and build around that.In this situation my advise to my customers is always this: Which one do you love more? If you love this fish and can't live without it then get it and take the chance. If your all about the corals and would be heartbroken to lose them, then leave the fish.
I have a customer who got into our hobby all because he wanted a majestic angel. He has a full blown reef with lots of prime stuff in it. He asked me the same question about the majestic angel. I told him that if the angel was the reason he got into the hobby then he should probably go for it. It seemed to me, after talking to him, that he wanted the angel more than the corals. Of course knowing he could bring the corals the angel decided to much on to me for store credit made the decision just a little easier as well. I ordered the angel and he should be picking it up this week.
AllSignsPointToFish
"No Longer The Guy Without FaceBook"
Put one in my tank a couple if weeks ago, and now I've got to fish him out. He's picking at my open brains, acans, and Oculina. :/
dodgerblew
2500 Club Member
Your comment to me is very ambiguous. You say 50/50 which to me says you have as much a chance at success as you do failure and then in parentheses you state, "it's not if, it's when". That to me indicates 100%. Maybe I'm interpreting this incorrectly. Would you clarify?
I have an African Flameback in a 60 cube. He's a punk to other fish and gets my fairy wrasses flashing which is cool but it doesn't eat coral. I've seen it grazing and I've seen it mouth some sps which I think it's eating mucus but destroying corals, no, and I have a mixed reef. On the other hand I've had a Lamarck Angel which is a genicanthus species (a planktivore so presumably reef safe) at 1" immediately upon release in my tank go for acans like its Mysis.
My overall opinion is the smaller the aquarium the more you increase the odds of an angel going for corals. With lots of surface area to graze and hunt the better the chances of it not focusing on corals. Just my .02
melypr1985
totally addicted
I only meant that when you bring it home it's a coin flip on whether or not it's going to start munching on corals. I always say "its' not if, it's when" to my customers because I'm not able to promise their corals will be safe. Not only that, but I've seen and heard of many instances when a dwarf angel has behaved perfectly for years before suddenly deciding that corals are a yummy treat.
If I want a fish that isn't always 100% reef safe, I get it through a LFS that has a return on livestock policy. Our local LFS is run by an actual enthusiast (not just a dollar counter) so he fully understands and always is willing to let you try it and if youre are not happy just bring it back.
ca1ore
10K Club member
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There's a reason dwarf angels are designated 'reef safe ... with caution'. They're unpredictable. I tend to find that with 'enough time and opportunity' they will all nip. My very first flame angel, bought way back in 1990 (or so), was a model citizen for years; but one day he or she decided that LPS were tasty. Why .... who knows!
