Potter's Angel in a mixed reef

[DoctaReef]

Can anyone comment on their experience with a Potters Angel in a reef tank?
Are they likely to do more/less or the same amount of nipping at SPS as a Coral beauty?
Thanks in advance!

 

[Angel_Anthias lover]

Every fish is different, there is always a risk. Mine was fine with corals, but its a very grey subject, depends on how much you love your corals if you should risk, cause its not fair on a difficult fish to stress it out if it does eat your corals, to catch it.

 

[DoctaReef]

Every fish is different, there is always a risk. Mine was fine with corals, but its a very grey subject, depends on how much you love your corals if you should risk, cause its not fair on a difficult fish to stress it out if it does eat your corals, to catch it.

I guess that's why I'm asking, looking for people's experience. Most places label all Dwarf angels as "with caution" in a reef, but many people have had success with a Coral Beauty. I just cant find many people with experience with a Potter's.

 

[NanoDJS]

you might hit the lottery and get one thats reefsafe but 9 outa 10 chances says its gonna destroy your mixed reef environment , from what I have seen. Eventually even the good ones have a bad day also. Food for thought.

 

[DoctaReef]

Of course, but some angels are worse than others. Hoping to hear someone with experience with them.

 

[Angel_Anthias lover]

I guess that's why I'm asking, looking for people's experience. Most places label all Dwarf angels as "with caution" in a reef, but many people have had success with a Coral Beauty. I just cant find many people with experience with a Potter's.

Mine ignored lps like chalice,trumpet,euphyllia, zoas,sorties and stylos and montis

 

[NanoDJS]

If you dont have a tank full of rare coral you cant replace , I would say go for it, you'll never know the individual habits of the fish you get in advance anyhow. In my mixed reef DT you couldn't pay me to chance it , too many non re-coupables in there. I have been burned by angels in my reefs and now only for FOWLR in our house. My wife is an Angel freak. So can ID , I love them too just I gotta take care of the coral .... so

 

[pcon]

Potters have a reputation for being among the most reef safe centropyge. My friend has had one for 3 years in a mixed reef packed with SPS and LPS without incident. Every individual fish is different, and if you aren’t willing to work stocking around it then skip it, but 9/10 being a destructive maniac is simply not reflective of mine or most people’s experience with potters. more like 2/10 are problematic in my experience. I would say safer than coral beauties on average. Of course any with caution fish it always may come down to do I prefer this fish or this coral.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Love mine. Finicky but peaceful and colorful.

@Crabs McJones

 

[Waterislife]

Every fish is different, there is always a risk. Mine was fine with corals, but its a very grey subject, depends on how much you love your corals if you should risk, cause its not fair on a difficult fish to stress it out if it does eat your corals, to catch it.

Agreed

 

[Crabs McJones]

Mine is a model citizen. No nipping or fighting. I keep her pretty well fed though

 

[Waterislife]

No fish is reef safe, always have a back up plan.

 

[Waterislife]

Mine is a model citizen. No nipping or fighting. I keep her pretty well fed though

Always wanted one, I understand they are hard to keep

 

[Crabs McJones]

Always wanted one, I understand they are hard to keep

So far so good. I've heard from other users that they've been hard to keep past a year. So I'm hoping I'm able to make it past the year mark

 

[roberthu526]

I had one for a year or so. It was a really aggressive eater and fat like barrel. It did nip on SPS here and there but so did all my other angels. One day it just disappeared somehow. I searched around the tank but couldn't find it. It was a 300G tank with a lot of other fishes so it was pretty difficult to look for.

 

[Crabs McJones]

 

[tundraguy1106]

I have one in my QT right now. Tiny guy at 1.75”. Only comes out when the Coris wrasse is out. Will be adding to my reef after quarantine. (Fingers crossed)!

 

[Thales]

I think I have had mine for 10 years. Never caused a problem

 

[DoctaReef]

Its good to hear some opinions that back up my impressions....looking at getting more fish for my tank soon!

 

[ca1ore]

Potters is among the trickiest of the dwarf angels, so not surprising it’s less common than the CB. I’ve had three, each for about 5-6 years .... well, except for the current one that’s about 18 months under my care. Whether an angel will nip within acceptable limits depends a lot on the individual fish, the corals you keep and your own personal tolerance for damage. Always makes me chuckle when folks report some variation of ‘mines been a modal citizen’ as if that’s any kind of assurance that the one you buy will be that same. I have a number of dwarfs in my reef and they ALL nip to a degree but I don’t keep any fleshy polyped corals (including acans) and am not predisposed to hysterics if some damage occurs. Plus, I also have a lemon peel that goes insane periodically.

The potters is an obsessive grazer so you must have plenty of rock for it. May explain why it’s hard to get though QT in a tank with a few bits of PVC. There are anecdotal reports of this fish lasting six months or so before dying. I’ve not personally had that experience (my loses have been early) but if true it’s almost certainly nutritional. Feeding angels a lot helps to limit nipping damage.