I think it’s because Tangs are generally seen as a “reef safe” fish whereas angels are not, and not everyone is willing to take any risks with corals (I’m too big of a fish buff, I want a reef but it’s fish over corals for me), so angels naturally get the “short end of the stick” when it comes to being preferred by people. I think it’s almost a heresy that angels aren’t being given equal if not more attention than Tangs. They’re more mine idea of a “centerpiece” fish (not sure how much I like that term because for me I’ve shifted to building a tank more around social behaviors over cramming as many individual specimens as possible) than a Tang or a Wrasse. Just my opinion of course.
So I think it’s mainly because we have a lot of people who, as soon as they see “Reef Safe With Caution”, write angels off altogether whereas having a Tang is just…. seen as almost obligatory and equivalent to being in the reefing experience itself. There are Tangs which I do kinda like and wouldn’t mind having (mostly the Zebrasoma, except the Sailfins and the Black Tang or the drab brown Scopas, or the “aberrant” Scopas), but they’re not my first preference and it’s also not entirely true that Tangs and Rabbitfish are “completely” reef safe because they still pick at the micro-organisms that are found in corals.
And other than that, I’m not entirely sure. But IMO a pair or harem of angels is far more interesting than one or multiple Tangs that kind of just, do their thing by swimming around and grazing.
A Bristletooth’s good for algae control, but it’s hard / nearly impossible to find CB ones.
I am on some Asian reefing forums too and there are many members who refuse to even consider a fish that is listed as “Reef Safe With Caution.” So angels, butterflies are out of question for them. But I think angelfish have some of the most beautiful body shapes among all marine fish. Butterflyfish too but the colors of many angelfish beat the colors of the butterflyfish that we can keep alive (which eliminates like 80% of Chaetodontodae).
My least favorite genus of angels has to be Holacanthus. They just don’t do it for me. Chaetodontoplus, Majestic, Regal, Goldflake, Bandit, and Centropyge / Paracentropyge are where it’s at for me. Genicanthus maybe but only in a pair or trio where the sexual dimorphism is clear and the male doesn’t revert.
www.reef2reef.com
