What dwarf angels do best in a reef?

[BangedUp]

I am going to have to give the opposite opinion lol...I have tried roughly 6 different species of dwarf angels and every one of them had to be removed eventually due to them picking at (and sometimes demolishing) my LPS coral.

My luck I would probably have the same experience as you ;Muted

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

What wrasse is that in your pic? Thinking I’m going to add one of the colorful fairy wrasses instead of a dwarf angel

That's a McCosker's Flasher wrasse. Great choice IMHO.

 

[BangedUp]

That's a McCosker's Flasher wrasse. Great choice IMHO.

Looks awesome, any tips? Have to pay the extra money for a male I’m seeing for the best colors, any husbandry must knows ? There are so many nice fairy’s I’ve been researching like mad lol

 

[JaimeAdams]

Looks awesome, any tips? Have to pay the extra money for a male I’m seeing for the best colors, any husbandry must knows ? There are so many nice fairy’s I’ve been researching like mad lol

They are pretty easy fish to keep. Advice, make sure you have a cover on your tank as they are jumpers. Also make sure you treat for internal parasites as that is pretty common with wrasses and anthias.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Looks awesome, any tips? Have to pay the extra money for a male I’m seeing for the best colors, any husbandry must knows ? There are so many nice fairy’s I’ve been researching like mad lol

These guys are pretty easy. If you want to see them flash, it's best to have at least a couple of different species in the tank IME. @evolved and @eatbreakfast have a lot more knowledge of wrasses than I do, so I'm hoping they can bring a little better insights for you.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Advice, make sure you have a cover on your tank as they are jumpers.

THIS! Definitely this!!

 

[Scorpius]

Bellus Angelfish.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

I have had a cherub for a little over a year and he's never caused and issue. I did get him when he was really tiny so he grew up in a full mixed reef environment. I also feed a little on the heavy side with a mix of rinsed mysis and squid with some rod's food coral blend mixed in. I also add a small piece of nori in a couple times a week. This keeps him as well as all my tank inhabitants fat and healthy.

 

[JaimeAdams]

Just remember guys the Original Poster is asking for a 40 gallon tank. Some good suggestions for reef safe and safer angels, but only a couple that would do well in a 40 gal.

 

[Waters]

Have you considered that maybe your LPS are just more delicious than everyone else's?

Hmmmm.......no, did not consider this......some of them do suspiciously look a lot like rainbow skittles

 

[evolved]

Looks awesome, any tips? Have to pay the extra money for a male I’m seeing for the best colors, any husbandry must knows ? There are so many nice fairy’s I’ve been researching like mad lol

This should be helpful: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/all-about-reef-safe-wrasses-in-aquaria.259894/

 

[Triggreef]

That a McCoskers wrasse he has.

 

[shred5]

Cherubs are the only dwarf angel I trust.. All others I have had eventually started eating corals or clams. I have had some for 5 + years never touch a coral then bam.. If the tank is large enough with enough coral a bite here and there does not matter.

I just had to pull a flameback that is maybe 2 years old just started eating sps... Saw sps all closed up during the day and open at night a sure sign.. I started to suspect him and then saw a bare spot on a coral and the next day we saw him munching my frags,

 

[Midrats]

How big is your neon dottyback? Don't expect him to welcome any newcomers to the neighborhood. Beautiful fish, cool behaviors, but really nasty.

 

[shred5]

How big is your neon dottyback? Don't expect him to welcome any newcomers to the neighborhood. Beautiful fish, cool behaviors, but really nasty.

Those are one of the meanest fish... I had to trap one once a long time ago.. They never bothered a angel though but wrasses, basslets, anthias, clown he went crazy after.. He used to lay in wait and hunt down fish.. That is a fish I will never get again..

 

[xyzner]

Does anybody actually know why dwarf angels tend to be so hit or miss with eating coral/polyps? It seems like the diet of a reef fish should be fairly straight forward and easily observable thing, yet there is never any consistency in what people experience.

 

[Ryan Rioux]

Not to jack the OPs thread , but what are some normal behaviors of a dwarf angel especially the flame angel. I purchased one 2 days ago that had been at one of the best LFS near me for over 2 weeks. The angel has not eaten , I’ve tried frozen mysis, frozen brine , and marine cuisine today . Also have some dried seaweed on a clip in the tank . AND he seems to constantly want to be next to my fire shrimp. Any thoughts ?

 

[Ryan Rioux]

 

[shred5]

Does anybody actually know why dwarf angels tend to be so hit or miss with eating coral/polyps? It seems like the diet of a reef fish should be fairly straight forward and easily observable thing, yet there is never any consistency in what people experience.

It is actually normal but there are so many corals a nip here or there is not to bad.. .. In the ocean lot of corals only open up at night due to predation during the day.. I think in a reef aquarium it actually happens less because of the availability of foods..

 

[shred5]

Not to jack the OPs thread , but what are some normal behaviors of a dwarf angel especially the flame angel. I purchased one 2 days ago that had been at one of the best LFS near me for over 2 weeks. The angel has not eaten , I’ve tried frozen mysis, frozen brine , and marine cuisine today . Also have some dried seaweed on a clip in the tank . AND he seems to constantly want to be next to my fire shrimp. Any thoughts ?

Yea it is not right, most dwarf angels eat with in a day if not almost immediately. Some may hide for a day or two.. If you see nothing externally he might have some internal parasite.