cardsfan12 Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 I have a 140 gallon mini reef. I recently added sps and lps frags. lots of little critters(Inverts) in there too. We were wanting to add an angel, but wanted to make sure it wouldn't be a trouble maker. Most of them that I looked into had "may nip at corals" in the descriptions. So I guess I'm asking for advice and/or suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dapettit Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 I have had both coral beauties and flames. The flame clean every single polyp in it's tank. The cb did just fine in our 150. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardsfan12 Posted February 23, 2010 Author Share Posted February 23, 2010 I have had both coral beauties and flames. The flame clean every single polyp in it's tank. The cb did just fine in our 150. by clean every single polyp do you mean eat them? or clean as in a good thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Any of the Genicanthus should be safe. I had an Eibli who liked zoos and then started in on my Lobophyllia, so he went back to RCA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonzobob Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 My understanding is there are no completely reef safe angles. If you review the diatary habits you can pick one that is more likely not to harm your corals but there are no sure things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbnj Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 AQUARIUM FISH by GREG SCHIEMER Let’s start with the dwarf angels (genus Centropyge). The Potter’s angel (C. potteri) is a Hawaiian endemic that doesn’t adapt well to captivity. The specimens that I’ve observed in reef aquariums have been “pickers” on clams and SPS corals, so this is not a species that I would generally recommend. The sometimes similar-looking coral beauty (C. bispinosa) is a more hardy fish and is frequently reported as “reef-safe.” I would rate this fish as 50-50. The lemonpeel (C. flavissima) and Herald’s angel (C. heraldi) are notorious “pickers.” I can’t recommend them for inclusion in any aquarium containing corals and clams. The same goes for the bicolor angel (C. bicolor). There’s little this fish won’t pick on; including other fish! The Brazilian (C. aurantonota) and African (C. acanthops) flameback angels, as well as the cherub angel (C. argi), are reasonably good choices for reef aquariums. Some are completely reef safe; some are reef terrors; some become reef terrors after years of good behavior. Angels in the genus Chaetodontoplus are good reef candidates because they remain relatively small and peaceful in the aquarium. Unfortunately, they’re somewhat risky and may pick at LPS corals and certain soft corals. The Apolemichthys angels are similar is size and habits to the Chaetodontoplus, in my experience. I had a flagfin angel (A. trimaculatus) for a few years and it grew from about two inches to five inches. It didn’t bother anything when it was smaller but started picking at soft corals as it got larger. The Genicanthus angelfish are as close to reef-safe as it gets. They are all mid-water planktivores and rarely pick at benthic invertebrates. I’ve kept G. bellus, G. melanospilos, G. watanabei, and G. semifasciatus. I’ve had G. bellus for many years and it’s my favorite in this genus. Not only has it proven to be completely reef-safe, it is a tough fish that does very well in captivity. Similar to all the Genicanthus angels, it must be fed multiple times per day in order to thrive. The Pomacanthus angels are the ones that get the most questions, and this is probably because they’re the most desirable angels. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to find one that I would consider reef safe. I grew both P. asfur and P. maculosus angels from juveniles to sub-adults in reef aquariums and they exhibited the same behavior as the Apolemichthys and Chaetodontoplus angels. As they grew larger, they began picking at some soft corals and occasionally Acropora corals. They never ate corals or damaged them seriously, but they’re intermittent pecking was enough to keep the corals closed all the time. There is a blue-girdled angel (P. xanthometopon) in this same aquarium with SPS corals, LPS corals, and clams, and it doesn’t bother a thing. It’s been in there at least four years now. I’ve tried to keep the irresistible P. navarchus in reef aquariums on at least three occasions. Each time I met with failure. Every one eventually turned to picking at LPS corals and clams. I have kept juvenile emperor angels (P. imperator) without incident but I can’t speak of the adult fish. I do know many aquarists keeping these fish successfully in reef aquariums with SPS corals and the consensus has been that the fish are well-behaved. I’ve experimented with juvenile French angels (P. paru) a few times as well and this is another fish that I would strongly avoid in a reef aquarium. Even though they don’t eat corals in the wild, they tend to sample EVERYTHING in an aquarium. This fish is about as bad as it gets in a reef. My favorite large reef angel is the regal (Pygoplites diacanthus). I’ve had great success with this fish in reef aquariums. One that I had for almost 10 years died recently, but it never picked at a coral or clam in that entire time. I’ve heard stories of regal angels picking at Xenia and Acropora corals, but I suspect that these are in the minority. In my opinion, if you can get a healthy specimen that’s eating well, it’s a good risk in a reef aquarium. Angels in the genus Holacanthus are large, belligerent fish that are not appropriate for a reef aquarium. I know a few aquarists keeping juvenile queen angels (H. ciliaris) in reef aquariums, but this will turn out to be a short-term experiment. These fish are best kept with larger, aggressive fish in FOWLR (Fish Only With Live Rock) aquariums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardsfan12 Posted February 23, 2010 Author Share Posted February 23, 2010 good stuff! I'm going to have to google some of the names listed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dapettit Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 by clean every single polyp do you mean eat them? or clean as in a good thing? Ate them. Bad thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKarshens Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 My understanding is there are no completely reef safe angles. If you review the diatary habits you can pick one that is more likely not to harm your corals but there are no sure things. Exactly! I have had both a Flame Angel and a Coral Beauty. Both nipped. I love Angels and may try another one in the future, but there are no guarantees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonzobob Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 If I ever get my 72 up as a fowler I'm looking forward to some Angles, but until then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dapettit Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Exactly! I have had both a Flame Angel and a Coral Beauty. Both nipped. I love Angels and may try another one in the future, but there are no guarantees. I agree it's the luck of the draw. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derekreefer Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 I have a Cherub Angel in my tank who is a terror. He leaves the corals alone (mainly), however if I add a new fish he chases them non-stop. I am trying to remove him from the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barderer Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 quality post pbnj. If you have the tank size to support it I would also go for the Bellus. Every dwarf angel I have had picks constantly at my sps and even softies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crab Rangoon Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 My understanding is there are no completely reef safe angles. If you review the diatary habits you can pick one that is more likely not to harm your corals but there are no sure things. Exactly! I have had both a Flame Angel and a Coral Beauty. Both nipped. I love Angels and may try another one in the future, but there are no guarantees. You guys are seriously discounting Genicanthus from what you guys are dubbing as Angels. I understand what draws most people to want Angels in the first place is some of the colors on some Centropyge or Pomacanthus, and that the Genicanths are less vibrant/varied in color, but they should still be considered. I'd rather keep a fish that was more compatible for my system, than risk putting one in that may endanger my corals just to get a specific color into the tank. I do have many friends who've kept Centropyge Argi long term with no coral damage, for what that's worth - but their smaller size seems to be a turn off for some people, though they do have purple & orange somewhat like a Coral Beauty. You can read plenty on Genicanths here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/angels/genicanthus/faqs.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardsfan12 Posted February 24, 2010 Author Share Posted February 24, 2010 Heh... after reading these I probably won't be getting an angel. I definatly was drawn to them for their color and to get a variety of fish types, but may just get another tang or two. Thanks for all your help everybody. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 I have a 140 gallon mini reef. I recently added sps and lps frags. lots of little critters(Inverts) in there too. We were wanting to add an angel, but wanted to make sure it wouldn't be a trouble maker. Most of them that I looked into had "may nip at corals" in the descriptions. So I guess I'm asking for advice and/or suggestions. I recommend a Lamarck's Angel. I have one and she is awesome. She doesn't bother anything at all. She is very active as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardsfan12 Posted February 24, 2010 Author Share Posted February 24, 2010 I recommend a Lamarck's Angel. I have one and she is awesome. She doesn't bother anything at all. She is very active as well. I looked into a Lamarks Angels because they are supposed to be great in a reef, but ultimatly I was looking to add more color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisfowler99 Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 So far I've yet to see my flame angel nip at anything. I knew I was taking a chance, but I seem to have gotten lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KeeperOfTheZoo Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 I have Cindy's little pacific pygmy angel and it's been a model citizen in my tank. I was told it nips SPS, but so far it hasn't in my tank and it's never bothered softies. It's not the brightest colored angel, but it's cute and very busy and a little different from the more commonly seen dwarf angels which I think is neat. Liz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+o0zarkawater Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 I've got a Koran Angel who I didn't think was messing with anything. He constantly cruises the tank looking for trouble, but I really don't have much in the way of corals anyways (4 Torch heads, a few blue palys, a very small rock of zoos, kenya tree, and xenia in a 55gal). This past week I noticed my Xenia look like they were all trimmed. I'm pretty sure he's been nipping at them because other than their fingers being shorter than normal, everything looks fine. I'm trying to work on getting more LR to put in the tank to keep him occupied. I think he is just getting bored during the day. I'm also going to start putting strips of nori in there twice a day and see if it helps keep him from cruising for trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KeeperOfTheZoo Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 My angel loves nori! Actually, my stupid yellow tang didn't figure out that the nori sheets could be eaten until it saw the angel eating. I swear the tang is as dense as a rock...pretty, but stupid. I do have a lot of rock, lots of caves and STILL have macro growing on some of the rocks that the angel and tang both graze. I'm curious now about angel behavior. Are they typically very busy fish? Mine is constantly on the go. She's the only fish that really swims the entire length of the tank on a regular basis. She's in and out of the rocks and does nibble a lot, but not on the corals. The only time I've seen her bug corals is when she's after something else next to them and the coral just happens to get bumped in the process. I have pompom xenia and anthelia and she leaves them alone. I'm starting to think that maybe I should find something that eats anthelia. It's really pretty but wow is it growing fast. Maybe your angel does need more to play with. Liz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKarshens Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 Be careful of adding too much Nori. If it doesn't get eaten it will add phosphates to your tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KeeperOfTheZoo Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 I am but it's worth noting. I put nori on a clip about twice a week. Between the fish and crabs it gets eaten quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offroadodge Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 i have a coral beauty that ive had for probly 4+ yrs and it was introduced in a tank with SPS and doesnt know any different. It eats what i feed it and picks at the glass when algae is present. I love my angel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesL Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 I have a flame angel in my 75g. He leaves most things alone, but I think he pecks at my gorgonians every once in a while. He might also nip at my xenia, but that is fine as it grows back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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