Reef Compatible Dwarf angels

[zahira]

I am looking to add a couple of angels in my reef tank, possibly a flame angel. I know that each angel has its own characteristic behaviour in a reef, but in general, which are the most likely to be reef safe? Also, which corals are most likely at risk?

[dan-the-man]

LPS and softies (espcially xenia) are most at risk. Most dwarfs will nip, best would probably be a belus angel or lamarck's angel.
HTH
Dan

[ickypimp]

I have a coral beauty and a bicolor in a mixed reef (SPS, LPS & softies) both have been brilliant...

[Tiggsy]

i had a flame....perfect untill i added NEW sps frags...seems he thought anything in after him was fair game. Stripped a few SPS in a couple of days!

also had a belus, perfect fish.

[GraemeU]

I have a Coral Beauty, it nips at Xenia which means they are retracted most of the time. It leaves everything else alone.

My LFS says Flame Angels are the worst which is why I've never purchased one.

Potters are pretty good by all accounts.

Graeme

[bobster]

I have a lamarck and a bicolour,never show interest in anything,unless food lands on it,but they never developed a taste for the 'landing strip' after

[kizkiz]

i have a pair of flames that nip at the rock, but seem to leave the actual corals alone.
i've seen plenty of posts on here from people on here who have had no problem with them, but there is a risk

[BOXING SHRIMP]

had a female watanabe angel which was totally reefsafe and a lovely looking fish ,at minute have a majestic in my softie set up which is packed with many different xenias ,zoos,etc and he hasnt touched a thing but it can go the other way :D

[Stevielad]

I have a Coral Beauty - model citizen as far as I can tell - would be pleased if he ate my xenia - but sadly not :(

[cajen]

This is the trouble with angels: they vary so much in their behaviour. For what it's worth, my flame never so much as looks at zoos, xenia, soft corals or even an sps frag.

[Tetley]

Hi,

I have a Lemon Peel - Good as gold

Ian

[mr-jimbo]

I have an Indian Cherub Angelfish(Centropyge acanthops) she was shy to start with,i havent seen her nip at any corals yet,i also used to have a Cream Angel(Apolemichthys xanthurus) in my last setup and she was also fine with regards to corals.
Would always like to have a Flame but havent taken the plunge yet,only time will tell.

Jim

[dan-the-man]

Also got a cherub Jim, it nips at zoos and star polyps and decimates entire colonies of xenia. :(

[mr-jimbo]

Very strange,my tank is covered in star polyps,i only have a little patch of xenia and zoos amongst a few other kinds,if she starts that carry on she will be taken to see the "beadle"

[ChrisBFish]

Since our bicolour went in a fe wpale patches have appeared on our porites & montipora. Sponges and tunicates have also been munched, and he seems to have nipped at the lobophylia occasionally. No serious damage yet... but I guess we might not be getting the longed-for clam in due course, since he nips at most things that the book warns about!

[JonW]

Have an Eibl's or Red Stripe angel that hasn't touched zoo's, finger coral, leather or xenia...yet! Hope he continues to prefer the food I give him!

JonW

[Gooden]

I'v got a flame angel in my mixed tank, I'm still building it up and only have soft corals but it leaves them alone completely. I must say tho, hes really bossy, I always see him goin for my clown and pyjama wrasse. Nothing too serious tho, nice fish.

[Rooty]

I've got a rusty angel, very nice colours and is fine with all my soft corals. Guess I've been lucky.


Ruth

[reefer_rob]

Pygmy cherub angels C.argi (not the same as mentioned before C.acanthops) tend to do very well with most corals. The one I had was completely reef safe.

With members of the Centropyge genus it very much depends on the personality of the individual fish but I would always stay away from clams as they do not take kindly to being nipped. Xenia and simular species can also be a target. Try to introduce the fish after most/all of your corals have been stocked as they will see new corals as food.

You also mentioned that you wanted to keep a couple of dwarf angels. If this is the case, you should approach this with caution. The best way to avoid disputes between the two angels would be to choose species which do not look simular and introduce them at the same time. You may also want to consider the size of the two fish as if one is known to be more agressive get a small specimen and a larger specimen of the more passive fish.

Rob