crabs, snails and shrimp with butterflies and angels?

dscubadiver

dscubadiver

New Member
I've maintained a 100G reef tank for years and plan on setting up a 30G tank for my daughter with a couple of dwarf angels (probably a bi-color angel and a flame angel or a coral beauty) and butterflies (probably a pair of small Heniochus Black & White Butterflyfish). I have some extra live rock that I plan to put in the tank, and I wanted to introduce snails and crabs as a cleanup crew - but then thought that perhaps the Angels and Butterflies might eat the snails, crabs and shrimp ... could anyone provide some advice about whether or not these inverts will be eaten by the fish that I plan on buying?
Thanks!
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Welcome to the boards!
I'm not very good at fish selection, just wanted to say hi.
Though, I do know that you shouldn't keep butterflys with shrimp and certain corals. Two dwarf angels in such a small tank is also a no-no, they won't get along. Go with some dwarf angelfish and find some other fish to compliment it.
 
gemmy

gemmy

Active Member
I'm not trying to take this thread off track, BUT I just might. A 30 gallon tank is quite small for multiple dwarf angelfish and butterflies. I would choose a dwarf angel like the pygmy angel and then have a couple of smaller fish to complement the angel. You would not have to worry about the angel with your basic CUC.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
lol, what was I thinking when I posted that. +1 for Gemmy.
What I meant was "Go with ONE dwarf angelfish and find some other fish to compliment it." lol sorry bout that. :D
 
dscubadiver

dscubadiver

New Member
i didn't get scared away (yet) ... and i appreciate the feedback ... i don't mind scaling back the livestock in the tank ... and i can live with just one angel ... but my daughter really wants this bicolor angel:
http://www.***********.com/images/categories/product/p-66024-angel.jpg
And if it's not a good idea to put butterflies in there, then there are plenty of other smaller fish that i can introduce ... I'm just glad to hear that I can keep a clean up crew that won't get nibbled on
One last question: I think this angel will eat a number of corals (like LPS or SPS) ... but will he eat shrooms and leathers and polyps? or sea fans? are there any corals that he won't pick at?
thanks again for all the replies!
 
gemmy

gemmy

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by dscubadiver http:///t/389012/crabs-snails-and-shrimp-with-butterflies-and-angels#post_3434842
i didn't get scared away (yet) ... and i appreciate the feedback ... i don't mind scaling back the livestock in the tank ... and i can live with just one angel ... but my daughter really wants this bicolor angel:
http://www.***********.com/images/categories/product/p-66024-angel.jpg
And if it's not a good idea to put butterflies in there, then there are plenty of other smaller fish that i can introduce ... I'm just glad to hear that I can keep a clean up crew that won't get nibbled on
One last question: I think this angel will eat a number of corals (like LPS or SPS) ... but will he eat shrooms and leathers and polyps? or sea fans? are there any corals that he won't pick at?
thanks again for all the replies!
Honestly, any feedback you will get on any of the dwarf angels is that they can possibly nip at corals. The reason for this is that they are trying to eat the algae that is on or near the corals. I have found that offering them a diet that has plenty of algae in it and algae sheets helps to deter them from nipping at corals. I have a lemon peel that nipped at my corals in the beginning, but with a good diet that behavior has for the most part subsided. The bi-color would be a doable addition for the tank. I just wouldn't add many other fish.
 
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