Dwarf Angels and Reefs...

[mermaidgrrl13]

So I just read an online article saying that some Dwarf angels are more reef safe with others and I have seen a lot of folks here have luck with it. The ones they listed were the Pygmy/cherub, the Flame back and the Flame angel. I have a 55 gallon with lots of crabs/shrimp. (from what I understand they are ok with those right?). I dont have many corals yet and am planning on adding those as time goes on, as money is tight, my tank will be a long work in progress, which is fine by me. So far all I have are 5 large mushrooms and one small one, and one RTBA. I also have a Lawnmower blenny, an urchin, various snails and a pair of solomon island perculas. (babies, they will be one year old in January and are very small still) So Im wondering If I do dare try a D angel, will I have better sucess if I add It before I add corals or once all the corals are in place? Or is It like everything else in this hobby....pretty much a toss up?
This article also named a few butterfly fish that would be reef safe...cant remember the name...Kinda weird..

 

[colorado2step]

I have a flame Angel in mine and have added corals after it has not touched any of them. They are aggresive though so watch it with the little ones.

 

[nuro]

flames are pretty reef safe IMO, but really most pygmys are especially if you get them young

 

[gill again68]

I have a Coral Beauty Dwarf and it doesn't seem to bother anything. Likes to eat algae. Now I have seen it try to get a little territorial with other fish. I would try to make it a later addition in my fish stock list. As for the corals I have I only have a few soft corals at this time but again the fish doesn't bother them.
Good Luck.

 

[nycbob]

i hv a flame angel in my reef. it would nip at things there and there, but no real harm.

 

[spanko]

Hae an African Flameback in my 29 biocube. The only thing I have seen him nip is a Porites rock, and then not very much at all. I keep an algae sheet in the tank most of the time for him to eat so he is not hungry. Hoping this keeps any nipping at bay also.

 

[halamaya]

Beautiful tanks guys!! I have a Coral Beauty in my reef, he's quite friendly to others and my corals. Do your little guys have an anenome yet or do you have to wait till they get bigger?

 

[nycbob]

Originally Posted by Halamaya
http:///forum/post/3187582
Beautiful tanks guys!! I have a Coral Beauty in my reef, he's quite friendly to others and my corals. Do your little guys have an anenome yet or do you have to wait till they get bigger?
i used to hv a bta, but it got too big, so i had to get rid of it. anemone isnt good if u plan to keep sps or lots of corals since it can get quite huge within a year. if u hv a big tank, than not an issue of course.

 

[mermaidgrrl13]

Thanks for the responses guys. I think later down the road I will try it. My LFG says that their are also some comanies raising them with corals and selling them as totally reef safe..sounds "fishy" to me.

seems like these guys get a bad rap, from what i gather they may "mouth" corals looking for algea but rarely cause any damage. I added a RTBA before I got my Baby percs and so far I saw them swim over to it once. Their parents were wild caught and from what I understand one of the last few that will be allowd to be exported. My LFG just had another batch of babys last week. I think hes hoping they will get very popular and then hell be able to sell them back to the distributors. The are very pretty little fish, they get alot darker when they are adults. As far as the nem goes they are clueless..lol. I thought about putting them in a basket with the nem, but as of now i just dont have the heart to watch that and they havent been in the tank that long, so ill just let it be for now. I wish theyd explore their spacious home instead of hang out behind the powehead all day.

Your guys tanks are beautiful!! one day I hope mine is half as pretty as yours! I need to start a thread on mine....my next to do i guess..to bad i have to work today...

especially since everyones in a nice jolly xmas spirit..please note sarcassm. retail is not joyous during xmas.

 

[mr.clownfish]

Originally Posted by nycbob
http:///forum/post/3187571
i hv a flame angel in my reef. it would nip at things there and there, but no real harm.

you just love to show off this amazing tank of urs!!
i stare at it for about 15 mins every time i come across it in a thread.
again AMAZING!!!

 

[kraylen]

I would never throw an angelfish in my reef. I loved my corals, PE and colors way too much.
Its not "will the angelfish nip" it's WHEN will the angelfish nip and WHAT.

 

[btldreef]

Dwarf angels are much safer than full size angels.
I have a Flame Angel and a Coral Beauty in my 155 and neither have ever nipped at my coral. IMO, if you keep them well fed and have established rock for them to munch on, you'll be fine.

 

[nycbob]

the only coral most dwarf angels threaten is lps (especially brains). and as for inverts, clams.

 

[btldreef]

Originally Posted by nycbob
http:///forum/post/3187726
the only coral most dwarf angels threaten is lps (especially brains). and as for inverts, clams.
I don't know. My tank is almost entirely LPS, especially brains and they don't touch them. I think a lot more has to do with if they're tank raised and how well they're fed/cared for. I have seen my Coral Beauty nip at my Sand Sifting Starfish on occasion, but has never done any damage.

 

[nycbob]

i agreed. i hv lps in my tank, and my flame doesnt touch them. from what i read, if they do touch corals, its most likely gonna be brains and such.

 

[kraylen]

Originally Posted by nycbob
http:///forum/post/3187784
i agreed. i hv lps in my tank, and my flame doesnt touch them. from what i read, if they do touch corals, its most likely gonna be brains and such.
Not true... they nip Acros, Montis, Chalice, Acans, Favia, Denrdos, zoas, palys, etc etc. You probably got lucky.

 

[tank a holic]

I have a coral beauty with a frog spawn, leather, mushrooms and star polyps he doesn't bother anything

 

[btldreef]

Originally Posted by Kraylen
http:///forum/post/3188265
Not true... they nip Acros, Montis, Chalice, Acans, Favia, Denrdos, zoas, palys, etc etc. You probably got lucky.
I think more than likely, you go unlucky. MOST people do not have issues with dwarfs nipping at corals.

 

[kraylen]

Originally Posted by BTLDreef
http:///forum/post/3188367
I think more than likely, you go unlucky. MOST people do not have issues with dwarfs nipping at corals.
Out of the 7 I've had, they all nipped the goods. 2 Flame, Flameback, Half-Black, Coral Beauty, Multicolor and Rusty.
SPS and LPS suffered horribly from it. I mean, big colonies of cheap protopaly/leather/mushroom are no big deal. You can't brown out a brown coral. When you get into rainbow acans, LE chalice, LE SPS and all that an angelfish can turn a 10/10 looking coral into crap.

 

[btldreef]

Originally Posted by Kraylen
http:///forum/post/3188396
Out of the 7 I've had, they all nipped the goods. 2 Flame, Flameback, Half-Black, Coral Beauty, Multicolor and Rusty.
SPS and LPS suffered horribly from it. I mean, big colonies of cheap protopaly/leather/mushroom are no big deal. You can't brown out a brown coral. When you get into rainbow acans, LE chalice, LE SPS and all that an angelfish can turn a 10/10 looking coral into crap.
I don't know. I have really expensive "show quality" acans, SPS, LPS, it's all in there, they don't touch anything. My rock is very established, I keep them well feed and there are always seaweed strips available for them. I also have two large tangs with them and there's still enough for them to eat. They have never went after my corals and from what I've read on this forum and many others, you are the first I've heard that has had so many issues with dwarfs. Some people get a rogue one here and there, but they're usually not an issue.