emperor angel in a 55gal

fishman0729

Member
i need advice on adding a emperor angel to a 55gal tank. I have 5 damsels, 1 yellow tang, and 1 tomato clown. The angel would be my last fish adding to the tank. Will he be happy in a 55 or should i get a smaller angel for this size tank? I will tank any advice since i've been doing the whold saltwater thing for only 4 months or so. What is your opinion on a Brown Heniochus Butterflyfish. I was thinking of one of these.
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fshhub

Active Member
personally, i owuld stop there, you already have a pretty good load with what you have(maybe even a bit much), and the other fish you have chosen would add a pretty good amount to your bio load, they are both larger fish adn both need pretty good water too
 

cap'n pete

Member
Don't do it!
That size of tank is WAY too small for an emporer. Regardless of what your LFS tells you, it's also not a fish for beginners.+--++
 

superman

Member
definitely not a beginners fish. And don't add an angel until the tank is about 6 months old. Angels need a well established tank. If you absolutely have to have an angel get a centropyge, which is any of the dwarf angels. But even that might be a bit much so do your homework.
 

ckkihei

Member
Not only would I not add the angel, but sorry to say that IMO I would also really consider finding a new home for the tang........a 55 is way too small for a tang.
 

seaguru

Member
Well I have to go against the flow! Even tho they are correct that in a optimum world tangs and angels should have the largest tanks possbile... I have successfully kept 3 tangs, a naso, sailfin, and yes a powder blue along with a juv. Emperor angel for years in a 60g setup. The truth is that not all of us are able to afford the largest systems. With that said don't kid yourself, the large angels require perfect tank conditions and the Emp is prone to develop HLLE if you do not provide perfect conditions... water quality, feeding, etc. The others are correct that a dwarf angel would be better suited to your size tank. Additionally whatever you decide to add will have to contend with serious territorial battles from the damsels, the tang, well just about all your present fish. You may need to section your tank off somehow or totally rearrange your rocks/hiding places so all the fish have to re-establish new territories. This will confuse them enough so that they do not totally beat up your new addition...
Just my .02 for you, good luck, Joe.
 

demosthenes

Active Member
Well, I would advise against any new additions, with that bioload already in place, and would maybe look to take out the damsels, make a 20 gallon damsel tank, vey nice IMO, and then you could add a Centropyge. For the moment, I only have a Yellow Tang and a Tomato Clown in my 75, and may or may not add another fish, just depends on if I seem something that I really like, perhaps a Mandarin with the pod population gets a little more force.
PS Different angel, but is the E/Imperator with an I or an E? I think it's an I right?
 
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