I want a Dwarf Angel

energizer28

New Member
My tank is 8 years old and I finally want to try a dwarf angel. I'd like a coral beauty or flame angel. It would be nice if I could do both but I've heard 2 angels won't live together in the same tank. Any suggestions? Also, how do they feed? algae sheets, algae in tank or what?
 

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by energizer28 http:///forum/thread/383207/i-want-a-dwarf-angel#post_3349825
My tank is 8 years old and I finally want to try a dwarf angel. I'd like a coral beauty or flame angel. It would be nice if I could do both but I've heard 2 angels won't live together in the same tank. Any suggestions? Also, how do they feed? algae sheets, algae in tank or what?

Only one per tank.
My Lemonpeel dwarf loves algae off the rocks and if there is none to eat I put algae sheets out for him and the tangs to nip at. I feed my fish Mysis shrimp, angels need sponge in the diet. I have a sponge he can nip at and eat, but you can buy angelfish formula food that has sponge in it.
 

ppanthrah75

Member
i think with dwarf angels its about how much color ud like ive had a coral beauty for a few years hes no longer with us so if i were to get one again id go with a flame just cause of the firey red
 

ecooper

Member
What size is your tank (just to be certain it's large enough)? I would say no more than one. My CB is so cool, but I've heard Flames are cool, too.
 

meowzer

Moderator
well the one per tank rule does not apply in large tanks.....I have a flame and a coral beauty in my 225G and they are fine together
 

aquaknight

Active Member
The "only one angel per tank" rule applies to large angels rather then dwarf angels, as they have different social habits in the wild. In the wild dwarf angels form harems, consisting of 1 dominate male, ruling several females. The problem with adding more then one dwarf angel per tank, is that you simply don't know what you're adding. Add a dominate male Lemonpeel to a 40gal with a dominate male Flame, and of course they won't get along. The other problem is that even if you were able to successfully collect the entire harem, because of the change of scenery, the social-structure of the harem, will be reset, and whoever is the most dominate, wins. If you take proper steps for introduction, multiple angels can be kept in the same tank (true for both large and dwarf angels, in that case).
Dwarf angels are herbivore-biased omnivores. While dwarf angels do not infact require sponge in their diet, sponge-based foods are a pretty good food anyways, and definitely won't hurt to feed. Emerald Entree and seaweed sheets for the veggies, and it's important to get meaty foods in there as well, mysis, finely chopped scallops, and fresh clam are all great foods.
 

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by AquaKnight http:///forum/thread/383207/i-want-a-dwarf-angel#post_3350221
The "only one angel per tank" rule applies to large angels rather then dwarf angels, as they have different social habits in the wild. In the wild dwarf angels form harems, consisting of 1 dominate male, ruling several females. The problem with adding more then one dwarf angel per tank, is that you simply don't know what you're adding. Add a dominate male Lemonpeel to a 40gal with a dominate male Flame, and of course they won't get along. The other problem is that even if you were able to successfully collect the entire harem, because of the change of scenery, the social-structure of the harem, will be reset, and whoever is the most dominate, wins. If you take proper steps for introduction, multiple angels can be kept in the same tank (true for both large and dwarf angels, in that case).
Dwarf angels are herbivore-biased omnivores. While dwarf angels do not infact require sponge in their diet, sponge-based foods are a pretty good food anyways, and definitely won't hurt to feed. Emerald Entree and seaweed sheets for the veggies, and it's important to get meaty foods in there as well, mysis, finely chopped scallops, and fresh clam are all great foods.

AK, your information is correct and I know OP wants some suggestions on how to keep two...I would like to apologize for my original post that took things out of context. Spanko set me straight and I apologize. I still feel my concerns are valid so I add the following.
My little soap box message is for any new person to the hobby who may be reading this post:

A big tank is more than 100g...If you try and buy two dwarf angels at once from SWF.com they will not send your order until they verify you are not putting them in the same tank, because they guarantee livestock for 15 days but not if you put two in the same tank. Also a mature tank is not the same as a cycled tank...a mature tank is one that has been setup for at least 6 months, and better, a full year.
 

spanko

Active Member
Flower you can't just highlight the first part as you are taking it out of context. You must read the entire post as it relates to dwarfs to get the full meaning of what AK is saying.
 

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by spanko http:///forum/thread/383207/i-want-a-dwarf-angel#post_3350236
Flower you can't just highlight the first part as you are taking it out of context. You must read the entire post as it relates to dwarfs to get the full meaning of what AK is saying.

I only highlighted the part I disagreed with ...the rest was just fine. AK gave a really good explanation but it doesn't change the fact that you should only have one per tank. Every time I tell a new person to get only one, it seems everyone chimes in with how they are fine in the ocean and big tanks so you can have more than one.
So what is a big tank to a person who has had a 14g biocube??? 30g maybe. 55g..My 90g is too small for two dwarf angels. Telling new folks to the hobby/site they can indeed keep more than one, is misleading and an overload of information. Not to even address the fact they are putting them in a new setup when the fish should have a mature tank. As soon as a tank cycles they put an angelfish in (not OP I know he has an 8 year old tank) ...Then they ask what happened because all the numbers read perfect.
I'm concerned a new person who wants that fish is going to read that one line and run with it. If I overstepped and hurt AKs feelings I apologize it was not intended. Now I admit 8 years is allot of experience but he is not the only one on the site who wants more than one dwarf angel..
 

spanko

Active Member
Ak was giving valid information about how to keep more than one in a tank. You cannot take the part you want to be true out of context. I agree everyone must do things at their own risk, however AK was giving relevant facts to the the question "It would be nice if I could do both but I've heard 2 angels won't live together in the same tank. Any suggestions? "
For you to step in and take his post apart and only use what you want to convey was misleading to the OP's question.
 

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by spanko http:///forum/thread/383207/i-want-a-dwarf-angel#post_3350244
Ak was giving valid information about how to keep more than one in a tank. You cannot take the part you want to be true out of context. I agree everyone must do things at their own risk, however AK was giving relevant facts to the the question "It would be nice if I could do both but I've heard 2 angels won't live together in the same tank. Any suggestions? "
For you to step in and take his post apart and only use what you want to convey was misleading to the OP's question.

Okay, you are correct and I'm in the wrong, he did ask for suggestions...I never said AKs info was off. I will go back and try to fix it with edit and apologize to AK.
Edit:
Oh and thank you, I wouldn't want to hurt anyone’s feelings and I'm glad you called me on it... A PM would have been just as effective..But I publically goofed so I'm publically flogged I guess. Peace?
 

energizer28

New Member
I have a 75 gallon tank w/ a 15 gallon sump. Good discussion. I'm glad to read all opinions. I'll go with 1 dwarf angel in my tank, likely a flame if I order online. I've heard the coral beauty doesn't always ship well. If I go to the LFS, either one depending on what they recommend.
 

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
I actually never cared too much for the CB I had. He was very pretty, and grew to be a fat lil' thing, but....he was just so cryptic. Always behind the rocks, almost never in a position where you could have seen him.
Many dwarf angels follow this behaviour in the wild, but this guy was almost never around. When I restart my larger tank I think I'll be doing a Flame instead. At least that way I'll have a better chance of seeing him.
 

aquaknight

Active Member
Flower, no hard feelings girl. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and opinions are what make us, well, us. I know how it is sometimes trying to help as well.
That being said, I personally believe that trying to keep multiple angels in the same tank, is not a hard-fast rule, like tangs in 6ft tanks for example. We simply need to figure out the keys to what makes angels fight sometimes, and why sometimes they get swimmingly (pun-intended
). Years ago, we couldn't keep SPS in the hobby (heck any corals at all),. We couldn't keep large angelfish, we couldn't keep Orangespotted Filefish. If it weren't for people willing to try things and learn (and perhaps more importantly, share their experience) we wouldn't have a lot of the things we take for granted today. I believe keeping multiple angels is along that same avenue. Granted, they won't always work, and 'conditions' have to be met. For that reason, it makes sense for vendors like SWF to safe-guard themselves, and protect their bottomline. The reason SWF has that angel rule, is more along the lines of some idiot adding an adult Emperor angel, and an adult Queen angel to his 55gal. That, of course, will never work. But Scott himself has said if you are trying something reasonable, just go ahead and let them know and they would have no problems shipping two angels for a compatible tank.
The OP said his tank was 8 years old, which I took an educated guess was larger. A 75gal (basically a 4" shorter 90gal) is a great home to try 2 dwarfs in IMHO.If the OP wants my tricks or tips on how to try, I will be happy to help. Or he's happy with just the Flame, that's cool too.
 

flower

Well-Known Member

I personally like the Lemonpeel dwarf Angel, the bright orange/yellow color really pops, the electric blue around the gills and eyes are beautiful and as an added plus he is a great hair algae eater.
 
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