dwarf angel fish - reef safe?

SCETT316 · 07-13-2001, 11:07 AM

I am some what hesitant, about adding an angel fish. The lfs store is calling it a Coral Beauty (dwarf angel fish) and says it is totally reef safe. It is a beautiful fish.
As far as fish goes, I presently have a pair of Banggai Cardinals, 1 Hippo Tang and 1 Yellow Tang.
Should I keep it this way?
Thx

RobG · 07-13-2001, 11:20 AM

I don't have on myself, but I've heard that they sometimes nip at your corals (Softies and SPS mostly). But I've also heard success stories...

It's one of the those 50/50 chances.

**Ninong** · 07-13-2001, 11:42 AM

Susan ~

Many hobbyists have had bad experiences with dwarf angels, Centropyge spp., in their reef tanks (PerryinCA and Bajathree are two that come to mind on this board).

They sometimes nip at Tridacna clam mantles and sometimes sample coral polyps. They seem to have a particular fondness for open brains.

However, the more you check on the suitability of these fish for a reef tank, the more you will come across hobbyists who do keep them with no significant problems (on this board Reef Engineer (Randy) has a flame angel (Centropyge loriculus) in his gorgeous 300-gal reef tank--he has had this fish for 9 years now).

There is a very large chapter in the back of The Modern Coral Reef Aquarium, Vol. 3 that has pictures and full descriptions of dozens of reef tanks from around the world (mostly European) and more than half list C. loriculus or one of the other Centropyge spp. as an inhabitant.

Comments from the hobbyists who have them in their reef tanks range from "no problems at all" to "no serious problems that I can't tolerate." Comments from the hobbyists who have tried them but found it necessary to remove them are unprintable in a family forum.

If you decide to try any of the Centropyge angels in a reef tank, you might have a better chance of success if the fish is a juvenile (or very young adult) and you provide it with a constant supply of food to graze on (similar to keeping a tang happy). Also, you would have better luck with any angel if you waited until your tank (especially your live rock) is relatively mature--probably 9 months or so from startup.

Ninong

thezookeeper · 07-13-2001, 11:48 AM

Hey there girlie! It's a crap shoot, Susan. Some have great success with dwarf angels (Coral Beauties, Flame Angels, Lemonpeel Angels, etc.) and others report what was mentioned above. I guess you have to ask if it's worth the risk of putting the fish in there, finding that it nips at the corals, and then having to go to the trouble of trying to get it out of your tank. Then again, it may be okay and you may have great success. I know this is very indecisive. But it's not easily answered. FWIW, I've heard some people with Coral Beauties who have had really good luck with them. More luck than say with either of the other two dwarf species I mentioned. HTH

Joanne

SCETT316 · 07-13-2001, 12:49 PM

thx for all the valuable info. as usual. I think I will pass on the angel for now. Everything is going good so far.
later

CaptainK · 07-13-2001, 12:51 PM

I will throw in my 2cents here.
I have a Coral Beauty and last week I got a Green Open Brain.
So far there have been no noticed munching on the Brain.
I also have 2 softies that have not been nipped at at all.
But I do have a big bunch of macroalgae in the tank and also some feather algae that are constantly nipped at by the Coral Beauty.
Maybe these algaes keep the Coral Beauty distracted.
I also keep it fed with other various dry and frozen foods
HTH,
CaptK

Sker · 07-13-2001, 01:17 PM

Well, I would also like to throw my 2 cents in. I just got rid of my favorite fish which was an African Flameback due to him nipping at my corals. I have decided to stay away from pygmy angels for now, due to having to rip my tank apart to catch him. It is hit or miss with pygmy angels it just depends on the fish.

Strangelove · 07-13-2001, 05:37 PM

In the for-what-it's-worth category, I've had a Coral Beauty in my tank for about 2 weeks with no troubles at all. It loves to pick over the rock, but hasn't touched my polyps. Of course, my tank is a very new setup (as am I).

07-13-2001, 11:07 AM	#1
SCETT316 Mayor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 700	dwarf angel fish - reef safe? I am some what hesitant, about adding an angel fish. The lfs store is calling it a Coral Beauty (dwarf angel fish) and says it is totally reef safe. It is a beautiful fish. As far as fish goes, I presently have a pair of Banggai Cardinals, 1 Hippo Tang and 1 Yellow Tang. Should I keep it this way? Thx __________________ Susan

07-13-2001, 11:42 AM	#3
Ninong Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Louisiana Posts: 19,733	Susan ~ Many hobbyists have had bad experiences with dwarf angels, Centropyge spp., in their reef tanks (PerryinCA and Bajathree are two that come to mind on this board). They sometimes nip at Tridacna clam mantles and sometimes sample coral polyps. They seem to have a particular fondness for open brains. However, the more you check on the suitability of these fish for a reef tank, the more you will come across hobbyists who do keep them with no significant problems (on this board Reef Engineer (Randy) has a flame angel (Centropyge loriculus) in his gorgeous 300-gal reef tank--he has had this fish for 9 years now). There is a very large chapter in the back of The Modern Coral Reef Aquarium, Vol. 3 that has pictures and full descriptions of dozens of reef tanks from around the world (mostly European) and more than half list C. loriculus or one of the other Centropyge spp. as an inhabitant. Comments from the hobbyists who have them in their reef tanks range from "no problems at all" to "no serious problems that I can't tolerate." Comments from the hobbyists who have tried them but found it necessary to remove them are unprintable in a family forum. If you decide to try any of the Centropyge angels in a reef tank, you might have a better chance of success if the fish is a juvenile (or very young adult) and you provide it with a constant supply of food to graze on (similar to keeping a tang happy). Also, you would have better luck with any angel if you waited until your tank (especially your live rock) is relatively mature--probably 9 months or so from startup. Ninong __________________ Ninong

07-13-2001, 11:48 AM	#4
thezookeeper Mayor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Pittsburgh,PA, USA Posts: 992	Hey there girlie! It's a crap shoot, Susan. Some have great success with dwarf angels (Coral Beauties, Flame Angels, Lemonpeel Angels, etc.) and others report what was mentioned above. I guess you have to ask if it's worth the risk of putting the fish in there, finding that it nips at the corals, and then having to go to the trouble of trying to get it out of your tank. Then again, it may be okay and you may have great success. I know this is very indecisive. But it's not easily answered. FWIW, I've heard some people with Coral Beauties who have had really good luck with them. More luck than say with either of the other two dwarf species I mentioned. HTH Joanne __________________ "Life savings? Sure, it's that brightly lit object sitting in the livingroom."

07-13-2001, 12:49 PM	#5
SCETT316 Mayor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 700	thx for all the valuable info. as usual. I think I will pass on the angel for now. Everything is going good so far. later __________________ Susan

07-13-2001, 01:17 PM	#7
Sker Citizen Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Omaha, NE , USA Posts: 210	Well, I would also like to throw my 2 cents in. I just got rid of my favorite fish which was an African Flameback due to him nipping at my corals. I have decided to stay away from pygmy angels for now, due to having to rip my tank apart to catch him. It is hit or miss with pygmy angels it just depends on the fish. __________________ Sker

07-13-2001, 11:20 AM	#2
RobG Council Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 288	I don't have on myself, but I've heard that they sometimes nip at your corals (Softies and SPS mostly). But I've also heard success stories... It's one of the those 50/50 chances.

07-13-2001, 12:51 PM	#6
CaptainK Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: MA. Posts: 534	I will throw in my 2cents here. I have a Coral Beauty and last week I got a Green Open Brain. So far there have been no noticed munching on the Brain. I also have 2 softies that have not been nipped at at all. But I do have a big bunch of macroalgae in the tank and also some feather algae that are constantly nipped at by the Coral Beauty. Maybe these algaes keep the Coral Beauty distracted. I also keep it fed with other various dry and frozen foods HTH, CaptK

07-13-2001, 05:37 PM	#8
Strangelove Citizen Join Date: May 2001 Location: Washington, PA USA Posts: 101	In the for-what-it's-worth category, I've had a Coral Beauty in my tank for about 2 weeks with no troubles at all. It loves to pick over the rock, but hasn't touched my polyps. Of course, my tank is a very new setup (as am I).

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