Flame Angel.......?

[FishKid]

could i keep a flame angel in my 30 gal (happily)? would it be likely to nibble on corals?

thanks
mark

[Aragorn]

Whether it will nibble on corals is a "roll of the dice". I would be more concerned as to whether it will survive. I'm sure there are some success stories regarding Flame Angels, however our LFS gets them in on a regular basis(I ***** about it too) and have yet to see one survive beyond 3 weeks. FWIW

[Ninong]

Aragorn,

Can you find out where your LFS is getting it's Flame Angels? In fact, where are they getting their fish, period? Obviously the reason I ask is because some areas are reportedly still using cyanide. They should know which collection stations in which countries their wholesale supplier's fish are coming from. Some LFS are only interested in the cheapest prices, which means cyanide collection. I'm not saying that your LFS is like that but maybe you have some insight on that question.

Ninong

[organicreefer]

ill answer for aragorn,and he can confirm or deny.....
i beelieve aragorn posted that he got livestock through saltwater connection in martinez.....these are some of the most "money hungry" people i know of.....dyed corals ,cyanide caught fish ..you name it.
i go out of my way not to get stuff throught them(well,most of the time i aint perfect...)
just passing along what ive heard.....

[Poseidon]

Personally Flames are one of the most Beautiful fish I've ever seen. But my experience has not been great with them, I had one last about 4 months then it quit eating one day and dead 2 days later. I'd never seen anything like that b4. My second Flame took a Flying Leap... found a 4" wide gap where my sand filter used to be and flew out, he was only there a week. Of course when I found him the next day I tested the water for everything I could think of... All perfect Guess I just had a psyco fish...

[Aragorn]

Ninong,

Our LFS orders fish through a distributor known as Pan-Ocean based in Hayward, CA. All the other fish he gets in seem to do fine, but those Flames...well...I do suspect cyanide. In fact, I CONSTANTLY hammer on Steve to stop ordering Flames. He states that customers want them...."All the Market will bear" reasoning I guess...I don't know but I've seen about 8 of them die within the past year. Steve is one of the most compassionate animal lovers I know(you should see what I've seen him go through to save a poor little critter), but I guess he answers to his "uninformed" customers. I tried getting a Flame myself once if you remember. Never again.

Organicreefer,

As for the corals through Saltwater Connection...all 14 seem to be doing fine with the exception of the Yellow Pagoda. I have heard that other importers get dyed Pagodas as well. Not trying to defend Saltwater Connection, but I'm happy with what I got for what I consider a VERY reasonable price.

[bongobrian]

Flame angels aren't considered to be a "reef safe" fish. I kept one successfully for years, but one day he got a nip of my star polyps and decided they were a yummy little treat. He mowed down every last bit of them. About a year ago he jumped out of the tank on a suicide mission... I hate to say it but I'm kinda glad he did. Beautiful fish, but if you have a reef tank you're asking for trouble. There would be many other fish that would be better choices.

[FishKid]

are there any other dwarf angels that are reef safe? Im looking for really nice fish, and am willing to spend up to $75-90 on one fish! im at school and the teachers comming, so gotta go.


mark

[Dive_Master]

My flame agel loved my christmas tree worms and nipped on my kenya tree. I could not get him out, so I put up with him. Never again, I'll put one in.

I do not know what happend, but he got ick and died. No other fish was infected.

[PerryinCA]

I would be extremely hesitant to say that any angel is reef safe. I have had bad luck with flame angels. I was given one about 2 weeks after I was given an ick infected (but really recovering) christmas island black tang. The flame started chomping on the SPS and near killed one of my M digitata's. I ended up having to rip the whole tank apart to get it out, and that really stressed the black tang. After that its health went from an apparently recovering condition, to death.

I will never put another angel in a reef.

-Perry