large angelfish fish are reef-safe ... maybe

mcliffy2 · 03-07-2007, 09:10 AM

This is somewhat older, but interesting. The gist is that big marine angels (the ones Stacy always wants, and I have to tell her we can't have in a reef), are not natural predators to inverts or corals, and if fed properly can be kept in a reef. Interested if anyone has tried it or has some thoughts on this:
http://www.tfhmagazine.com/default.aspx?pageid=336

[Edit] "Angelfish fish" wow I need my morning coffee... [/Edit]

theplatypus · 03-07-2007, 09:25 AM

I just skimmed the article. With that being said I've tried 3 angel fish in a reef tank and all 3 ended up nipping. One decimated some favia and acans. Another only had one opportunity to nip at my Dendrophylia before he was removed. He was fine for a few months in his new home. Then he started nipping at Blastos. THe 3rd started nipping at SPS withing minutes of being added to the tank. For me there will be no more angels.

mcliffy2 · 03-07-2007, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theplatypus

I just skimmed the article. With that being said I've tried 3 angel fish in a reef tank and all 3 ended up nipping. One decimated some favia and acans. Another only had one opportunity to nip at my Dendrophylia before he was removed. He was fine for a few months in his new home. Then he started nipping at Blastos. THe 3rd started nipping at SPS withing minutes of being added to the tank. For me there will be no more angels.

Were you feeding 3 times a day? That was the one thing in that article that stuck out to me...unless I got an auto-feeder, I just wouldn't be around enough to keep them fed properly.

theplatypus · 03-07-2007, 09:30 AM

mcliffy2 · 03-07-2007, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theplatypus

2x

hmmm, i guess they are all different...I'm not going to try it right now, but down the road, I think it would be cool (a 200+g SPS dominated tank w/ a couple large angels would be sweet!).

Geoff · 03-07-2007, 11:05 AM

have you looked into the Genicanthus angels?

G~

Ranran · 03-07-2007, 11:25 AM

Yep Genicanthus angels are outstanding med size angels. i love my pair.

mcliffy2 · 03-07-2007, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff

have you looked into the Genicanthus angels?

G~

Yea, I am thinking about adding some down the road, maybe a coral beaty (I think that is Genicanthus?)...but this is talking about those big beautiful angels that are normally labeled as not reef-safe. Check the article out, its pretty cool. For starters it sounds like you need a good LFS who is willing to work with you to help you find a specimen that is more likely to be reef-safe.

mcliffy2 · 03-07-2007, 11:37 AM

mcliffy2 · 03-07-2007, 11:44 AM

Also note, I'm not saying I am wanting to try this any time soon, but I think this article is pointing out that these can be reef-safe with the proper care and selection.

The article is challenging the notion of reef-safe b/c reef-safe is used to mean "you can just throw this fish in your reef w/o a second thought and not worry about your corals" but people take it as a hard and fast rule that there is no way to keep a fish that is labeled as not reef safe in a reef (or if you are able to, it is just luck). This article is arguing that we shouldn't draw such a bright line, that big angels can be "reef-safe" because their natural diet is not corals (unlike many fish declared not to be reef safe), but do require more work to keep in a reef. That said, I personally am sticking to the bright line as a beginner. My guess is that down the road I will give a big angel a shot, but not right now.

harman · 03-07-2007, 05:59 PM

Yea I know a guy that has a full-grown imperator angle in a 400 gal tank that is all sps. He also has some clams that are football size witch I hear imperator's will eat. He feeds more food in one day than I feed my 150 in two months. I know that he has had it for at least four years and has not had a problem. Its pretty cool in a way the angle will grunt loud enough that you can hear him in the next room.

Twitterbait · 03-07-2007, 06:42 PM

Honestly... I prefer deep water angels like those from hawaii... they don't eat coral.

grallster · 03-07-2007, 07:05 PM

That bellus pair--that's the ultimate for me...someday.

grallster · 03-07-2007, 07:06 PM

What size tank do you have them in Randy?

Ranran · 03-07-2007, 07:42 PM

There in a 330 gallon tank, and are by far my faverate fish in the tank.