Flame Angel Fish

[kien]

I have had a few flame angels over the years and they have all been quite different. The first one I had was a model citizen. He didn't bother any other tank mates or corals. The second one I had loved to graze on all manner of coral but was fine with his tank mates. He even lived with a potter's angel at the time (another pygmy angelfish). The current flame angel that I have now seems to be behaving himself. I have not noticed him bothering any other fish or corals in my tank.

The moral of the story is that you just never know. I personally think that their tendencies are more a personality traits rather than a species trait. Sure, angels in general like to graze and nip on polypy things (this is a known as a natural habit), but that doesn't mean all angels will do this. In captivity fish can tend to change their habits quite dramatically from their natural behaviours. Although we try to mimic their natural habitats as much as possible, the truth is we don't even come close. We expose them to fish and other critters that they would never see in the wild, or foods that they would never eat in the wild. Oops, going off on a tangent here, sorry!

Anyway, my advice is always that if you like the fish, get him. Just be prepared, and don't be surprised if things don't work out (ie, he turns into a holy terror and eats your entire collection of zoanthids )

[Enigma]

Originally Posted by kien

<3

So lovely.

It will be a fish only system for now. I may add the odd coral: if I have an abundance of something or if I decide to test the waters. As this tank will use dry rock (which is basically a phosphate bomb) it should have an abundance of algae to graze on if I let the algae grow.

It is possible that the angel could be moved into my "birthday tank" after that upgrade in the spring: providing it behaves itself.

[intarsiabox]

[quote=Enigma;758193]
It will be a fish only system for now. I may add the odd coral: if I have an abundance of something or if I decide to test the waters. As this tank will use dry rock (which is basically a phosphate bomb) it should have an abundance of algae to graze on if I let the algae grow.QUOTE]

I had a flame angel for a couple years and he wouldn't touch algae, not even nori. He loved any prepared or frozen foods that enter the tank but wouldn't so much as look at a stand of algae on a rock.

[Enigma]

I've actually ordered some synthetic rock for this fish only system, so there may not be as much algae as I was expecting.

I may start browsing for a Flame Angel this weekend. We'll see.

[jagermaier]

I agree that flame angles vary in personality so buyer beware with these guys. I have been very fortunate to have the "model citizen" variety in my community which includes 4 anthias, 3 different tangs, two gobies, 5 blue chomis, manderan dragonett, leopard wrasse, 3 cleaner shrimp, 2 tuxedo urchins, tons of snails, big variety of LPS and SPS and it has never bothered anything. I would avoid other angles though...that could be an issue.