Multiple Dwarf Angels

[Salty D-O-G]

I want to experiment with dwarf angels. I really dig those guys so I am going to buy 4 (coral beauty, flame, bi-color and lemon peel) at one time and put them in together and let mother nature take her course. 175 gallon reef tank. Any thoughts Steve. Thanks

Jerry

 

[Herefishyfishy]

B-colors can be touchy; some make it others don't. I suspect they like sponges or other hard to duplicate foods but that it just a guess. Used to keep up to 3 dwarf angels together in a reef and they all got along fine. Many coral beautys nip at corals. I love pygmy cherubs and have always kept them with no problems.

 

[LakeEd]

Jerry,

Not remembering what the size of your system is, my thoughts run to how those 4 fish will do at the same time in a QT tank, before you even get them to your display tank??? I guess if they can make it through QT, they will be a piece of cake for you in your display though.

 

[CarlaW]

If I am not mistaken, don't you already have a passer angel?

 

[balogh03]

I wouldnt go with the bi-color in a reef, i have tried and both LOVED the corals...although if it was me i normally try anything. Good luck

-augustus

 

[steve-s]

I want to experiment with dwarf angels. I really dig those guys so I am going to buy 4 (coral beauty, flame, bi-color and lemon peel) at one time and put them in together and let mother nature take her course. 175 gallon reef tank.

Tank size is not an issue as long as there's sufficient rock/claimable territories. Personally I would stick to three, not four but the main problem here is not going to be fish compatibility, it's whether or not the buffet is open or not.

The Coral Beauty and Bi-Color are hands down the riskiest and most likely to at least occasionally "sample". The Flame and Lemon are less likely but the potential is still there to damage/eat corals. There are few Angel fish you'll find that won't with the exception of Watanabe, Eibli, Lamarck and Blackspot. All should be considered "at risk".

 

[fancyfish]

I have two dwarfs..lemon peel and flame and a pygmy..cherub in a 180. no issue. they all graze and coexist peacefully. they have plenty of space to hide from each other. my flame and lemon went in at the same time. the cherub is 3 years old

 

[Salty D-O-G]

Yes I have a passer, I will be doing this in my new 175 that is about ready to start stocking. I have some live rubble coming next week for my sump to start seeding everything a little faster. As far as my 54 corner goes I will keep my regal tang and all my little fish. I hate to say it but the Passer and Fox Face will get traded in at the LFS. I would rather it be alive with tons of little things than just a few big things. Here's a pic of the rock set up now.

Jerry

 

[Salty D-O-G]

OK How bout a Flame, Flame Back, Lemon Peel, Eibli and my Pigmy.

Jerry

 

[steve-s]

Jerry,

Compatibility is really not that big of an issue for your system although I would forgo the pygmy, too small. As I said, choose three or your favorite, that will be your best bet for minimal aggressiveness and territorial problems. Personally I would go with the Lemonpeel, Flame and Eibli, the Flameback could potentially be a problem.

Now keep in mind that as you've noted, corals are at some point going to be added to the system. One or all of these fish will potentially eat them as well as the Regal tang. You need to be very attentive and stay on top of their dietary needs. The tang needs plenty of herbivore foods with some meat and the angels need a much wider variety of meats, sponge, algaes etc. Meet their needs and there's less a chance they'll consume corals.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

And do not forget that the Passer will most likely chase, nip and possibly kill smaller angels

 

[steve-s]

I hate to say it but the Passer and Fox Face will get traded in at the LFS.

Not an issue

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Thanks Steve, missed that.

 

[Caesar777]

(coral beauty, flame, bi-color and lemon peel)

The coral beauty and flame will be fine--you could do a pair of each, too. The bicolor is not only often non-reef-safe, but also non-living a lot of the time.

Flamebacks are B%^$*@ES! I wouldn't put them with anything except large angels and tangs. I've seen an inch-long specimen harass enormous 7-inch Caribbean butterflies--and had them running! There's one at work that's been in every tank in the fish system, too much of a butt-head to stay in any one for long! Avoid those and the similar "fireball angels". Frankly, while I had a cherub and loved him, he's in the same genus and very closely related, and I wouldn't trust those, either. But I only had mine with a large fourline wrasse, and they matched each other well.

Eiblii's can also be risky with corals, and especially clams and featherdusters. Of all the angels that I've seen nip coral, their favorites seem to be closed-brain-types, like Acan echinata, Platygyra, etc. Also zoanthids, which strangely I've seen more and more people whose rabbits have been eating zo's. Spotteds (orange-spot, black-spot), double-bar, and foxface seem to be the most common of the nibblers. Strange stuff.