Flame Angel

[Reefer007]

Hello all,

 

I am looking forward to purchasing a flame angel as my last fish for my Red Sea Max.

 

I've had mixed reviews from different people/LFS that I have talked to regarding this colorful critter.

 

I've heard good things such as it being one of the hardiest pygmy angels and one of the most behave in regards as nipping at corals.

 

On the other hand, other people I've spoken to tell me the opposite. They say this fish doesnt do well in captivity and at max I'll have 3-4 months in my tank before they die. And others also claim that it is more than likely to nip at any corals I may have.

 

Currently I have:

 

2 false percula clowns

yellow clown goby

sixline wrasse

purple firefish

Bubble Coral

Green Open Brain

Red Open Brain

Sun Coral

Various Zoos

 

Planning on:

Torch

Frogspawn

Hammer Coral

Mushrooms

Rics

and more Zoos

 

I really want this as my last fish for its vivrant colors and it looks like a fish that will really stand out in my tank.

 

My main concern is the lifespan of this creature and that it will do well in captivity. I'm just so confused with all the contradictory reviews,

 

Please, any imput will be appreciated.

 

Thanks

[supreme_spork]

Hello all,

 

I am looking forward to purchasing a flame angel as my last fish for my Red Sea Max.

 

Currently I have:

 

2 false percula clowns

yellow clown goby

sixline wrasse

purple firefish

 

 

Thanks

 

I think you're already running at 100%+ for an RSM, and a flame angel isn't exactly a negligible addition...

[bigredreefer]

How big is the tank?

 

In my experience, they only nip if either you don't feed or if you feed coral and it takes a while for it to digest (such as acans or rics) then it will steel the food. I had a clown who did the same and I did feed for like a week and he picked at my acans thinking there would be food inside. Moral of story, don't forget to feed.

 

RED

[StevieT]

i'd say you are getting pretty well stocked for a RSM (Red- 34 total gallons). The flame is a larger fish, it would most likely be a hit on your bioload. That said, I have 5 total swimming fish in my RSM, the largest being a coral beauty (very similar to a flame). It may work...

[kinetic]

I'd say you already have pushed the limit of how many fish you can have in the RSM.

 

The flame angels are constant grazers, and there is no doubt that they nip at corals.

 

Mine eats any digitata that hits the water within a day. It also eats xenia (a good thing I guess) but leaves all else alone. Each will have a taste for different things, but you are putting a true coral eater into your tank whether you want to believe it or not. You might get lucky, sure, but don't persuade yourself that it's a safe bet just because some people say otherwise.

 

I have mine in a 40g breeder and the tank is too small for it. I will be giving him to my friend's FOWLR 10 foot 375g tank.

[Reefer007]

Already at my limit. . . .

 

Well that sucks.

 

But thats good to note. I really wanted one, but if its gonna affect my bioload a bunch, I rather skip it.

 

Maybe done the line if one of my fishes die (hopefully not).

 

Dang, but would it really be a problem?

 

Say if I feed every 3 days and do 10-15% water changes weekly?

 

Or is it completely out of the question?

[Withers]

Feeding less will exponentially raise the chance of him nipping at corals.

[Reefer007]

Feeding less will exponentially raise the chance of him nipping at corals.

 

Well thats true.

 

Damn it!

 

Maybe my next tank.

[Toomin]

Well thats true.

 

Damn it!

 

Maybe my next tank.

 

too bad then.

[Urchinhead]

Having been in the same boat as you and having had one of these before they do graze constantly and tend to end up nipping as they get bigger. Its just hit or miss from what I understand. Perhaps you may want to consider the same fish I did which is a Starcki Damsel. It isn't as aggressive as most damselfish aka devilfish (I know this is relative and I have a low-moderate aggressive tank with 2 clowns and a wrasse already) and it has a similar coloration without the corresponding coral nipping potential.

 

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di...cfm?pCatId=1511

 

Edit: Pardon me for some reason I mis-read flame angel with flameback angel.

 

UH

[masterbuilder]

I agree with everyone....your at the max bioload. Actually, I think you already have too many fish. If it were my tank I would take one or two back and get some nice corals in exchange.

[kinetic]

I agree with the above, you sort of already went over your limit, but I guess if you keep up with water changes enough you could pull it off.

 

In my 40g tank, I only have 3 fish, and I think it's already too small. (2x ocellaris, 1x flame angel).

[KEdwards]

Ive never had long term success with this species. No more than 6 or 7 months. Tried twice. Got along fine with peaceful tankmates.They just disappeared one day.

[The Nomad]

So, has anyone had a positive non coral eating flame angel experience? I'm considering one in my 55g.

[junkitu]

So, has anyone had a positive non coral eating flame angel experience? I'm considering one in my 55g.

I've had mine for almost a year and a half in my AP24 without incident. Other fish are a b&w occelaris clown (over a year and a half) and a yasha goby (about 8 months).

[The Nomad]

I've had mine for almost a year and a half in my AP24 without incident. Other fish are a b&w occelaris clown (over a year and a half) and a yasha goby (about 8 months).

They seem a very personable fish. Any aggressive incidents?

[texasdfwreefer]

I think you would be fine if you added a flame angel to your tank i had one in my 24 gallon aquapod for 8 months and did not have any problems with him eating/nipping at my corals (i fed everyday and did 15% waterchanges every week-no problem with nitrates ammonia, etc). Additional fish that were in my tank at the time were two small false percs and a small yelo watchman goby. Seeing that you have 2 percs, a sixline, and a purple firefish (yellow clown goby too small to consider) in a 34 gallon i think a flame angel would be a perfect addition to your tank. From my expereince Flame Angels add alot of personality and colour to an aquarium and are realitivly easy to care for. If you have any doubts for some reason you should consider a smaller type of angel like a pygmy angel. I have one in another tank that i have (12gallon ap) and hes almost as fun to watch as a flame.

[The Nomad]

I think you would be fine if you added a flame angel to your tank i had one in my 24 gallon aquapod for 8 months and did not have any problems with him eating/nipping at my corals (i fed everyday and did 15% waterchanges every week-no problem with nitrates ammonia, etc). Additional fish that were in my tank at the time were two small false percs and a small yelo watchman goby. Seeing that you have 2 percs, a sixline, and a purple firefish (yellow clown goby too small to consider) in a 34 gallon i think a flame angel would be a perfect addition to your tank. From my expereince Flame Angels add alot of personality and colour to an aquarium and are realitivly easy to care for. If you have any doubts for some reason you should consider a smaller type of angel like a pygmy angel. I have one in another tank that i have (12gallon ap) and hes almost as fun to watch as a flame.

Thanks! My 55 has a couple of anthias in it so it gets fed twice a day.

 

So no real problems with aggressiveness? My other fish are chromis, royal gramma, dragon goby, pink and blue spot goby and a filefish.