Flame Angel that was reef safe, new tank = new behavior?

[Fitz19d]

Considering a guys Flame Angel. He says it's been 100% reef friendly leaving clam/coral alone. He has to break down and I'm moving so not ideal time. Will be going from 55g to a 125g.

I'm wondering if it was reef safe for him, is it likely at all in new environments that it would go back to eating things like a lot of angels do? Or as long as he's fed and corals healthy I'm fine?

[maddmaxx]

flames are generally ok in reefs. and more times than any its the larger angels that pic on corals. my concern would be the actual switch for the flame.... its going from an established reef to ur reef then breaking down your tank, transporting it, then setting back up, going thru some sort of cycle again....that's a lottttt of stress for the fish, and may not really make it. and even if you made the move first. having the flame go from an established reef to a newly set up reef may be hard for him....just keep these in mind...

[FTDelta]

Dwarf angels are crap shoot when it comes to being 'reef-safe' with corals. A majority are not but you never know. You may get lucky with one that won't bother them.

[Sk8r]

It's also a question of what corals he's ignored, vs what new corals he might meet under your management.

[Fitz19d]

flames are generally ok in reefs. and more times than any its the larger angels that pic on corals. my concern would be the actual switch for the flame.... its going from an established reef to ur reef then breaking down your tank, transporting it, then setting back up, going thru some sort of cycle again....that's a lottttt of stress for the fish, and may not really make it. and even if you made the move first. having the flame go from an established reef to a newly set up reef may be hard for him....just keep these in mind...

The tank he was in died off a year ago and was a tank with one leather and rest basically fowlr. (Was a big reef, slimer killed everything, guy got fed up and let it go.)

I bought all the rock which is waiting for my big tank. Given the rock disturbing and lack of corals in there imagine it's not happy there. Also why I wonder if after being away from coral might get hungry for my well kept looking ones.

The multiple moves is certainly bad. Short distances at least, so hoping about a month to settle in would be enough time to calm down.

If it helps, he'd maybe be coming with other tankmates of his.

[Beandawg]

Don't do it. I had a flame angel that was fine with my corals. I got another flame angel to make a pair. The new flame LOVED corals, and taught the original flame to eat them too. Took the new flame out, and the old flame still had a taste for corals. I ended up getting rid of both. Never again.

[Guygettnby]

any kind of angel will be taking a chance. there is no such thing as a 100% reef safe angel. he may have been fine in the other guys tank, with his corals and his fish. but that doesnt mean you may be as lucky. you may have different fish or different corals that the angel just likes. you may feed different then the other guy or maybe not as often.

point is go for it if you want to gamble on it. i have had good luck with my current potters angel. but thats not to say he doesnt change on me one day as it has been known to happen.

[Fitz19d]

My other option if stubborn enough would be putting it in my aggressive tank of sorts. small 5 inch fumanchu lionfish which has been leaving my 1 inch tomato alone despite it hovering in it's face and a peacock mantis which while huge, I've had a hard time finding any agression in. Doesn't use it's smashers even when provoked, only on occasional rocks or hard prey.

That tank would be close to FOWLR. Probably low light corals. Shrooms/anthelia etc. So might be a good compromise if I can get the 3 to play along.

[Guygettnby]

My other option if stubborn enough would be putting it in my aggressive tank of sorts. small 5 inch fumanchu lionfish which has been leaving my 1 inch tomato alone despite it hovering in it's face and a peacock mantis which while huge, I've had a hard time finding any agression in. Doesn't use it's smashers even when provoked, only on occasional rocks or hard prey.

That tank would be close to FOWLR. Probably low light corals. Shrooms/anthelia etc. So might be a good compromise if I can get the 3 to play along.


you could try that but the angel will be around the mantis alot more then the clown since the angel picks at the rocks all day long for algea. also depending on the size of the angel you never know how the lion fish will react to it in the tank.

so if you feel like chancing it then go ahead, but i wouldnt chance killing the fish IMO