Angels and Butterflies in The Reef Tank

fabutahoun · Mar 5, 2017

This Question Pops from time to time by may reefers who want to have angels or butterflies in there tanks. And As I am in Love with most of the Angelfish and butterflies out there. I think This Thread will be a good reference for other members.

I am curious to know about other R2R members who are keeping Angels, butterflies or Both. or kept them in the past, And I like to know your experience with them in a reef tank.

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Tank size :
What Kind Of Corals: SPS,LPS,Soft,Clams and other invertebrates
Fish Name:
Reef Safe or Not
If not reef-safe, what did it eat?

and Photos of yours will be great

fabutahoun · Mar 5, 2017

I will Start with my Emperor Angel and Semilarvatus Butterflyfish

Tank size : 180 Gallons
What Kind Of Corals: 80% sps with few Lps including Acans , Goniopora, Blastos and Euphyllia. and few zoa and one clam

Fish Name: Emperor Angel
Reef Safe or Not : 90% safe
If not reef-safe, what did it eat? one Acan then it stopped, and nipping on Zoa occasionally with no harm done

Fish Name: Semilarvatus Butterflyfish
Reef Safe or Not : 85% safe
If not reef-safe, what did it eat? nipping rarely on few Acropora without eating anything

Maritimer · Mar 5, 2017

It's an important topic!

These tall, graceful fish are iconic to the reef - that's where they're found, but sometimes it's because that's what they eat!

I'm currently keeping a coral beauty and a flame angelfish. I'd say the coral beauty is about as reef-safe as an angel can be - she nips randomly everywhere, but doesn't target corals and does no damage. The flame, on the other hand ... he kind of likes to beat up on things like acans and favias. Hasn't killed any yet, (several months) but does stress them.

~Bruce

LostInTheDark · Mar 5, 2017

I have 5 angels in my 225 mixed reef. Most of them were raised from juveniles. I get a kick out of watching them mature.
Queen
Emperor
Majestic
Flame
Flame Back
The only one I have ever seen picking occasionally is the queen on some green nepthea. I don't have a clam but I do have scallops and they don't even look at them.

fabutahoun · Mar 5, 2017

Maritimer said:
It's an important topic!

These tall, graceful fish are iconic to the reef - that's where they're found, but sometimes it's because that's what they eat!

I'm currently keeping a coral beauty and a flame angelfish. I'd say the coral beauty is about as reef-safe as an angel can be - she nips randomly everywhere, but doesn't target corals and does no damage. The flame, on the other hand ... he kind of likes to beat up on things like acans and favias. Hasn't killed any yet, (several months) but does stress them.

~Bruce

Thanks Bruce for your input on the topic, I a had similar experience with Coral Beauty 10 years ago. for Flame Angel never owned one but seem them in action they are a little mean.

LostInTheDark said:
I have 5 angels in my 225 mixed reef. Most of them were raised from juveniles. I get a kick out of watching them mature.
Queen
Emperor
Majestic
Flame
Flame Back
The only one I have ever seen picking occasionally is the queen on some green nepthea. I don't have a clam but I do have scallops and they don't even look at them.

Nice Fish Collection you have man !!!, are there any issues with all of them in 225 ? Maybe one important factors is they are brought together as juveniles? I have noticed the smaller you get the angles the more safe it turns out

fabutahoun · Mar 5, 2017

@Maritimer @LostInTheDark , guys we need photos for these beauties you have

watdachuck · Mar 5, 2017

Great thread!

tvu · Mar 5, 2017

I have a 180g with juvenile Emperor that's a model citizen.
My queen has mowed thru 3 types of birdsnest but all other SPS are left alone.

fabutahoun · Mar 5, 2017

tvu said:
I have a 180g with juvenile Emperor that's a model citizen.
My queen has mowed thru 3 types of birdsnest but all other SPS are left alone.

Beautiful, both fish are amazing, but have thought about any aggregation when both reach adult size.
Wish I can have a Queen Angel , it is so hard to get here in my region

fabutahoun · Mar 5, 2017

For butterflies, I had small experience with these in addition to Semilarvatus mentioned above

Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus)
Copperband Butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus)

These two were Reef safe fish and extra advantage they were eating aiptasia

On the other hand the following raccoons were not safe at all and eats everything

Raccoon Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula)
Red Sea Raccoon Butterflyfish (Chaetodon fasciatus) which you can fish it yourself in Saudi Arabia easily

Brad Syphus · Mar 5, 2017

At the moment I have 6 butterflies and 3 angels in my 335g reef.

fabutahoun · Mar 5, 2017

Brad Syphus said:
At the moment I have 6 butterflies and 3 angels in my 335g reef.

Nice Fish And Tank, Any nipping or coral eating issues?

Honestly , I am little shocked about the Bannerfish , I have seen one in reef tank and it was so destructive.

Brad Syphus · Mar 5, 2017

fabutahoun said:
Nice Fish And Tank, Any nipping or coral eating issues?

Honestly , I am little shocked about the Bannerfish , I have seen one in reef tank and it was so destructive.

He did eat my hammer coral. But other than that he has been fine

james983 · Mar 5, 2017

I have a Bluefaced Angel, Emperor Angel and a Tinker Butterfly in my 180. Mostly SPS and 1 clam. An occasional nip here and there but nothing to worry about.

Jason mack · Mar 5, 2017

Brad Syphus said:
At the moment I have 6 butterflies and 3 angels in my 335g reef.

That is amazing..wow!

saltyhog · Mar 5, 2017

Brad Syphus said:
He did eat my hammer coral. But other than that he has been fine

Which bannerfish, H. diphreutes or H. accuminata?

tvu · Mar 5, 2017

fabutahoun said:
Beautiful, both fish are amazing, but have thought about any aggregation when both reach adult size.
Wish I can have a Queen Angel , it is so hard to get here in my region

Currently the don't even acknowledge each other. I also have a juv yellow bellow blue tang, powder blue and naso. I've seen many tanks with large angels and no issue.

fabutahoun · Mar 6, 2017

Nice Fishies @james983 and @tvu keep posting the Good Stuff

Jason mack · Mar 6, 2017

I've also decided I'd like a copperband in my 90g . Although it will probably the only large fish I will have in there .. definitely gonna try and get a juvenile one though .. ! Thanks everyone for your advice !! I will keep you posted when I have one !

fabutahoun · Mar 6, 2017

Jason mack said:
I've also decided I'd like a copperband in my 90g . Although it will probably the only large fish I will have in there .. definitely gonna try and get a juvenile one though .. ! Thanks everyone for your advice !! I will keep you posted when I have one !

I Think the copperband will do fine in a 90 but make sure it is eating mysis or eating any other food before getting it, this fish is hard to feed. Good luck with it and keep us updated