Coral eating tendencies in dwarf angel observations

Do you have a coral eating (or nipping) dwarf angel?

  • Yes, purchased as an adult

    Votes: 3 37.5%
  • No, purchased as an adult

    Votes: 1 12.5%
  • Yes, purchased as a juvenile. (Not sub-adult)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • No, purchased as a juvenile. (Not sub-adult)

    Votes: 4 50.0%

  • Total voters
    8

uhgster1

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 2, 2015
Messages
993
Reaction score
1,610
Location
Clarksville, TN
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I was going through some threads concerning dwarf angels, specifically flame angels, eating corals and a thought occurred to me. Is the tendency to eat corals more prevalent in very young fish or adults? I’ve own two personally and known of several others, both of my fish were purchased as very young specimens and I never had any coral nipping issues. My friends with nippers purchased theirs as adults. Is it possible that coral nipping is a learned behavior, curbed in young well fed aquarium raised fish? Or is it a regional thing, where supposedly the “redder” fish tend to be more likely to eat corals?
image.jpg
I think there’s enough information on just this forum gathered to make some educated observations.
 

tjohnson3

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 28, 2021
Messages
1,360
Reaction score
1,427
Location
Tomball, TX
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
It’s been my experience, that the “taste” develops as the fish gets older… the juveniles are more curious, and will “nip” to start figuring out what they like and don’t like. Once they figure it out, it’s lunch time lol But it really depends on the fish… they have different personalities and habits. Some will go their entire lives without touching a coral, some will now everything in their path
 

Saltyanimals

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 4, 2016
Messages
1,001
Reaction score
455
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I had my last for almost 5 yrs. never nipped. New one was purchased about 2 inch and I see him occasionally nip at sps. However it’s only a couple corals and not enough to cause any issues yet. I’m okay as long as it leaves the meatier lps alone. All depends on the personality of the fish. I considered tested its appetite while in QT, but stopped myself when I considered that may be training it to eat sps. Ymmv.
 

jtf74

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
May 20, 2020
Messages
640
Reaction score
493
Location
Washougal,WA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Have a fully grown flame purchased from fellow reefer so not sure what size it was when they bought it. Have no trouble with that large flame, my medium bicolor, or my cbb for that matter. Mine are very well fed and fat so I think that helps.
 

A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

  • I currently have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 73 37.8%
  • Not currently, but I have had feather dusters in my tank in the past.

    Votes: 66 34.2%
  • I have not had feather dusters, but I hope to in the future.

    Votes: 25 13.0%
  • I have no plans to have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 28 14.5%
  • Other.

    Votes: 1 0.5%
Back
Top