Emperor angelfish with coral

[Porcupine Reefer]

has anyone kept emperor angelfish with lps or any coral in general, what are your experiences? did he eat them or did he leave them alone.

 

[IKD]

The general consensus is that it’s hit or miss in terms of their behavior (tend to be less reputable as they mature to adults). This post may be worth a read

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/emperor-angel-journey-from-juvenile-to-adult.464923/

 

[C_AWOL]

Generally sps, euphyllia for lps, and "bad tasting" softies like gsp, rhodactus mushrooms, various anemones are safe but your mileage will vary.
While not an emperor (none of mine have ever done so) I currently have a majestic that actively ate torch and hammer corals.

 

[wattsg30]

Generally sps, euphyllia for lps, and "bad tasting" softies like gsp, rhodactus mushrooms, various anemones are safe but your mileage will vary.
While not an emperor (none of mine have ever done so) I currently have a majestic that actively ate torch and hammer corals.

Your majestic completely ate torches and hammers or did it just pick?

 

[littlefoxx]

Yep had a tiny one in my biocube (which had corals) since he was too small for my main tank (with eels). This dude ate my elegance, hammer and duncans. My zoas died too from being closed up and picked at. Dude wasnt in there more than a month or so

 

[wattsg30]

Yep had a tiny one in my biocube (which had corals) since he was too small for my main tank (with eels). This dude ate my elegance, hammer and duncans. My zoas died too from being closed up and picked at. Dude wasnt in there more than a month or so

dang that’s a little surprising to me they went after Euphyllia

 

[C_AWOL]

Your majestic completely ate torches and hammers or did it just pick?

The particular one mentioned actively ate once it learned that it was edible.

 

[backbayreef]

So far — all my angels (blue, blueface, french, passer, imperator, and swallowtail) haven’t touched my LPS. They do nip at SPS though.

 

[wattsg30]

So far — all my angels (blue, blueface, french, passer, imperator, and swallowtail) haven’t touched my LPS. They do nip at SPS though.

What kind of LPS do you have and how long have you had all of these angels? Any aggression between them?

 

[backbayreef]

What kind of LPS do you have and how long have you had all of these angels? Any aggression between them?

Torches and hammers, so basically anything that move slightly, look toxic perhaps? I’ve had some before and got hit with velvet. I’ve restocked them with the last 2 months — not touching any corals. See video & my build thread.

Aggression: yes, my Blue is a bully but he settled down after a day/two after introducing new fish.

 

[wattsg30]

Torches and hammers, so basically anything that move slightly, look toxic perhaps? I’ve had some before and got hit with velvet. I’ve restocked them with the last 2 months — not touching any corals. See video & my build thread.

Aggression: yes, my Blue is a bully but he settled down after a day/two after introducing new fish.

That’s awesome! I love all of those angels. I’m glad to hear they haven’t bothered corals and they get along with each other for the most part. I want to try a queen, emperor, blue face and majestic in my 270. Think it’s worth the risk?

 

[backbayreef]

That’s awesome! I love all of those angels. I’m glad to hear they haven’t bothered corals and they get along with each other for the most part. I want to try a queen, emperor, blue face and majestic in my 270. Think it’s worth the risk?

The Queen/Blue can be aggressive but you can get a smaller one than the others above. My Imperator & BlueFace have been very friendly. I think the key is to keep them well-fed. I feed 4 sheets of nori, pellets, flakes, and brine/mysis everyday! These guys are pigs … not to mention my tangs as well.

 

[EliMelly]

Torches and hammers, so basically anything that move slightly, look toxic perhaps? I’ve had some before and got hit with velvet. I’ve restocked them with the last 2 months — not touching any corals. See video & my build thread.

Aggression: yes, my Blue is a bully but he settled down after a day/two after introducing new fish.

Congrats on the new fish man

 

[wattsg30]

The Queen/Blue can be aggressive but you can get a smaller one than the others above. My Imperator & BlueFace have been very friendly. I think the key is to keep them well-fed. I feed 4 sheets of nori, pellets, flakes, and brine/mysis everyday! These guys are pigs … not to mention my tangs as well.

Oh I keep my fish very well fed. 3-4 sheets of nori and a combo of mysis, squid, clams, bloodworms and fish eggs all soaked in Selcon daily.

I planned on getting all of the angels as juveniles as small as I could, all at the same time. Do you think I should do that for all of them except the queen?

 

[backbayreef]

Congrats on the new fish man

Thanks — it’s been a stressful 4 months. I think that the tank is stable now after gone fallow for 2 months.

 

[EliMelly]

Thanks — it’s been a stressful 4 months. I think that the tank is stable now after gone fallow for 2 months.

Wow so fallow period all done? No more disease?

 

[C_AWOL]

That’s awesome! I love all of those angels. I’m glad to hear they haven’t bothered corals and they get along with each other for the most part. I want to try a queen, emperor, blue face and majestic in my 270. Think it’s worth the risk?

Angels in my opinion are always worth the risk.
Would strongly suggest adding them all at once if possible or if not then staggering by size (smaller to bigger is preferred by aggression)

 

[wattsg30]

Angels in my opinion are always worth the risk.
Would strongly suggest adding them all at once if possible or if not then staggering by size (smaller to bigger is preferred by aggression)

Love your tank. How’s the aggression? I planned on getting them all as small as I could all at the same time.

The tank will be 270 gallons 84”x30”x25. I’m looking at a combination of the following angels. How many do you think I could get away with?

Emperor Angel
Blue face Angel
Queen Angel
Majestic Angel
Regal Angel
Blue Line Angel

 

[C_AWOL]

Emperor dominates the tank (as expected from all the ones I own) despite the queen being bigger.

No major aggression happens but you can always tell when the emperor is upset at someone when they grunt.

That proposed list is similar to mine as far as med/lg angels are concerned but instead of the blue line I have 1 extra regal and a flag fin.

I wouldn't be against doing all of them in that size of a tank but definitely make sure the regal + magestic are the largest to start since they grow the slowest of your list. The queen, blue face, and emperor will outpace them in growth fairly quickly

 

[wattsg30]

Emperor dominates the tank (as expected from all the ones I own) despite the queen being bigger.

No major aggression happens but you can always tell when the emperor is upset at someone when they grunt.

That proposed list is similar to mine as far as med/lg angels are concerned but instead of the blue line I have 1 extra regal and a flag fin.

I wouldn't be against doing all of them in that size of a tank but definitely make sure the regal + magestic are the largest to start since they grow the slowest of your list. The queen, blue face, and emperor will outpace them in growth fairly quickly

I’m surprised the queen doesn’t dominate. I figured it would be a toss up between those two. What size is your tank? I would love to get them all or swap one of them out for an Annualaris.

Thanks for the tip on starting with the smaller ones first. I’ll definitely do that.