Flame angel appetite

[pseudorand]

I really want a flame angel, but they're not reef safe. Yet here's one in a tank flush with corals. Obviously it's not an "angels are guaranteed to eat all your corals" thing, so what is it? What am I likey to loose? Is it highly dependant on the individual fish? Do well-fed fish not nip polyps, but when I switch to dry/auto-feeder for vacation he'll destroy the tank? Will he be fine for years and then one day discover coral and ravage everything?

I already have a Japanese swallow-tail genocanthus, but I want a flame too.

I'm posting in the SPS forum because I expect the answer is that he'll most likely to pester my sticks to death.

Is it just a roll of the dice, or are there any certainties?

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

It's a roll of the dice. Well fed fish are Less likely to nip corals, and some may go years without, then overnight, decide your acan garden is dinner..

 

[ScottB]

Your odds of potential damage increase with frags. With established colonies, they might take a nip, but the damage won't be (as) evident. You might also not see as much polyp extension with a nipper in there.

Truth is you just never know if/when a given angel will nip.

 

[G Santana]

My little slice of Fire is a perfect Angel.
I wouldn't have a tank without one.
My must have fish along with Purple tang, Yellow tang and mandarin.

 

[Jeffcb]

Hit or miss. I have a Flameback, similar, that was a model citizen until I added a scolymia. He just couldn't resist it. It was a real pain catching him for removal. Ended up having to drain the tank to get him out. He is happily swimming with the big fish in my FOWLR tank now. Roll the dice :cool: