Is Lamarck's Angelfish really reef safe

iyad_nadi · Aug 20, 2015

Is Lamarck's Angelfish really reef safe I plan to get one for my125G reef tank I like this fish any experience with this fish please

Oscaror · Aug 20, 2015

No angelfish is truly reef safe :/

eatbreakfast · Aug 20, 2015

Lamarks are a Genicanthus species, which are considered reef safe.

AlexG · Aug 21, 2015

Angels are a gamble in any reef tank. Some never touch corals while others eat everything. The most difficult issue with angels is they might not actively eat corals but they might pick every now and then which can stress out corals. This is why I am making a double tank system. I don't trust angels in the reef so they will be in the big fish tank with some other non reef safe fish.

Daniel@R2R · Aug 21, 2015

Like @eatbreakfast said, the Genicanthus species are reef safe. It's a different group of angels from the kind that tend to nip at corals.

jlanger · Aug 21, 2015

I have had a Lamarck's Angelfish in my 120gal reef for over two years with no issues of nipping at corals (SPS/LPS/Polyps) or clams.
I purchased the fish as a small female and it is now transitioning into a male so it has become a bit more belligerent; as all angels do.
I consider them to be very "reef safe".

ReefMadScientist · Aug 21, 2015

Not a real pretty fish for the risk.

Also, there is no Yes or No answer to this as every fish is different. I had a Coral Beauty for years and no issues...could it have grown to like nipping corals....possibly. But then you can go buy a Coral Beauty and it may love eating corals from the get-go.

Daniel@R2R · Aug 21, 2015

ReefMadScientist said:
Not a real pretty fish for the risk.

Also, there is no Yes or No answer to this as every fish is different. I had a Coral Beauty for years and no issues...could it have grown to like nipping corals....possibly. But then you can go buy a Coral Beauty and it may love eating corals from the get-go.

But you do realize that a coral beauty is not in the same group of angels as a Lamarck's, right? The Genicanthus angels are considered reef safe while most dwarf angels (the Centropyge angels) like a Coral Beauty are considered to be in the "with caution" category. I agree that every fish is different...on a rare occasion a tang will eat corals too...but they're still considered generally reef safe, and they generally don't bother corals or inverts.

jlanger · Aug 21, 2015

ReefMadScientist said:
Not a real pretty fish for the risk.

Oh... I would have to disagree...
The blue and silver colors sparkle under reef lighting.

erk · Aug 21, 2015

http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Genicanthus-lamarck.html

Genicanthus lamarck is a pelagic feeder.

From Fishbase:

"Form aggregations to feed in midwater well above the bottom; harems of 3-7 individuals. Feeds on plankton."

As stated before, the Genicanthus genus is most likely the only reef safe angel available. Just know it will compete with Anthias and Chromis for food in the water column and there could be some aggression due to this.

erk · Aug 21, 2015

And I agree. They are a pretty fish. I can't wait to setup a larger tank to be able to keep one of the Genicanthus angels.

WesF · Aug 21, 2015

I've had one in my tank for about five years and he hasn't bothered anything. He is very big now.

HOWEVER, a couple years ago I added a female in an attempt to pair them. And she started nipping almost right away so I removed her.

So yeah it's a gamble. Statistically 50/50 for me. But I think real life odds are a little better than that.

3dees · Aug 21, 2015

they are absolutely reef safe. they are planktivores. I added a 1 1/2 inch female about 8 months ago. now about 4 inches. she never goes near any coral, but is becoming a bully.

bevans116 · Aug 21, 2015

I had one that had to go. He liked to pick at acans and they stopped expanding.

Mr tap water · Aug 21, 2015

I've had mine now for about six months and as far as I'm aware hasn't touched anything it just keeps to its self

also have these guys to all four get on well and all leave my reef alone.

iyad_nadi · Aug 21, 2015

jlanger said:
Oh... I would have to disagree...
The blue and silver colors sparkle under reef lighting.

thanks all for ur replay
its absolutely Beautiful fish I will go for it and its freeee man ;)

Nep2nzReef · Feb 22, 2019

Again I'm coming in late in here but I thought my recent experience would be of some value in case someone else is looking. YES, they will eat corals. No doubt about it.
I have had this fish in a 240g mixed reef for over a year. LPS and SPS, mostly SPS. I recently purchased a very expensive Acropora tenuis frag that I had acclimating in a rack on the side of the tank before being permanently mounted. When I first placed the frag in the rack I noticed my Lamarck's took notice of it but didn't touch it, no worries. The next day I stopped to observe the tank and the Lamarck's was actively pecking at it. I immediately removed the frag to a safe location, set a trap and was fortunate enough to be able to trap the fish. Sadly (and very expensively) the frag is down to maybe 3 polyps. I'm hoping I'm able to nurse those and bring it back, slim hope though it may be.
This isn't the only tenuis in my tank. This isn't the only frag that was in the rack. What made my Genicanthus lamarck decide to make a snack of THIS particular frag who knows. I learned a very expensive lesson.

Mistahman · Aug 16, 2020

I guess I have had bad luck with (reef safe angels). I’ve had a Lamarck & a Swallowtail that were extremely destructive to my reef. The Lamarck was tearing my elegance to shreds. The swallowtail was sampling everything in the tank.
Old thread, maybe this will help someone.

Brandon Johnson · Sep 25, 2021

erk said:
http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Genicanthus-lamarck.html

Genicanthus lamarck is a pelagic feeder.

From Fishbase:

"Form aggregations to feed in midwater well above the bottom; harems of 3-7 individuals. Feeds on plankton."

As stated before, the Genicanthus genus is most likely the only reef safe angel available. Just know it will compete with Anthias and Chromis for food in the water column and there could be some aggression due to this.

I have both the Lamarck and 2 green chromis and this is true, my angel has become aggressive chasing the chromis and picking at my green goni.

SEWIreefer · Sep 25, 2021

iyad_nadi said:
Is Lamarck's Angelfish really reef safe I plan to get one for my125G reef tank I like this fish any experience with this fish please

The angles in this Genus are not like the other dwarf species, have a different natural diet and should leave your coral alone. These are on my personal short list for reef safe angles. Still deciding between the Lamarck, the Bellas, and the Watanabei