Keeping two dwarf angels together

[Baldyreef]

Hey everyone im setting up a 80g 32x24x24 reef tank and will be transferring some of my existing fish into there including my coral beauty
, I would really love to have another dwarf angelfish like a flameback or a hybrid from @Decamicron Labs. Does anyone know if I this can be done and if so any tips and tricks?

 

[saltwaterfish.com Verified Sponsor]

Congrats on the new set up! How large is the coral beauty that you have now? If it is still young it will be a lot easier to introduce a new dwarf angel into the tank with it, you wanna stick to one that's around the same size if the coral beauty is not an adult. If the coral beauty is already an adult you could try adding a baby angelfish with it, but there will always be a risk of aggression towards it.

 

[Baldyreef]

Congrats on the new set up! How large is the coral beauty that you have now? If it is still young it will be a lot easier to introduce a new dwarf angel into the tank with it, you wanna stick to one that's around the same size if the coral beauty is not an adult. If the coral beauty is already an adult you could try adding a baby angelfish with it, but there will always be a risk of aggression towards it.

thanks! the coral beauty is about 3 inches so pretty close to adulthood

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hey everyone im setting up a 80g 32x24x24 reef tank and will be transferring some of my existing fish into there including my coral beauty
, I would really love to have another dwarf angelfish like a flameback or a hybrid from @Decamicron Labs. Does anyone know if I this can be done and if so any tips and tricks?

Flamebacks can be pretty territorial against other pygmy angels, despite their smaller size.

 

[Baldyreef]

Flamebacks can be pretty territorial against other pygmy angels, despite their smaller size.

definitely didn't know that, thank you very much for that info, what other types do you guys recommend? I've been considering the flavissima/vroliki hybrid or maybe a flame angel?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

definitely didn't know that, thank you very much for that info, what other types do you guys recommend? I've been considering the flavissima/vroliki hybrid or maybe a flame angel?

Mixing Centropyge angels is always a bit of a "crap shoot" - I can't really gauge how it might turn out, fish tend to show different behaviors, depending on a lot of variables (tank size, hiding areas, species involved, etc.). I usually stick to a single Centropyge in tanks less than about 200 gallons, but I know that this works out for some folks. I do feel that if you try it, you should have a "plan B", in case any fighting doesn't settle down after a few days....

 

[Baldyreef]

definitely didn't know that, thank you very much for that info, what other types do you guys recommend? I've been considering the flavissima/vroliki hybrid or maybe a flame angel?

Mixing Centropyge angels is always a bit of a "crap shoot" - I can't really gauge how it might turn out, fish tend to show different behaviors, depending on a lot of variables (tank size, hiding areas, species involved, etc.). I usually stick to a single Centropyge in tanks less than about 200 gallons, but I know that this works out for some folks. I do feel that if you try it, you should have a "plan B", in case any fighting doesn't settle down after a few days....

I will definitely have a plan B of most likely putting it in a different tank or just to my lfs depending on which angel I might get

 

[Largeangels]

Like Jay said it is sometimes a crap shoot. If I try and mix I first always QT with meds for 30 days. Then usually keep them another 4 weeks to get them to really eat well whatever food I normally feed the tank they are going in. Then I put them in a specimen container to watch the interaction for a few days. I always make sure I have a backup plan to catch one or the other if things get a too rough.

 

[exnisstech]

My only experience is with a CB and flame. CB was in first and when I added the flame all was great. Tank is 7ft 330g with lots of rock. A little over a year after adding the flame the CB decided the tank wasn't large enough for them both and it started attacking the flame. By the time I was able to net the flame it was badly damaged and died a couple of weeks later.

 

[Baldyreef]

Like Jay said it is sometimes a crap shoot. If I try and mix I first always QT with meds for 30 days. Then usually keep them another 4 weeks to get them to really eat well whatever food I normally feed the tank they are going in. Then I put them in a specimen container to watch the interaction for a few days. I always make sure I have a backup plan to catch one or the other if things get a too rough.

yeah I'm definitely planning on getting a specimen box to observe them but I am wondering which one should I put in the box? bigger or smaller?

 

[Baldyreef]

My only experience is with a CB and flame. CB was in first and when I added the flame all was great. Tank is 7ft 330g with lots of rock. A little over a year after adding the flame the CB decided the tank wasn't large enough for them both and it started attacking the flame. By the time I was able to net the flame it was badly damaged and died a couple of weeks later.

yeah the more I read and research into it the more discouraging it gets, I see some great successes but I see more deaths than success, I'm definitely reconsidering taking the chance especially due to the fact that I've had my coral beauty from a really tiny size

 

[Decamicron Labs Verified Sponsor]

I appreciate the shoutout @Baldyreef!

Pygmy angelfish can indeed be quite aggressive. We actually have a trio of flamebacks that were spawning in a 48" 60 gallon. We kept them together for an extended period of time in a 20 gallon while doing tank transfer before putting them into the bigger aquarium. I added them to the 60 gallon that had a harem of 4 golden angelfish and they were all fine for maybe half a year? I then added a pair of Colini angelfish from Bali Aquarich and they started being incredibly aggressive to the newcomers, so now the flamebacks are back in a 20 gallon. They seem fine in there. There's the usual chase here and there, but they all get along.

I think the most important thing is probably to keep them well fed. I have autofeeders that go off 3-6 times a day depending on the tank.

 

[Decamicron Labs Verified Sponsor]

yeah the more I read and research into it the more discouraging it gets, I see some great successes but I see more deaths than success, I'm definitely reconsidering taking the chance especially due to the fact that I've had my coral beauty from a really tiny size

If you're worried about it, I wouldn't suggest it. My track record for mixing some of the more aggressive species in the genus isn't great.

 

[Baldyreef]

If you're worried about it, I wouldn't suggest it. My track record for mixing some of the more aggressive species in the genus isn't great.

yeah I think I'm gonna opt out of mixing entirely

 

[Baldyreef]

Thanks for all the great help and advice everyone!

 

[kingblackbolt]

I had my coral beauty for about 18 months then I introduced a smaller flameback. Had the flame in observation box for a couple days and beauty didn’t seem at all interested. When I released the flame it was right next to beauty for a few days but now they get along fine. Still some chasing but I have lots of rocks with ample hides so they can always take a break

 

[mfinn]

I've been able to keep Coral Beauty's and Flames together.