Reef Safe (Kinda) Angelfish: What are your favorites & how did they do long term?

Have you ever had a Angelfish in your reef tank?

  • Yes and it was a model citizen (tell us which one)

    Votes: 210 34.1%
  • Yes but it did nip from time to time

    Votes: 90 14.6%
  • Yes but I had to remove it because it went rogue

    Votes: 36 5.9%
  • No but I would like to try one

    Votes: 177 28.8%
  • No and not interested

    Votes: 83 13.5%
  • Other (please explain)

    Votes: 19 3.1%

  • Total voters
    615

revhtree

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Reef Safe Angelfish = Kinda, but not really, could be, maybe and you never know!

No angelfish is truly 100% reef safe but some of these fish have a pretty good track record of leaving corals and inverts alone! The beauty of these fish often lure reefkeepers into taking a chance and housing them in their reef tanks! Sometimes it's successful and other times it's not! Today let's talk about your experience!

1. What is your favorite "mostly reef safe" angelfish?

2. What "mostly reef safe" angelfish have you had that went rogue?

3. What are some tips for keeping a "mostly reef safe" angelfish from eating your coral?


Spotbreast angelfish image via @fabutahoun
1-2-Fadi-Genicanthus melanospilos Female.jpg
 

lapin

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Emperor and Flame
Both are pretty good
Nip at some softies but only once in a while.
I feed them well
Live worms, live clams, live mussels and a lot of different forzen foods
 

ImaFlippinDolphin

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Following this one closely. I've avoided angelfish just to be safe, but would really like one.

I've had one be a model citizen with no interest whatsoever in even softies, which is why I rolled the dice this go around, I love the little guy but he got the taste now
 

WVNed

The fish are staring at me with hungry eyes.
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I only have a few corals but I have not seen them nip at them.
I have a koran, emperor and 2 bicolors
2021061808364127--2186764812117283193-IMG_3717-L.jpg

2021061808362206-5956988335789056504-IMG_3718-L.jpg

They were always part of the plan for the 240 so I thought the euphyllia would be goners but they havent touched them.
They grow really fast.
January of last year
IMG_2115-L.jpg
 

Goaway

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1. What is your favorite "mostly reef safe" angelfish?

I wanted a regal angelfish. Price is way too high for me to chance it.

2. What "mostly reef safe" angelfish have you had that went rogue?

Midnight angelfish. Had to go in 2 weeks.
Currently, I have an emperor angelfish, near 6 inches and will not allow me to keep clove polyps. His/her favorite snack.
What she has not touched
hammer coral, birds nest , brain coral (maybe favia) no clue. magi palys and random blue paly. Candy canes that I cannot grow for the life of me. Doesn't touch those.

3. What are some tips for keeping a "mostly reef safe" angelfish from eating your coral?

I believe it's just going to be the fish. And perhaps the age you obtained the fish. Never know what habbits will kick in.
Mine-
Loves nori and chopped mix of foods I make. I feed her probably 5 times to 7 times daily.
I may have to rehome her when she grows 2 to 3 more inches. I will be be sad.

Oh and if I miss a feeding she goes to the overflow and barks like crazy. I'm going to have to try and get that on video someday.

emper.jpg
 
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Shufflepig

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Have an Emperor and a Majestic angel. They don’t touch my sps or euphyllia. Cannot put acans, zoas or favia in the tank. They will definitely eat any of those corals.
 

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mfinn

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Over the years I've always had good luck with Flame and Coral Beauty Angels.
Had them long term too.
Had 1 Flame for 10 years and a Coral Beauty for nearly 14 years.
My current Flame has been with me about 5 years.
 

saltyhog

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I have kept a Watanabei angel long term that was completely reef safe (as are others in that genus). Flame angel, Flame Back were both too happy to eat zoas and nip LPS. SPS safe with all.
 

Pêcheur

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I love dwarf angels, probably my favorite fishes. They are spunky without being aggressive and extremely active.

I’ve had numerous Centropyge over the years and most have not bothered corals at all. Below is a list of the ones I’ve kept and how they’ve done. These were kept with LPS/SPS dominant tanks, with a few zoas:

  • 3 coral beauties (1 picked at a monti occasionally)
  • 3 lemonpeel (1 picked nipped at some LPS randomly)
  • 2 flame (no issues)
  • 2 potters (no issues)
  • 1 Multicolor (TBD, new setup)
So my experience with dwarf angels, not including the new Multicolor, 20% nipped at corals. That’s probably a high number for some people but a risk I’m willing to take for my favorite fish.
 

unchaotic

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My Singapore had the run of the FOWLR for two years. He picks at my nassarius snails but I think it's to get their eggs as they lay them. Just started adding corals and haven't seen any issues ... yet.
 

Llyod276

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My coral beauty, while common is my fav. But he does eat hammers. Also hes the beta of my tank, just after the sailfin.

Whybis therr not an option for, even though its rogue and eats corals I'm still keeping it?
 

Goaway

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My coral beauty, while common is my fav. But he does eat hammers. Also hes the beta of my tank, just after the sailfin.

Whybis therr not an option for, even though its rogue and eats corals I'm still keeping it?
Probably because most let the rogue go, while very few keep them. So,I agree there should be an option for keeping a rogue.
 

Aquatic acrobat in your aquarium: Have you ever kept an eel?

  • I currently keep an eel in my tank.

    Votes: 29 14.7%
  • I have kept an eel in my tank in the past.

    Votes: 33 16.8%
  • I have not kept an eel in my tank, but I hope to in the future.

    Votes: 35 17.8%
  • I have no plans to keep an eel.

    Votes: 97 49.2%
  • Other.

    Votes: 3 1.5%
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