I have a Potters Angel and Flame Angel in my tank that nip at just about everything. They graze all day but don't appear to be actually eating the corals. I've had them both for months and haven't noticed any tissue damage or loss of color in any of my corals. They are however the reason that I don't have much polyp extension in my SPS. I won't see any polyp extension in my acros during the day but do notice it at night when the fish are asleep. I haven't noticed any change in my LPS/softies. None of my corals have lost any color and all seem to be doing fine minus the lack of polyp extension but am curious if any of you think the constant nipping stunts the growth of the corals. I love both my dwarf angels and was even considering adding a third. I can live with the lack of polyp extension if it's not causing any actual harm to the corals. I don't really want to consider replacing the angels with others that may not nip because it's just such a hit or miss. I feed my tank 2-4 times a day so it's not that they're not getting fed enough. The dilemma between angels and corals...
Lack of polyp extension due to dwarf angels
- Thread starter Nandez13
- Start date
Haha, I hear ya, just couldn't picture my reef without my angels. Can't think of any other fish that I would choose to replace them.
- Location
- Howell, NJ
Unfortunately your not going to find an answer that will satisfy you. Its either deal with the angels eating and bothering the corals or get rid of the angels or corals... That simple 
- Location
- Brooklyn
LOL +1. I love how angels look but won't add them to my reef because I don't want them to nip at my corals
- Location
- Garden city
Tough choice because angels r awesome I had a cherub that kept acros closed at all times it was frustrating it ended up dying I still have an emperor and never see it nip ! But had a scribbled that also nipped and made sps not open /seemed to grow slow I decided for me sps was more important to me so I Havnt added any more if I ever have a full grown out reef I'd experiment with them again
Once your frags grow into colonies I find that the angles don't bother them as much. Even if they do, acros polyps are not out during the day in the wild so it would not be a problem. I have had pigmy angles in my reef for years, polyp extension suffers but the corals grow just fine. Really I think it just comes down to if it bothers you not to have polyp extension on your SPS.
It doesn't bother me that the polyps don't come out, I'm just concerned with the long term health of the corals. If I had noticed any damaged or dead corals, then I would've taken out the angels by now but that hasn't been the case. They have enough to graze on that they just nip at the corals every now and again. I'll just have to keep a close eye on the corals and if I ever happen to notice any damage, then I may have to get rid of the angels.
- Location
- Wallington, NJ
fish generally have different attitudes and tendencies... :/
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