Potters Angel...Reef safe?

Jadams · 01/09/2009, 01:25 PM

Anyone have any experience with a Potters Angel? I'm thinking about getting one. I currently have a 40g breeder with 1 percula clown & 1 small blue tang (1"). No other fish.

As far as corals, I have mostly SPS corals. not much else...

thanks for your input!

firsthesitation · 01/09/2009, 01:32 PM

In my few experiences with dwarf angels they all picked at one or more of my corals.

tomocean · 01/09/2009, 01:54 PM

It really varies, individual fish to fish, even in the same Centropyge species. Some might be well behaved most of the time, some never. The bigger your tank, the lesser the effect that their "sampling" might have.

sunfish11 · 01/09/2009, 02:07 PM

Mine is behaved now, but before it started eating prepared foods, it ate a few polyps of bowerbanki. I moved the coral to another tank. I have 3 dwarf angels in my 210 with no pickers as well as a cherub angel in my 34 that doesn't pick. Keep them well fed and I think you have less chance of coral picking.

Lisa

90sShooter · 01/09/2009, 02:39 PM

Just keep him fed. You have the same chances as a flame angel and I have kept a flame for the last 4 months with no issues... I say do it! I was deciding between the flame and potter's the potters is sick though!

Jadams · 01/09/2009, 02:47 PM

Thanks everyone. Im going to do a bit more research before i make a final decision, I just love the look of this fish

TWallace · 01/09/2009, 03:03 PM

I've never had an issue with any dwarf angel irritating a coral. I have had them bother clams, though. From what I've read, the lemon peel is the most likely to bother corals (I've never kept one, though). I've had a few Potter's over the years and currently have one in my 120g mostly SPS reef. I've got leathers, zoanthids, an acan, a micromusa and a candy cane as well, no problems.

Jadams · 01/09/2009, 03:07 PM

hmm, that makes me think even more now... I also have 2 clams. 1 Squamosa, and 1 Maxima

BigJay · 01/09/2009, 03:18 PM

I have a potter's, a flame, and a coral beauty in a 180 gallon.

I keep them well fed so that none of them nip corals, though they do nip one another from time to time.

Bernie21 · 01/09/2009, 03:25 PM

I agree w all of the above, the bigger tank the less damage, keep him fed, less likely to pick, I actually have a potters and she huge & FAT!!! she's about 4-5", she is truely an Angel, I have no problems w her.

rhoptowit · 01/09/2009, 03:58 PM

i have a potters in my 65 gallon and it has touched nothing or bothered anything.

Peter Eichler · 01/09/2009, 04:26 PM

The notion of keeping one "fed" is kinda comical... These fish will eat almost constantly when awake. It's also a total crap shoot on if you get one that will pick on corals and clams. I'd say clams and LPS corals, especially brain types are the most targeted. Last thing to consider... It can be pretty tough getting a good specimen and Potter's are often known to struggle and die in captivity in the first few weeks and have a tough time adjusting to aquarioum life. Personally I think they're much better suited for larger tanks than a 40 gal.

sunfish11 · 01/09/2009, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bernie21
I agree w all of the above, the bigger tank the less damage, keep him fed, less likely to pick, I actually have a potters and she huge & FAT!!! she's about 4-5", she is truely an Angel, I have no problems w her.

She is surely a He... If it is that large, and alone in the tank, the angel will have become a male.

Lisa

Spartanman22 · 01/09/2009, 07:39 PM

I have had two potters in the past and both are model citizens they only pick algae off the rocks.

Spartanman22 · 01/09/2009, 07:40 PM

But in my experience with them they have been reluctant to eat frozen foods. Maybe that was just a fluke for me but you might want to take it into consideration.

snorvich · 01/09/2009, 07:44 PM

The larger the tank, the less likely there will be problems because, as Peter says above, they eat constantly.

reefworm · 01/09/2009, 07:48 PM

I agree with Peter - it's a crap shoot with any Centropyge sp.. My CB was truly well-fed, and a model citizen for over 8 months, then started relentlessly nipping the open brain. Others have posted similar behavior after a year's time. as I've said here before, it kills me because they're my favorite for coloration and movement, but I will not risk my corals again.

kylerco · 01/09/2009, 08:15 PM

I HAD a potters in a 180 mix reef.....didnt bother sps but ate a few thousand dollars worth of acan lords, chalices and blastos....

Opes · 01/09/2009, 10:36 PM

I have had 6 angels and only one of them didn't nip. My two Potter's were the worst and I fed them MANY times a day. I love angels though so I'm sure I'll try again!

Toddrtrex · 01/09/2009, 10:46 PM

I have two, in two different tanks (( had a 3rd, part of a pair, but that one didn't make it -- only was with me for 3 weeks.

))

#1 has been with me for just a couple of days under a year, has been with SPS, clams, anemones ( Haddonis ), zoas and an acan, hasn't touched any of them. Eats any prepared foods that I put in the tank, and picks at the glass/rocks all day long.

#2 has been with me about 3 months, and has similar behavior as #1.

#1

#2

sundancer · 01/10/2009, 12:18 AM

40g is too small. These fish are roamers and grazers. They will not do well unless in a large established reef. Of coarse there is always the exception but with a small tank and/or overstocking you will be playing a numbers game one which you will most likely lose.

I wouldn't do it. Not in a 40g. Potters are way too active.

01/09/2009, 02:47 PM	#6
Jadams Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 4,475	Thanks everyone. Im going to do a bit more research before i make a final decision, I just love the look of this fish __________________ Jeremy

01/09/2009, 03:07 PM	#8
Jadams Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 4,475	hmm, that makes me think even more now... I also have 2 clams. 1 Squamosa, and 1 Maxima __________________ Jeremy

01/09/2009, 03:18 PM	#9
BigJay Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Southlake, Texas Posts: 1,872	I have a potter's, a flame, and a coral beauty in a 180 gallon. I keep them well fed so that none of them nip corals, though they do nip one another from time to time. __________________ PBITAWA

01/09/2009, 03:25 PM	#10
Bernie21 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Miami, Fl... Posts: 2,161	I agree w all of the above, the bigger tank the less damage, keep him fed, less likely to pick, I actually have a potters and she huge & FAT!!! she's about 4-5", she is truely an Angel, I have no problems w her. __________________ Reefing is an addiction rehab doesn't work for... Current Tank Info: Downgraded to a 0 Gal non Mixed Reef - Direct sun watts & 1x moon Actinics. RIO 00 return, no skimmer Skimmer.

01/09/2009, 03:58 PM	#11
rhoptowit Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 415	i have a potters in my 65 gallon and it has touched nothing or bothered anything. __________________ the best democracy money can buy Current Tank Info: 65 gallon w/sump, ATB small, ATI PM, vortech, w/ DIY calcium rct

01/09/2009, 01:25 PM	#1
Jadams Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 4,475	Potters Angel...Reef safe? Anyone have any experience with a Potters Angel? I'm thinking about getting one. I currently have a 40g breeder with 1 percula clown & 1 small blue tang (1"). No other fish. As far as corals, I have mostly SPS corals. not much else... thanks for your input! __________________ Jeremy

01/09/2009, 01:32 PM	#2
firsthesitation Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Winona MN Posts: 165	In my few experiences with dwarf angels they all picked at one or more of my corals. __________________ Nick There's a reason why blood, sweat and tears are all salty. I have saltwater coursing through my veins. - Melev Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon RR, SPS dominated, Outer Orbit 2x250 (14k)MH 4x54 T5, Bubble King Mini160, Tunze Ozmolator 3155, Eheim 1262

01/09/2009, 01:54 PM	#3
tomocean Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 42	It really varies, individual fish to fish, even in the same Centropyge species. Some might be well behaved most of the time, some never. The bigger your tank, the lesser the effect that their "sampling" might have.

01/09/2009, 02:07 PM	#4
sunfish11 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Weyauwega, WI Posts: 2,365	Mine is behaved now, but before it started eating prepared foods, it ate a few polyps of bowerbanki. I moved the coral to another tank. I have 3 dwarf angels in my 210 with no pickers as well as a cherub angel in my 34 that doesn't pick. Keep them well fed and I think you have less chance of coral picking. Lisa

01/09/2009, 02:39 PM	#5
90sShooter Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 3,222	Just keep him fed. You have the same chances as a flame angel and I have kept a flame for the last 4 months with no issues... I say do it! I was deciding between the flame and potter's the potters is sick though!

01/09/2009, 03:03 PM	#7
TWallace Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,464	I've never had an issue with any dwarf angel irritating a coral. I have had them bother clams, though. From what I've read, the lemon peel is the most likely to bother corals (I've never kept one, though). I've had a few Potter's over the years and currently have one in my 120g mostly SPS reef. I've got leathers, zoanthids, an acan, a micromusa and a candy cane as well, no problems.

01/09/2009, 04:26 PM	#12
Peter Eichler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,081	The notion of keeping one "fed" is kinda comical... These fish will eat almost constantly when awake. It's also a total crap shoot on if you get one that will pick on corals and clams. I'd say clams and LPS corals, especially brain types are the most targeted. Last thing to consider... It can be pretty tough getting a good specimen and Potter's are often known to struggle and die in captivity in the first few weeks and have a tough time adjusting to aquarioum life. Personally I think they're much better suited for larger tanks than a 40 gal. __________________ April 2015 TOTM

01/09/2009, 07:39 PM	#14
Spartanman22 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Oswego Posts: 1,314	I have had two potters in the past and both are model citizens they only pick algae off the rocks.

01/09/2009, 07:40 PM	#15
Spartanman22 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Oswego Posts: 1,314	But in my experience with them they have been reluctant to eat frozen foods. Maybe that was just a fluke for me but you might want to take it into consideration.

01/09/2009, 07:44 PM	#16
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	The larger the tank, the less likely there will be problems because, as Peter says above, they eat constantly. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

01/09/2009, 07:48 PM	#17
reefworm Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Waxhaw, NC USA Posts: 2,139	I agree with Peter - it's a crap shoot with any Centropyge sp.. My CB was truly well-fed, and a model citizen for over 8 months, then started relentlessly nipping the open brain. Others have posted similar behavior after a year's time. as I've said here before, it kills me because they're my favorite for coloration and movement, but I will not risk my corals again. __________________ "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." - Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: 29 gal. reef/assist with 75 gal. at the school

01/09/2009, 08:15 PM	#18
kylerco Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lynnwood Wa. Posts: 5	I HAD a potters in a 180 mix reef.....didnt bother sps but ate a few thousand dollars worth of acan lords, chalices and blastos....

01/09/2009, 10:36 PM	#19
Opes Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Kansas City Posts: 273	I have had 6 angels and only one of them didn't nip. My two Potter's were the worst and I fed them MANY times a day. I love angels though so I'm sure I'll try again!

01/09/2009, 10:46 PM	#20
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	I have two, in two different tanks (( had a 3rd, part of a pair, but that one didn't make it -- only was with me for 3 weeks. )) #1 has been with me for just a couple of days under a year, has been with SPS, clams, anemones ( Haddonis ), zoas and an acan, hasn't touched any of them. Eats any prepared foods that I put in the tank, and picks at the glass/rocks all day long. #2 has been with me about 3 months, and has similar behavior as #1. #1 #2 __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

01/10/2009, 12:18 AM	#21
sundancer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Francisco Posts: 373	40g is too small. These fish are roamers and grazers. They will not do well unless in a large established reef. Of coarse there is always the exception but with a small tank and/or overstocking you will be playing a numbers game one which you will most likely lose. I wouldn't do it. Not in a 40g. Potters are way too active.