Navarchus Angel in reef... opinions needed

CThomas609 · 08/22/2006, 09:06 PM

For the longest time i have been contemplating trying a Navarchus Angel in my reef tank. I have reed some success stories online which only tempts me more. I have an anemone, corcea clam, polyps and mushrooms. I am not so worried about the polyps, and I am sure (atleast while the angel is small) that the clowns hosting in the mushrooms will keep it away from those. My main concern is my clam which I have had for about a year and a half. What do you guys think about the idea? Any experiences?

bureau13 · 08/22/2006, 09:37 PM

Well, I had a Majestic in my reef and he never bothered anything, but I didn't have any clams at the time. I'm going to give it another shot one of these days, and this time I do have a clam, so it will be interesting.

jds

CThomas609 · 08/22/2006, 10:20 PM

What type of corals did you have?

KDodds · 08/22/2006, 10:34 PM

Rhodactis, Xenia, Acro, GSPs, Zoas, no problems with the Navarchus, no clams, tho.

CThomas609 · 08/22/2006, 10:54 PM

yeah... I think I'm going to have to give it a shot...

Ooulophilia · 08/22/2006, 11:15 PM

I would not advise it- clams are one of the most irresistable items to most species of angels (Genicanthus species excluded). Most angels seem to be after large, fleshy, non toxic surfaces (brains, clam mantles, ect..) they are taking the nutrients it has collected off of it.

vijaym85 · 08/22/2006, 11:20 PM

I have a french angel, Imperator, annularis, majestic, and blueface. I can't speak about sps but with lps and softies and mushrooms,or polyps all which I own I never have any predation occuring by the angels. I keep them well feed to resist any temptation.

MG21 · 08/22/2006, 11:44 PM

Save yourself the headache, mine ate everything in site.

bureau13 · 08/23/2006, 12:18 AM

Many people have had good luck with these angels, if you search around you will find that. Sure, not everyone...obviously, its a risky fish. For me, my favorite animals in this hobby are some of the more risky fish, but its worth it. Purely based on my personal experience and from reading about other's experiences...I think you've got a better chance that he'll be OK around most of your stuff than not. However, everyone has to set their own priorities and decide if its worth the risk or not.

jds

KDodds · 08/23/2006, 05:23 AM

vijaym85 brings up a good point. My fish are also very well fed. That IS important, not just with Angels, but with many browsing families. Is there anythying more "reef safe" than a Zebrasoma Tang? Yet, they will occassionally eat clams and/or corals (mostly LPS). A good tip is to get a smaller individual that has been at your LFS for a while. The reason being that it imprints on human introduced food as its food source. Once it's in the tank, keeping it well fed, reinforcing that imprinting, is very often enough to keep many species from "picking".

CThomas609 · 08/23/2006, 08:50 PM

Yeah i think that's what I'm going to do. I have to oppurtunity to be as picky as I please since I work at my LFS. I've been reading a lot about peoples experiences with them, and I feel pretty confident that with a combination of all the tips I've picked up that I can pull it off. I guess it is ultimately up to the fish itself though.

There is one thing I'm still not sure on though...
One suggestion I've read is the "power in numbers theory".
My delima is this, do I wait awhile and add a few more corals, and possibly 2 more clams, and hope it cuts down on the chances one in particular will be targeted, or do i stick with what I have, and hope he leaves it alone?

Obviously the first choice is ideal, but would be horrible if it backfired...

KDodds · 08/23/2006, 10:22 PM

That's not really something anyone but you can answer. There are arguments to be made either way.

08/22/2006, 09:06 PM	#1
CThomas609 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 75	Navarchus Angel in reef... opinions needed For the longest time i have been contemplating trying a Navarchus Angel in my reef tank. I have reed some success stories online which only tempts me more. I have an anemone, corcea clam, polyps and mushrooms. I am not so worried about the polyps, and I am sure (atleast while the angel is small) that the clowns hosting in the mushrooms will keep it away from those. My main concern is my clam which I have had for about a year and a half. What do you guys think about the idea? Any experiences?

08/22/2006, 10:34 PM	#4
KDodds Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Suffern, NY Posts: 2,731	Rhodactis, Xenia, Acro, GSPs, Zoas, no problems with the Navarchus, no clams, tho. __________________ The sum of my knowledge is great, the sum of my ignorance greater still Kieron Dodds Administrator Inside Aquatics Current Tank Info: 450 Reef/180 FOWLR/125 ARLC/40 Seahorse/12 Planted/12 Planted

08/23/2006, 05:23 AM	#10
KDodds Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Suffern, NY Posts: 2,731	vijaym85 brings up a good point. My fish are also very well fed. That IS important, not just with Angels, but with many browsing families. Is there anythying more "reef safe" than a Zebrasoma Tang? Yet, they will occassionally eat clams and/or corals (mostly LPS). A good tip is to get a smaller individual that has been at your LFS for a while. The reason being that it imprints on human introduced food as its food source. Once it's in the tank, keeping it well fed, reinforcing that imprinting, is very often enough to keep many species from "picking". __________________ The sum of my knowledge is great, the sum of my ignorance greater still Kieron Dodds Administrator Inside Aquatics Current Tank Info: 450 Reef/180 FOWLR/125 ARLC/40 Seahorse/12 Planted/12 Planted

08/23/2006, 10:22 PM	#12
KDodds Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Suffern, NY Posts: 2,731	That's not really something anyone but you can answer. There are arguments to be made either way. __________________ The sum of my knowledge is great, the sum of my ignorance greater still Kieron Dodds Administrator Inside Aquatics Current Tank Info: 450 Reef/180 FOWLR/125 ARLC/40 Seahorse/12 Planted/12 Planted

08/22/2006, 09:37 PM	#2
bureau13 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,936	Well, I had a Majestic in my reef and he never bothered anything, but I didn't have any clams at the time. I'm going to give it another shot one of these days, and this time I do have a clam, so it will be interesting. jds

08/22/2006, 10:20 PM	#3
CThomas609 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 75	What type of corals did you have?

08/22/2006, 10:54 PM	#5
CThomas609 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 75	yeah... I think I'm going to have to give it a shot...

08/22/2006, 11:15 PM	#6
Ooulophilia Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Norcal Posts: 482	I would not advise it- clams are one of the most irresistable items to most species of angels (Genicanthus species excluded). Most angels seem to be after large, fleshy, non toxic surfaces (brains, clam mantles, ect..) they are taking the nutrients it has collected off of it.

08/22/2006, 11:20 PM	#7
vijaym85 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Queens NYC Posts: 1,296	I have a french angel, Imperator, annularis, majestic, and blueface. I can't speak about sps but with lps and softies and mushrooms,or polyps all which I own I never have any predation occuring by the angels. I keep them well feed to resist any temptation.

08/22/2006, 11:44 PM	#8
MG21 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: California Posts: 381	Save yourself the headache, mine ate everything in site.

08/23/2006, 12:18 AM	#9
bureau13 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,936	Many people have had good luck with these angels, if you search around you will find that. Sure, not everyone...obviously, its a risky fish. For me, my favorite animals in this hobby are some of the more risky fish, but its worth it. Purely based on my personal experience and from reading about other's experiences...I think you've got a better chance that he'll be OK around most of your stuff than not. However, everyone has to set their own priorities and decide if its worth the risk or not. jds

08/23/2006, 08:50 PM	#11
CThomas609 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 75	Yeah i think that's what I'm going to do. I have to oppurtunity to be as picky as I please since I work at my LFS. I've been reading a lot about peoples experiences with them, and I feel pretty confident that with a combination of all the tips I've picked up that I can pull it off. I guess it is ultimately up to the fish itself though. There is one thing I'm still not sure on though... One suggestion I've read is the "power in numbers theory". My delima is this, do I wait awhile and add a few more corals, and possibly 2 more clams, and hope it cuts down on the chances one in particular will be targeted, or do i stick with what I have, and hope he leaves it alone? Obviously the first choice is ideal, but would be horrible if it backfired...