Imperator (Emporor) Angel in a reef tank? Who's got them?

smcnally · 10/28/2006, 08:54 AM

A guy I know is offering me his adult Imperator Angel for free because he is breaking down his tank. He has had this fish for 6 years and told me it doesn't bother any of his corals or clams. I have seen it in his tank, and it seems to pick at rock but not the corals. He said he thinks it is because his tank had no corals in it for most of the life of the fish and it got used to eating frozen food so much. I'm planning on going over his place tomorrow to get the fish, but was curious about how many people have one in their reef tank, and how well behaved it is. I know they are known to be bad for a reef, but I'm willing to take the chance. This is a beatiful fish and has almost completed its adult transformation. Plus, it is large enough that it shouldn't (hopefully) be hard to catch if it is a problem. If anyone has pictures, it would be great too!

marinelife · 10/28/2006, 09:26 AM

I have one in my 180 with SPS and clams, he has not been a problem

Chaotic Reefer4u · 10/28/2006, 09:37 AM

very nice marinelife, thanx for sharing the reef piks...

smcnally · 10/28/2006, 03:18 PM

Anyone else? Or is it that uncommon to get one that behaves? Nice looking tank, marinelife! Thanks for the info.

smcnally · 10/29/2006, 02:22 PM

Well, wish me luck! I just finished acclimating the fish and will now watch it for a week or so. I hope it behaves, because it sure is a beauty!

My Powder Blue Tang really doen't seem to like it, so I pulled the Tang out for now and will re-introduce it later.

LePep · 10/30/2006, 09:35 PM

How is everything going?

Thats one awesome fish!

CeeGee · 10/30/2006, 09:56 PM

they are wonderful fish. That one is spectacular!

bosborn1 · 10/30/2006, 10:18 PM

I have one in my 180 reef and the only thing he ever nipped was a Lobophyilla.

Scott

smcnally · 10/31/2006, 05:13 AM

It seems to be going well so far. I thought I caught it nipping at some zoas last night. But then after, staring at it for abou 45 minutes, I noticed it looking all over the zoas, and then it nipped at a spot. When I looked at that spot I didn't see any bites taken out. Some of my zoa colonies have this whit sponge that grows in them. I'm wondering if that is what it was picking at. I guess I'll just have to keep a close eye and see if the zoas seem less happy over the next few days. Other than that, the fish has been great (knock on wood).

smcnally · 10/31/2006, 05:15 AM

Oh yeah...I re introduced the PB Tang and it has been MUCH better. Every now and then it will show its fins, but no attacks yet.

john f · 10/31/2006, 05:21 AM

Nice fish......

He will nip at some things down the road....trust me.
But that's OK if you can live without them. I think zoos and xenia would be the most likely targets.
Mine will nip at soft corals as well, but leaves sps alone.
Bad thing about these fish is once they get big they nip very aggressively and if they decide they like the taste, that item is gone.
Here is mine:

John

smcnally · 10/31/2006, 06:34 AM

Nice looking fish! I'm hoping it behaves

The guy I got it from said it always did for him, but he told me the other day that never kept many zoas.

smcnally · 11/24/2006, 01:13 PM

I forgot to let everyone know that the Imperator Angel has been CHOWING on my zoas. My zoa population has gone way down since I added the fish. The fish will be going to a new home this Sunday...bummer.

sean48183 · 11/24/2006, 01:24 PM

Sorry to hear about that. If I had him I would say good bye Zoos and keep the fish but that's just me. I like fish much more.

deansreef · 11/24/2006, 03:24 PM

i had one for a year and this fish suddenly died...i do not know the reason. Did not bother corals; liked to pick on Squamosa clams.

DrHank · 11/24/2006, 08:40 PM

A beautiful angel! I hope that you found him a good home. He's one of the best looking I've ever seen. Sorry he didn't work out.

10/28/2006, 08:54 AM	#1
smcnally Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Shore, MA Posts: 1,181	Imperator (Emporor) Angel in a reef tank? Who's got them? A guy I know is offering me his adult Imperator Angel for free because he is breaking down his tank. He has had this fish for 6 years and told me it doesn't bother any of his corals or clams. I have seen it in his tank, and it seems to pick at rock but not the corals. He said he thinks it is because his tank had no corals in it for most of the life of the fish and it got used to eating frozen food so much. I'm planning on going over his place tomorrow to get the fish, but was curious about how many people have one in their reef tank, and how well behaved it is. I know they are known to be bad for a reef, but I'm willing to take the chance. This is a beatiful fish and has almost completed its adult transformation. Plus, it is large enough that it shouldn't (hopefully) be hard to catch if it is a problem. If anyone has pictures, it would be great too!

10/28/2006, 09:26 AM	#2
marinelife Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Union, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,590	I have one in my 180 with SPS and clams, he has not been a problem __________________ I'm a SaltGeek are You? All LED since 2010. Current Tank Info: 375 Gallon Reef with siporax, all LED lighting, and Red Dragon 3 and Abyzz A200 on 2 closed loops.

10/28/2006, 09:37 AM	#3
Chaotic Reefer4u ♥Acropora Aficionado♥ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollister,Ca. Posts: 5,163	very nice marinelife, thanx for sharing the reef piks... __________________ Live everyday as if it was your last, take time to smell the flowers, enjoy all things living, never take anything for granted, you just never know when your number might be up... Current Tank Info: * 90g. Reef Ready TruVu tank with 30g. Platinum Filtration Series Sump SpS Acro enthusiast *

10/30/2006, 09:56 PM	#7
CeeGee Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: TN Posts: 3,272	they are wonderful fish. That one is spectacular! __________________ My algae WAS special. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon display, 40 gallon breeder sump, RLSS R6i, ATI Powermodule, Apex, Ecotech MP40's

10/31/2006, 05:21 AM	#11
john f Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Gainesville, Fl USA Posts: 1,032	Nice fish...... He will nip at some things down the road....trust me. But that's OK if you can live without them. I think zoos and xenia would be the most likely targets. Mine will nip at soft corals as well, but leaves sps alone. Bad thing about these fish is once they get big they nip very aggressively and if they decide they like the taste, that item is gone. Here is mine: John __________________ "The state is the great fiction by which everybody tries to live at the expense of everybody else." Frederick Bastiat Current Tank Info: 235 reef

10/28/2006, 03:18 PM	#4
smcnally Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Shore, MA Posts: 1,181	Anyone else? Or is it that uncommon to get one that behaves? Nice looking tank, marinelife! Thanks for the info.

10/29/2006, 02:22 PM	#5
smcnally Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Shore, MA Posts: 1,181	Well, wish me luck! I just finished acclimating the fish and will now watch it for a week or so. I hope it behaves, because it sure is a beauty! My Powder Blue Tang really doen't seem to like it, so I pulled the Tang out for now and will re-introduce it later.

10/30/2006, 09:35 PM	#6
LePep Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: PR Posts: 156	How is everything going? Thats one awesome fish!

10/30/2006, 10:18 PM	#8
bosborn1 Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fairport, NY Posts: 2,579	I have one in my 180 reef and the only thing he ever nipped was a Lobophyilla. Scott

10/31/2006, 05:13 AM	#9
smcnally Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Shore, MA Posts: 1,181	It seems to be going well so far. I thought I caught it nipping at some zoas last night. But then after, staring at it for abou 45 minutes, I noticed it looking all over the zoas, and then it nipped at a spot. When I looked at that spot I didn't see any bites taken out. Some of my zoa colonies have this whit sponge that grows in them. I'm wondering if that is what it was picking at. I guess I'll just have to keep a close eye and see if the zoas seem less happy over the next few days. Other than that, the fish has been great (knock on wood).

10/31/2006, 05:15 AM	#10
smcnally Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Shore, MA Posts: 1,181	Oh yeah...I re introduced the PB Tang and it has been MUCH better. Every now and then it will show its fins, but no attacks yet.

10/31/2006, 06:34 AM	#12
smcnally Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Shore, MA Posts: 1,181	Nice looking fish! I'm hoping it behaves The guy I got it from said it always did for him, but he told me the other day that never kept many zoas.

11/24/2006, 01:13 PM	#13
smcnally Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Shore, MA Posts: 1,181	I forgot to let everyone know that the Imperator Angel has been CHOWING on my zoas. My zoa population has gone way down since I added the fish. The fish will be going to a new home this Sunday...bummer.

11/24/2006, 01:24 PM	#14
sean48183 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: michigan Posts: 1,577	Sorry to hear about that. If I had him I would say good bye Zoos and keep the fish but that's just me. I like fish much more.

11/24/2006, 03:24 PM	#15
deansreef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: north carolina Posts: 3,234	i had one for a year and this fish suddenly died...i do not know the reason. Did not bother corals; liked to pick on Squamosa clams. __________________ the only dumb question, is the one not asked... Current Tank Info: 225 gallon peninsula

11/24/2006, 08:40 PM	#16
DrHank Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,138	A beautiful angel! I hope that you found him a good home. He's one of the best looking I've ever seen. Sorry he didn't work out. __________________ Doc (Click the red house for the FPRS site) Current Tank Info: 210 gallon Mixed reef, 65 reef