flameback angel behavior

bkmorris · 04/05/2007, 12:00 AM

i recently added a brazilian flameback angel (C. aurantonotus, i believe?.. purple tail, not yellow) into a 30g with a pair of black ocellaris as the only other fish. the pair of clowns has been in the tank for about 8 months. anyway, for the first few days the angel spent most of its time hiding out in the rockwork, only coming out for dinner... it is now spending more time out in the open and doing very well, but every once in a while it will swim up to the clowns, swim two or three quick circles around them, then swim away. is this aggressive behavior? the clowns don't seem to be too bothered by it, just maybe a little confused. oh yeah, and as far as coral picking... so far the only thing he has nipped is a kenya tree... which is overgrown anyway

. but i am keeping my fingers crossed because it is an lps-dominated tank.

thanks for the help guys

LisaD · 04/05/2007, 08:44 AM

Sounds like an aggressive display. My LaMarck's angel does this to my juvenile Koran angel. Swims in circles close to it, then acts like its going to take a little nip. The two have been together some time now. It seems more like posturing than a serious attack. Unless it escalates, I wouldn't worry about it. Cherub angels are scrappy little buggers, but IME not especially aggressive. And he is outnumbered by the clowns...

bkmorris · 04/05/2007, 03:16 PM

my clowns are usually too busy dancing for each other to notice the angel anyway

thanks for the reply. anyone else have experience with these guys?

xxseawolf · 04/05/2007, 04:32 PM

i think your angel might be trying to establish dominance in your 30. you were smart to put the clowns in first. IMHO you should be fine. do you have a nem for clowns? that might help in the future if you have ant aggression. good luck.

bkmorris · 04/05/2007, 05:44 PM

i dont have a nem, although i would love to have one... i think my 30 is too small for it, especially since i have lots of corals. the clowns kind of host one corner of the tank. i will keep an eye on the clowns for signs of stress i guess. it would be a shame to have to remove the flameback, he is a very cool little fish... but the clowns are close to my heart

xxseawolf · 04/05/2007, 05:58 PM

your 30g is not too small for a BTA. you would have to give it a corner from certain corals. either way your flame and clowns(in the long run) should be OK regardless. good luck.

04/05/2007, 12:00 AM	#1
bkmorris Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: davis, ca Posts: 452	flameback angel behavior i recently added a brazilian flameback angel (C. aurantonotus, i believe?.. purple tail, not yellow) into a 30g with a pair of black ocellaris as the only other fish. the pair of clowns has been in the tank for about 8 months. anyway, for the first few days the angel spent most of its time hiding out in the rockwork, only coming out for dinner... it is now spending more time out in the open and doing very well, but every once in a while it will swim up to the clowns, swim two or three quick circles around them, then swim away. is this aggressive behavior? the clowns don't seem to be too bothered by it, just maybe a little confused. oh yeah, and as far as coral picking... so far the only thing he has nipped is a kenya tree... which is overgrown anyway . but i am keeping my fingers crossed because it is an lps-dominated tank. thanks for the help guys __________________ .:Brooke:. RIP, my little ones. you will be missed :( Current Tank Info: taking a break

04/05/2007, 08:44 AM	#2
LisaD That's not a salmon Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: central North Carolina Posts: 6,986	Sounds like an aggressive display. My LaMarck's angel does this to my juvenile Koran angel. Swims in circles close to it, then acts like its going to take a little nip. The two have been together some time now. It seems more like posturing than a serious attack. Unless it escalates, I wouldn't worry about it. Cherub angels are scrappy little buggers, but IME not especially aggressive. And he is outnumbered by the clowns... __________________ Keeping saltwater tanks since the late '70s Current Tank Info: tankless at the moment

04/05/2007, 03:16 PM	#3
bkmorris Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: davis, ca Posts: 452	my clowns are usually too busy dancing for each other to notice the angel anyway thanks for the reply. anyone else have experience with these guys? __________________ .:Brooke:. RIP, my little ones. you will be missed :( Current Tank Info: taking a break

04/05/2007, 04:32 PM	#4
xxseawolf Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: palmetto, florida Posts: 1,532	i think your angel might be trying to establish dominance in your 30. you were smart to put the clowns in first. IMHO you should be fine. do you have a nem for clowns? that might help in the future if you have ant aggression. good luck. __________________ the Dallas Cowboys are "AMERICA'S TEAM" Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef, 75g mixed reef, 8g oceanic softies

04/05/2007, 05:44 PM	#5
bkmorris Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: davis, ca Posts: 452	i dont have a nem, although i would love to have one... i think my 30 is too small for it, especially since i have lots of corals. the clowns kind of host one corner of the tank. i will keep an eye on the clowns for signs of stress i guess. it would be a shame to have to remove the flameback, he is a very cool little fish... but the clowns are close to my heart __________________ .:Brooke:. RIP, my little ones. you will be missed :( Current Tank Info: taking a break

04/05/2007, 05:58 PM	#6
xxseawolf Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: palmetto, florida Posts: 1,532	your 30g is not too small for a BTA. you would have to give it a corner from certain corals. either way your flame and clowns(in the long run) should be OK regardless. good luck. __________________ the Dallas Cowboys are "AMERICA'S TEAM" Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef, 75g mixed reef, 8g oceanic softies