Dwarf Angel and Coral

RhodyTanker · 09/28/2011, 07:19 PM

Hello all.

I have a quick question regarding coral and my newly added dwarf angel.

2 weeks ago, i made my first attempt at adding coral to my tank. all parameters are good and the lighting was correct for coral as it was an easy to maintain and begginner polyp. I dont know the exact name but it looks just like this:

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/d...fm?pCatId=3087

Well everything was going well. Coral would open when light was on and stay open all day. Even looked like it was beginning to spread out. Well a few days ago, I added a 1/2black dwarf angel fish that the LFS described as it having a 50/50 shot at nipping and eating the coral. While I havent caught him red handed, the coral hasnt been "blooming" since he has been added and it is just balled up.

Would this be its reaction if he is in fact eating it? Is there anything that can be done to curb this? Is the coral still alive (its photsynthetic)? Do some LFS accept exchanges (IE, if its still alive and healthy, could i bring it in for a credit/exchange for a feather duster or something smiliar)

Thanks.

**If you want water parameters before you answer, Id be glad to give them... I just havent tested in 3-4 days.

sporto0 · 09/28/2011, 08:06 PM

It's not eating it, but it is irritating it, they nip at everything, eventually the coral will succomb.

Batreef · 09/28/2011, 08:21 PM

+1 it will not eat a colony it will bother it to the point that it can eventually kill it

Sk8r · 09/28/2011, 08:59 PM

Angels as a species graze on coral polyps or on algae that grow near it. You're going to need to make a choice.
THere are some species that few things eat: discosoma mushrooms, green star polyps, brown buttons, and xenia. If you just want a textured environment with your angel, those might work.

zigzag1 · 09/28/2011, 08:59 PM

It's like they _know_ you are watching. Sneaky little boogers...

I have a flame I need to catch, no luck so far. I need to find a tiny little barbless hook somewhere I think /sigh

GL!

Toddrtrex · 09/28/2011, 09:16 PM

They aren't always sneaky about it...

Mr.Tan · 09/29/2011, 07:23 AM

so far i have been lucky with my coral beauty, he hasent touched any of my corals that I have (pink polyps, xenia, torch coral, green encrusting gorgonian)... when I first put the corals in, he would swim up and look at them right away but never touch them... I sit and watch the tank and he doesnt even bother, maybe because I make sure he is well fed? i dunno, but hopefully i do't jynx myself!

bamf25 · 09/29/2011, 10:59 AM

There is always a chance dwarf angels will nip. I just got a coral beauty (still in QT), and the LFS listed it as reef safe, but the salesperson stressed keeping the fish well fed to help. Another LFS almost fell over when I said I wanted a dwarf angel in my reef. SO you can see the variety of responces. Many people here have angels in there reefs, and many have a fair amount of success, just keep in mind you could always get the coral eating monster.

09/28/2011, 07:19 PM	#1
RhodyTanker Moved On Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 2	Dwarf Angel and Coral Hello all. I have a quick question regarding coral and my newly added dwarf angel. 2 weeks ago, i made my first attempt at adding coral to my tank. all parameters are good and the lighting was correct for coral as it was an easy to maintain and begginner polyp. I dont know the exact name but it looks just like this: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/d...fm?pCatId=3087 Well everything was going well. Coral would open when light was on and stay open all day. Even looked like it was beginning to spread out. Well a few days ago, I added a 1/2black dwarf angel fish that the LFS described as it having a 50/50 shot at nipping and eating the coral. While I havent caught him red handed, the coral hasnt been "blooming" since he has been added and it is just balled up. Would this be its reaction if he is in fact eating it? Is there anything that can be done to curb this? Is the coral still alive (its photsynthetic)? Do some LFS accept exchanges (IE, if its still alive and healthy, could i bring it in for a credit/exchange for a feather duster or something smiliar) Thanks. **If you want water parameters before you answer, Id be glad to give them... I just havent tested in 3-4 days.

09/28/2011, 08:59 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Angels as a species graze on coral polyps or on algae that grow near it. You're going to need to make a choice. THere are some species that few things eat: discosoma mushrooms, green star polyps, brown buttons, and xenia. If you just want a textured environment with your angel, those might work. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

09/28/2011, 08:59 PM	#5
zigzag1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Anderson, Indiana Posts: 1,276	It's like they _know_ you are watching. Sneaky little boogers... I have a flame I need to catch, no luck so far. I need to find a tiny little barbless hook somewhere I think /sigh GL! __________________ :beer: Mixed Reef, started 10/2004: 6' BB 125g DT, 100lbs LR, 40g sump, Dual Ehiem 1000 returns, Eshopps dual overflow, JBJ ATO, Vertex IN-180, PM Ca reactor, 250w MH w/VHO Actinic, AC3 w/Aquasurf, Tunze 6105 pair & 40B frag tank 8 Fish, 20+ corals, shrimp, snails, worms, bugs, etc.

09/28/2011, 09:16 PM	#6
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	They aren't always sneaky about it... __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

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09/28/2011, 08:06 PM	#2
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	It's not eating it, but it is irritating it, they nip at everything, eventually the coral will succomb.

09/28/2011, 08:21 PM	#3
Batreef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 49	+1 it will not eat a colony it will bother it to the point that it can eventually kill it

09/29/2011, 07:23 AM	#7
Mr.Tan Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: York, PA Posts: 734	so far i have been lucky with my coral beauty, he hasent touched any of my corals that I have (pink polyps, xenia, torch coral, green encrusting gorgonian)... when I first put the corals in, he would swim up and look at them right away but never touch them... I sit and watch the tank and he doesnt even bother, maybe because I make sure he is well fed? i dunno, but hopefully i do't jynx myself!

09/29/2011, 10:59 AM	#8
bamf25 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Central NJ Posts: 1,419	There is always a chance dwarf angels will nip. I just got a coral beauty (still in QT), and the LFS listed it as reef safe, but the salesperson stressed keeping the fish well fed to help. Another LFS almost fell over when I said I wanted a dwarf angel in my reef. SO you can see the variety of responces. Many people here have angels in there reefs, and many have a fair amount of success, just keep in mind you could always get the coral eating monster.