[Blacktip]

I've noticed quite a few of you keep Majestics in your reefs. How do they get on in a reef? I've always wanted one, never really kept any larger angels.

Cheers

[Matt G]

Mine is a pain now to be honest, was fine for the first 6 or 7 years though. That's why I smile when I see people saying reef safe Majestic for sale, I don't think there is one. They will revert to what comes naturally at some point, it isn't some miracle that you have a special one! IMO I just don't think people have kept them for long enough to find out. BTW I did believe that mine was reef safe at one point, then it grew up.

I can't keep too many of the meaty LPS, it will eat them, like my spiny open brain . My Florida Ric rock has got progressively smaller and I am sure it is to blame. If I get SPS with larger polyps, it will eat them. So for me I know pretty much what it eats and don't put it in the tank. It is a choice I have had to make and as I have had the fish for so long I don't want to get rid of it, although I have been close on few occasions.

If I was starting again would I add one, I don't know to be honest.

[tommo]

Angels, even large ones, aren't as such noted for deleterious grazing on sessile invertebrates in the wild, and i firmly believe that in the majority of cases where decimation occurs nutrition is the main issue. Its the old nail biting/ zinc deficiency thing! the difficult thing as with humans that nailbite is that its difficult to break the habit once they have started. remember fish dont have willpower they only have instinct and memory!

As far as prevention goes, rich food, crushed vitamins, lots of lipids, lots of algae, there still isnt a set recipie, if it goes wrong, thats it! its probably also wise to keep iodine and trace elements levels up with regular supplements and water changes (at least weekly) as these are vital to any fish and aid in digestion.

HTH

Tom

[Matt G]

Interesting. So basically what you are saying is that something is missing from the natural diet which in turn it is trying to get elsewhere, in my case, certain corals. But then, even if it gets the missing items, by then it is in the habit of eating this 'new' food.

My example with the brain, it was in the tank for about a year before the majestic went for it (it was my old tank), where the larger SPS polyps it went for almost immediately. The Rics have been disappearing over time and not just coming loose and floating away, so I do still have some.

I do vary it's diet and I always have, but have never added lipids or vitamins to the foods I feed. It is however a nice healthy specimen, as far as I can see. Maybe I should look into the lipids and vitamins regardless.

However, with all the above said, personally I would still not consider them reef safe.

[tommo]

Yeah, its the unpredictability of it all TBH. I cant tell you nutritionally what it is that makes them do this, if it is anything specific or just a general lack of minerals and vitamins.

As far as your fish is concerned, with most angels, they change diets as they grow from an almost predatory to an almost totally grazing lifestyle. I think this change in diet leads to a change in demand for different nutritional needs. it is also good to have angel diets that contain an element of sponge life as any desirable species are rapidly depleted in a small closed system where hungry angels are present

One thing that might help is to include more grazable matter (gel and soft pellet diets available for pretty much the whole day) as well as the vitamins. Fish will find a way to obtain what they need as long as it is available somewhere. that is why your fish looks healthy IMO!

As i say, angelfish are typically curious habitual creatures so it may be a battle. but rather than it being chance that you end up with a good angel that never touches corals, i think there are reasons why so many end up munching prize invertebrates. you cant ignore the well behaved ones!

Tom

[jason@jasonsaquatics]

Top post Tommo

If i remember right most frozen angel food has sponge in it .

A list of foods brands you have used may be a good idea as i think as time goes on more and more people will end up going for angels in there reef tanks .

Tim and Martin have just added angels ,Tim a regal and Martin an Emperor angel so it will be good to see how they go .


jas

[Blacktip]

Does TMC do an Angel food?

Would be good to get feed back on how angels go in the reefs. I'm not planning on fleshy LPS.

[Dave.I]

Blacktip, on May 21 2009, 08:27 PM, said:

Does TMC do an Angel food?

Would be good to get feed back on how angels go in the reefs. I'm not planning on fleshy LPS.

I have a juvinile in my reef and so far he's been ok.When i first put him in he went for a couple of acros,manly hummilis.This wasnt anything major and he wasnt actualy eating them but pecking at them.Sometimes if i feed the tank and the corals have extracted there white stringy guts to feed he will have a pick at them but again this seems to cause no damage and the coral is polyping agian in minutes.He totaly ignores all lps and zoas etc.What he will be like once he's grown a bit is anybodys guess but i hope its works as they are stunning fish.If not then i will try a regal next as they have been fine for me in the past.

Dave

[tommo]

For, lets say my broodstock angels where optimum nutrition is paramount i use

copious amounts of new era marine flake, pellets and herbivore pellets

I used to use ocean nutrition frozen angel diet but because of my situation i just put in sponge rich liverock on a regular basis because its cheap. I believe TMC do sell something similar, angel and butterfly diet if i remember rightly,which i used to use for shop stock and display stock in past jobs with great success.

I also use a massive assortment of frozen food. Mysis (real stuff like PE) krill pacifica, cockle, mussel, tiny amounts of chopped squid and uncooked prawn and use both TMC lipovit (which contains the important B12 to stimulate appetance) and new era liposome spray which is a better liposome additive with regard to binding to feedstuffs

Nori and porphyra is also vital and should be available to angels on a regular basis. (green and purple seaweeds)

I am renowned for heavy and regular feeding and a well stocked larder (my mum hated it when i was at home LOL)

HTH

Tom

[Social D]

Hi Tommo in your opinion is it worth soaking Pellets in New era spray, I have done in the past but wasnt sure it was worth doing?

When you say uncooked prawn is it ok to feed my tank with lets say frozen tescos prawns?

[bobba fett]

Slight change of tack so sorry, but how about dwarf angels, I would love a flame

[tommo]

you dont really need to soak new era or ocean nutrition pellets IMO, im not a fan of spectrum pellets, and theres not much else on the market i would use. Angels seem quite fond of tetra marine crisps and they are ok i found, but i wouldnt use the tetra flake or granules because i wasnt impressed with these when i did.

A flame is a pretty safe bet. there are individuals that crop up eating trachyphyllia in particular so again, just keep it well noruished and if you can do buy a pair or make your own, not because it will stop them eating corals but because their interactions and spawning behaviour will add a nice bit of interest to any tank!!!!

You are better off buying intact prawns from tescos fishmonger or morrisons that havent been cooked to be honest and chop them up really fine (easier when they are still frozen)!!!

HTH


Tom

[Dave.I]

EDIT!

Well yesturday i noticed a hummilis had bite marks on it.I thought hmm tang or angel,so watched the tank for a while and out came the majestic and had a pick at the base of the coral.Today i sat and watched the tank again and bugger me if he didnt start ripping at my acan! On closer inspection he's had three small heads of acan! Then he went for some zoas followed by a nice bit of acro again.A half tank strip down later and he's sumped! Im a bit gutted to be honest and wont try again as its not fair on the fish or the corals.
Looks like im on the lookout for a yellow belly regal angel again!