Keeping a pygmy angel with clams?
 

Is it possible to keep any pygmy angel with clams? Im looking into getting a coral beauty, and a flame angel for my display but I want to keep clams too. I have read they are notorious for picking at clam mantles. Has anyone kept these species togetther? What did you see? Or does anyone have any advice or opinions? Thanks!

This is a with caution fish.If happy and well fead then you maybe fine but could nip at stoney coral and clams.

I HAVE A CHURB WITH 3 CLAMS AND SPS DOMINATION TANK. I HAD ANOTHER BUT SMASHED HIM WITH A ROCK WHEN I UP GRADED MY TANK POOR THING. THEY BOTH NEVER BOTHERED ANYTHING BUT THE THING IS I GOT BOTH VERY SMALL DONT GET BIG PYGMY ANGELS TRY TO GET THE SMALLES POSIBLE

They grow and if you have a wife like mine it takes weeks to convince her its ok to trade him out. Also i see serial killer material MB MB not. Im not judging.LOL GL

Genicanthus angels are a better bet.

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11133522#post11133522 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hahnmeister [/i]
[B]Genicanthus angels are a better bet. [/B][/QUOTE]

I agree. I have a G. Bellus that has been with me for 2 years and is both a model reef citizen and very cool fish.

I have a Coral Beauty in my softie tank with a T. Squamosa and have had no problems. I did get him relatively small, and I feed twice a day with a varied diet, usually various mysis in the am and a frozen product in the pm (Pygmy Angle Formula, Formula Two or Angel Formula). If you do go with a Centropyge, go young and feed as heavy as you can within the nutrient export limitations of the system.

i have apygmy i think this would probably one of the safer type of angels to go with then a flame

I've got a golden pygmy in with my 7 clams and I have never seen him pick at them. I feed once a day.

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11138858#post11138858 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by murraycamp [/i]
[B]I agree. I have a G. Bellus that has been with me for 2 years and is both a model reef citizen and very cool fish.

Edit/Update:

I now stand corrected. My Genicanthus bellus just took a large chunk out of one of my Ricordeas. The Ric may have been stressed or ill, as I have just completed a major upgrade to that tank, but I can't tell.

Just goes to show that nothing can be considered 100% reef safe.

this unfortunately is how it goes, fine for a period of time then they can just snap. i have read that exact statement dozens of times.

I've kept a coral beauty in my mixed reef for a few years. Currently have a squammie (2 years +/-) and just added a crocea. The CB has never (yet) bothered the clams or any other tank inhabitants. As others have said, seems to be a case by case basis. I did get this centropyge from a tank break down and wasn't a nipper/picker in his tank either. Maybe you could scour the FS boards in your area and find a centropyge that doesn't pick.

Good luck.

Garrett.

I have both a CB Angel and a Flame in with 3 clams... they have never bothered any of them

My 3.5" Deresa:

[IMG]http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/31968Halloween_Fuji_Pics_014.jpg [/IMG]

His little brother the 2.5" Deresa:
[IMG]http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/31968Fuji_Tank_Pics_037.jpg [/IMG]



Here's the Flame cruising by my monster 6.5" Crocea:
[IMG]http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/31968Fuji_Tank_Pics_035.jpg [/IMG]

Two angels in a 29 won't be real happy, more then likely will pick at the clams, as well as each other.

A 100g or larger might be a different story.

SOme have done it, but it would make me nervous because they could be fine for a while then decide to become a clam eater.

just sharing my experience. i had a bi color angel. he instantly went for the clam. it was just out of hand.

steve

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11233246#post11233246 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DrBegalke [/i]
[B]Two angels in a 29 won't be real happy, more then likely will pick at the clams, as well as each other.

A 100g or larger might be a different story. [/B][/QUOTE]


I missed that first time around... but he's right.

2 angels in a 29 is 1 too many. They will end up fighting for 'territory' - even if they are 2 totally different spp.

Pick the CB. They seem too fare better in smaller tanks like yours vs. the Flame, IMO...

check this out. from a local reefer in my area and a totm on here a little while back

[IMG]http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-08/totm/images/tn_clamkilledangel3_jpg.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-08/totm/images/tn_clamkillsangel2_jpg.jpg[/IMG]

I had an Altlantic pygmy with two maximas with no problem. Flame backs are a good choice too. But you never know with angles, good luck.

Just to toss my two cents in... I've had a Coral Beauty with a 5-inch Crocea for about six months and he's behaved fine on all fronts (leaves everything else alone as well). My LFS guy told me he's had hit or miss experiences with them...it's seemingly fish to fish. I feed my guys well, and it's worth noting that I only feed once a day.

I've got one pigmy angel (Purple yellow type) with my baby clam, hasn't bothered it in 3 months since I had the clam. AND.. it is in a 10g nano reef. It does like to graze on everything on the LR, but my softies, LPS, SPS and clam has never had any damage or injury from THIS fish. I feed the Pigmy angel once, every other day.

Clam and all corals are doing very well, the fish is just a busy body, always dodging and hiding and finding places in the rock to investigate. He's always moving, and riding the current from the powerhead. (Shoots the rapids kids call it.)

That is just my experience. I've had the fish for a year. Any other type of angel, I wouldn't keep with a clam I think. My pigmy is 2 years old, about 2 inches long. (got it from a friend who didn't want it anymore, because she was getting a coral beauty, and didn't want any issues with the two fish)

Here is a representative pic of my angelfish..
[IMG]http://www.aquacon.com/images/pygmyangel.jpg[/IMG]

I was wondering if the clam killed the angel or let him go and how they both came out of this?

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11477587#post11477587 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Big load [/i]
[B]I was wondering if the clam killed the angel or let him go and how they both came out of this? [/B][/QUOTE]

both dead, if i remember correctly

I have kept a derasa clam in my tank with a flame angel for about 8 months no problem. The last few days I have noticed the clam's mantle pinched in a few places. So I spent some time watching the tank. Sure enough didn't the flame angel swim by and take a nip at the clam. It now seems unable to leave the clam alone. So my advice would be to not choose a flame angel. I will have to transfer the clam to my 25g salt tank :( .