Livestock: Fish: Angels - Dwarf
Characteristics: Angelfish can be extremely territorial and aggressive. Most of these fish live a solitary life or wander through the reef in small groups of two or three. Males will usually fight to the death if placed in the same aquarium. Overall, Angels do best when kept singly, and usually with other non-aggressive fish. However, a lot of the larger species do best with less passive tank mates such as Triggers, Hawks, Puffers, Squirrelfish, Groupers, Damsels, Eels and Surgeon fish. Territorial aggression occurs most often when an Angel has been established in an aquarium and a new tank mate is introduced. If you are going to add an Angelfish to your tank community, it is suggested that the Angel be introduced into the tank last. Or, if you feel you just have to have multiple Angels, choose species that are communal or pick dissimilar species, introducing them into the aquarium at the same time.There are exceptions to placing multiple Angels in the same tank. In all cases they should be introduced into the aquarium at the same time, and given a large tank with lots of room and plenty of hiding places. Providing hiding places is one of the main key factors to keeping any Angelfish, whether singly or in pairs. However, this is no guarantee that there will not be any fights or conflicts.
Diet & Feeding: They are nibblers and grazers feeding on a variety of small crustaceans, micro and macro algae, some filamentous algae, diatoms. In most cases they adapt to tank feed foods now available on the market that include edible sponge in them to supplement their diets. This way the fish is not dependent on sponge as their sole food source.They adapt well to eating tank fed foods such as Spirulina, marine algae, nori, mysid shrimp, finely chopped crustacean meat, frozen preparations for herbivores, other high quality meaty fare, as well as vitamin-enriched, color enhanced flake foods. Most have a tendency to nip at large-polyped stony corals, zoanthids, and tridacnid clam mantles. Angelfishes do not make a good addition to a reef tank, as they cannot be completely trusted. Even in a fish-only tank, Angelfishes should be introduced into a well established aquarium since marine algae and other diatoms are one of their main sources of food. This also stimulates their feeding instincts and many species will adjust to eating tank fed foods much better. Most Dwarf or Pygmy (Centropyge) Angels fair much better in tank life than their larger relatives. They are touted as being a fairly good reef safe Angelfish species, but cannot be completely trusted.
