Flame Angel Down...

Lost my Flame Angel today. Getting ready to leave for a short trip. I was doing a water change, and making sure my ATO water was filled. I was carrying stuff downstairs after the water change and noticed him laying on the bottom of the tank. I netted him out and he was already stiff, so I assume he was dead for a little while already. he had no visible signs of disease or anything. He had been eating like a champ, and really seemed to be doing well in the tank. I only had him a couple of weeks. I really liked him, but I don't think I will get another one. Apparently, dieing for no reason is something they do, and they are way too expensive for that crap.

 

so sorry for your loss Meanie I only tried keeping a flame one time and had it for about 3 weeks and it died *poof* with no signs of illness, eating well, etc.

 

We simply don't know enough about them IMO to properly care for them.This is why I always recommend people steer clear of many dwarf angel species.
I have a theory that the answer is coral nipping itself.Rarely do animals consume things for no reason.Maybe they need the slime for digestion,vitamins, parasite and/or disease prevention.Maybe certain species need certain types of corals as this would explain why every once in a while you will see one survive for more then a few months or years.
Again we just don't know and I don't believe we should keep killing them until we do.I mean who doesn't love angels right??

P.S. Sorry to the O.P. for the loss.

 

They call this way of thinking being logical and humane. Are you from space?

 

I have never had long term success with a flame angel. Had one for about 4 months then it died for no reason. To me this seems like a nutrient deficiency that we are unable to replicate in captivity. Like mandarins, best to leave these guys in the ocean.

 

Yep, first Flame Angel and last. They are really cool fish, but I can't justify killing them for no reason. Nor can my wallet justify it....

 

i had one i lost as well and i blame the poor diet i use to feed my fish as noob. since then iv started making my own fish food, upgraded and opted for a coral beauty, he has been thriving since and honestly i even prefer him to a flamer

 

Wasn't it not too long ago that Flame Angels were considered "hardy"? Right now, it could not be farther from the truth. I think it could be dietary or I also question how they are captured. I have read, and experienced, cases of them looking perfectly healthy one day, and then gone the next. Usually with those newly added. For this reason I question whether cyanide (or another poison) is commonly being used on them for capture...

That being said. I have had mine now for 3+ months. It was a little guy who had been at my LFS for at least a month before I put a deposit on him. 2 weeks later I picked it up. It is now in my 125, which is a mixed reef. I have yet to see it nip, but who knows. So far so good. It is picking at the live rock all day long of course. I feed a very varied diet, including Mega Marine Algae, which was "designed" with Dwarf Angels in mind. Given all this, does it mean it will live a long life? I have no idea. If I knew then what I know now, I likely would have left it at the LFS. I already had a couple failures with them, but two were due to Ich. I consider myself lucky so far this one has been healthy.

So, although I have one, I agree that this is one fish that should be left in the ocean until more information is discovered. I know there are some breeders working on tank bred Flame Angels, which would certainly be a welcome site to this hobby. I believe I read there are around 5,000 Flame Angels taken from the Ocean every week. I wonder what percentage lives past 1 year in captivity...

 

Purchasing live sponge(if available) helps but I still believe we are missing something. Cyanide is also distinct possibility for some mysterious deaths.

 

I went to petco today (this is a good petco store), and spoke to the aquatics department manager about this. He showed me his flame angel in their DT, and said he's been in there for 4 years now. When I told him about these horror stories that I read on the forums, he was kinda surprised. He said all the flame angels he's had have lived long.