Lemon Peel/Mushrooms

StringerBell wrote:
As with most stuff on the internet, I`mgetting mixed messages regarding
Lemon Peel Angels,Coral Polyps and Mushrooms.
Some places say LPAs are reef safe, some say they may nip at soft corals.
Does anyone have an opinion on this through direct observation? If they do
"nip" mushrooms, do they eat the whole `shroom, or just take chunks out? And
if they do take chunks out, do the corals regenerate?
Due to my tank size I was thinking of the Lemon Peel as an alternative to
Yellow Tangs. I have also heard that the Tangs are more succeptable to
parasites.

Thanks again................


Well do you want the good news or the bad?

Good news not all LPA nip at soft corals/ mushrooms, bad news is that
one could start at any day. They are very unpredicatable. If they nip,
it will depend on how much they nip and how fast stuff grows in your
tank. If it nips very little and the corals/mushrooms grow fast you
will not have a problem, but if they are slow growers and the LPA nips a
lot you could end up loosing all of them.

Just as an example, different angel but. I friend of mine had a flame
angel in his 75 gallon reef tank. No problems at all for about 2 years.
Had some nice green frilly mushrooms that were growing like crazy for
2 years. Then they slowed down on growth, then the stopped growing,
then they started decreasing in numbers. Never saw flame angel eating
on them, but a powerhead cover failure (actually stupid mistake after
cleaning powerhead) ate the angel, mushrooms started coming back quickly.

Kim