Regal Angelfish

[DonH]

Picked this little guy up from a LFS for $40. It was labeled as an Indo-Pacific Regal but sure looks like a Red Sea to me... What do you guys think?

http://forums.waterwolves.com/uploads/post-1539-1213601807.jpg

http://forums.waterwolves.com/uploads/post-1539-1213601823.jpg

[dvmsn]

I think you are lucky to get that for $ 40.00. Is it eating. I think it is indo, red seas are really yellow.

[triggerfish1976]

I doubt its red sea especially for that price. Some yellow bellys also come out of the Maldives and Indian Ocean.

[flameangel88]

I've seen online ads of yellow belly and wondering what's the difference bet yel belly and the one from red sea? Thanks.

Triggerfish: did you get your conspic in?

[jnc914]

DonH- Very nice specimen you picked up, but I doubt it is a Red Sea, not for that price. Good luck with it.

I currently have an adult (5") Yellow Belly from Maldives in my QT who is eating spiruliuna (? spelling). I recently had a Juvi from the Red Sea that I purchased from Phishy, but the shipping stressed it and it died unexpectantly. The coloration looked the same as the Maldives/Indo specimen I have now. They are a beautiful fish, but can be a pain to keep healthy long term. These fish take some dedication and patience, but they are worth it.

[copps]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12755331#post12755331 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DonH
Picked this little guy up from a LFS for $40. It was labeled as an Indo-Pacific Regal but sure looks like a Red Sea to me... What do you guys think?


<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12756213#post12756213 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flameangel88
I've seen online ads of yellow belly and wondering what's the difference bet yel belly and the one from red sea? Thanks.


A few notes here to keep in mind...

"Indo-Pacific" is a term used for a huge area from the Indian Ocean to the Central Pacific... an area that contains both yellow and blue chested regals.

There is no way to tell the difference between a regal angel from the Red Sea or other parts of the Indian Ocean. This includes yellow belly regals from as far east as Indonesia. Indonesia offers both yellow belly and blue belly regals to the trade, with yellow bellies coming from Sumatra and points on the Indian Ocean side and blue bellies from other points east in the Pacific. Many Indonesian exporters offer both varieties, even though their locally collected variety may be blue chested. For many reasons, "Red Sea" has become mistakenly referred to as synonymous with "Indian Ocean" when it comes to regals.

Also, all regals have yellow bellies when juvenile... even those from the Pacific. As they grow their bellies will turn to blue in the Pacific... here are two of Jack Randall's images showing juvenile Pacific regals... the second is larger and beginning to change to blue... this makes it tougher to tell on juveniles...

http://xs128.xs.to/xs128/08251/regal_juvenile_small165.jpg (http://xs.to)

http://xs128.xs.to/xs128/08251/regal_juvenile_large196.jpg (http://xs.to)

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12756966#post12756966 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnc914
They are a beautiful fish, but can be a pain to keep healthy long term.

In my experience regals are only tough to keep in the short term... once adapted and settled they are as tough as other angels... I've had my trio together over three years now, with the single specimens longer than that...

Hope that helps!

Copps

[DonH]

Thanks for all the info... My little guy has a good appetite and eats mysis and pellets. Once the store had it eating New Life Spectrum pellets, I said bag it! lol

I'm looking forward to seeing the changes in its color.

[dvmsn]

Thats a once in a lifetime find.

[flameangel88]

copps: thanks for the info.

[Titus07]

Is this fish reef safe? I think they are beautiful fish

[DonH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12758690#post12758690 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Titus07
Is this fish reef safe? I think they are beautiful fish

Well, this is my second regal in the past year. The first one developed a taste for clams and polyps after about a month and I had to practically destroy my reef tank just to get him out.

I just found out that this one likes to eat the polyps off of my Montis. My undata frag is missing half of its polyps and others are showing no polyp extension. This after only 2 days!!! Fortunately, he was not as difficult to catch. Well, I guess I'm done with angels in my reef tank unless I decide to get a pair of Watanabe angels again.

[zemuron114]

that is a great find! juvies from anywhere are hard to come by. Even harder from the red sea - which makes me believe it is not from the red sea due to this. The regals i bring in from Marshalls have the yellow belly, and i usually get small ones (1-3" size).

Regals are definitely a favorite of mine!

[BangkokMatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12762928#post12762928 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zemuron114
that is a great find! juvies from anywhere are hard to come by.
Visit Thailand. You will see 2 - 3 juvi's on most trips to the 'market'

[dvmsn]

Are you getting rid of it? If so where do you live?

[Chibils]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12763337#post12763337 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dvmsn
Are you getting rid of it? If so where do you live? +1

:)

[DonH]

I'm most likely going to give it to a friend or sell it locally (SoCal)for what I bought it for.

[dvmsn]

Lucky guy.

[Macimage]

DonH,

Where are you located in S. Calif.? I have set up a 180 gallon angel & butterfly tank that's running for the past 3 months with established live rock and live sand from my 8 year old reef.

PM me with any info if you still have the angel for sale, as I'd love to have him/her and would give it a great home.

Thanks!
Joyce

[DonH]

Joyce: I'll PM you...

I went to my LFS to get some frozen food and found another regal. This ones a bit bigger and I couldn't help but to try again. AAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!! Maybe third times a charm... lol

Red Sea this time? :D

http://forums.waterwolves.com/uploads/post-1539-1213761893.jpg

http://forums.waterwolves.com/uploads/post-1539-1213761904.jpg

[zemuron114]

how big is it? looks nice!!

[Macimage]

PM replied:)!

Another beautiful fish!!

Joyce

[Macimage]

I am sorry that your little Regal had the accident in your sump:(.

Is your third Regal eating yet? Let me know, as I'd still like one.

Joyce