Regal Angel Primer

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

Steve

I think I said this before, but your regal is a freak of nature. Most regals I think will not do well if introduced to a tank full of pigs. IMO it is better to introduce other fishes after regal has settled down.

How did you get such a healthy specimen?


Nick

Dont give up. You have the prerequisite to keep a delicate fish like the regal...better than most other people.

Read and reread this entire thread many times, make notes. Read wetweb media article, G Schiemers article on regal... and fear and respect this fish.

My success with my first regal is that I expected the worst and was meticulous about its care. There was also a healthy dose of luck as well. I am sure that this thread is skewed in that it attracts those with unusually healthy regals(eg Steve Atkins super regal) vs the majority of regal owners whose regal has died rather quickly. I was overconfident with my second regal and I paid the price!

For your next regal, maybe you should pick it up at phishy. Probably a long drive but a lot less stressful than overnight trip. Having been to his shop(basement) a few times I can confidently say his set up is amazing, far surpassing any LFS in quality.

Rao

I will try!

[nbd13]

thanks, i am not sure what i want to do...

its a 5 hour drive both ways so i dont know, its not his fault no way could he have known that it had a bacterial infection....

shoot i am not sure what i want to do now....

lost some other fish due to this also.... they were healthy before the regal came in so i think the regal had something...

Nick

[dvmsn]

i am not sure if i ever want to try a regal angel again...... just dont know where to get a healthy one at...

I think the largest lesson from this thread should be that there is no magic way to keep a regal. Sometimes you get lucky and get a healthy one, most of the time you don't. Red Sea angels seem to do better, but are still extremely difficult to keep.

[nctangman]

nbd13,

How did your determine it was a bacterial infection that caused your fish's death??

thanks
kirk

[asmodeus]

Originally posted by dvmsn
I think the largest lesson from this thread should be that there is no magic way to keep a regal. Sometimes you get lucky and get a healthy one, most of the time you don't. Red Sea angels seem to do better, but are still extremely difficult to keep.

you are so right and by the way love your potters there ...


mike

[nctangman]

HOZERTHEBONEFISH,

Thanks for asking.

I am getting my Regal angel from a LFS. We have tried for 2 wks to get one, and no luck. He did get an Emperor today, but I felt it was too big for the tank, so he is going to try again for a smaller adult emperor.

Will keep you posted.
Kirk

[LargeAngels]

nbd13: If other fish died then the primary cause may not have been bacterial. If you want to try it again call Tom at The Fish Doctors. Just ask him to order a RS regal from Quality Marine and tell him you'll pick it up still in the bag when it comes in. I've been to Quality a couple of times and can't say enough about the quality of their fish, and Yes, they do feed them. That is were I got mine. Remove all fish and quarentine any that you bring in.

I had luck in the past just putting fish into a healthy large reef tank too, but it only takes one nasty parasite to wipe out a lot of fish and become a finicky quarentine person.

[nbd13]

Thanks, i am not sure it was bacterial, like Large Angels said it could have been a parasite....

all i know is it spread to the other fish in the system...

LargeAngels i will shoot you a PM about this subject, thanks for the info...

Nick

[Steve Atkins]

Originally posted by HOZERTHEBONEFISH
……How did you get such a healthy specimen?…….
Largely luck.

One day I was chatting to my main importer (have dealt with him for many years and even designed and helped him set up his coral tanks) about getting some fish for another tank I look after and a couple of extras for my new tank (transplanted really) when I noticed a regal on the list and told him I might look at one of those again (lost one to aggressive tank mates years ago) one day.

He then proceeded to tell be about that particular regal. He had recently been on a business trip to Singapore and was visiting one of his suppliers when he saw it and thought it was the healthiest and most alert looking specimen he had ever seen. He promptly ordered it to come with his next shipment and specifically stipulated that he wanted “THAT” regal. On arrival it had settled well in a tank with some Yellow Tangs and some damsels and had eaten well (but not off the surface as it does now), mostly having frozen mysis shrimp and a frozen ‘marine green’ mix. It had been in quarantine for 3 weeks, as legally required in NZ, but I do not think that it needed any medical attention during that time.

Having heard all this, I decided that if I was ever going to get another regal , this would be the one to go for. So, from having not really been thinking about getting a regal any time soon, suddenly I had one arriving in about 3 days.

Despite my success so far, there are too many stories of success followed by failure to be complacent.

Steve

[Broodingwolf]

Hey Kirk --

Good to see your tank is moving along -- a regal angel, one of my favorite fish! Hope it goes well for you! Do you have a tank thread here on RC?

Jen

[nctangman]

Jen,

Good to hear from you !!!

Nah, I am just following this thread and learn all I can about keeping a regal.

I need to update the site with pics of my new golden maxima clam.

:)

Kirk

[Bojan]

Is quite possible, that you already answer on such question many times, but this thread is very long and it is very difficult to read all.

What is the minimum size of reef aquarium for Regal Angel ?

[Aquaduck]

Mine is in a 90 gallon. That's as small as I would recommend.

[Bojan]

How long do you have regal angel in your tank ?

[Aquaduck]

I have had mine for 9 months now. No problems, very healthy fish.
Here's a recent picture: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=5617309#post5617309

[Bojan]

Thanks. Picture is very good and regal angel is very beautifull.

What , do you think about one Regal Angel in my tank. (130g)?
my tank (http://www.sloreef.com/AkvarijiMeseca/Marec2005/AkvarijMarec2005ENG.htm)

[Aquaduck]

Very nice tank! A 130gallon is a good sized tank and you've had it for two years so there will be lots of small sponges and things for the Regal to nibble on. There may be some agression with the tangs but nothing too severe. My yellow tang took offence to my Regal at first but did not harm it in any way. Just some tail and fin fanning. Now they are best buddies and swim together in the tank. If you get a Regal it should learn to accept Nori by watching the tangs eat from a veggie clip. The Regal may nip at soft corals and zoos. Mine likes to take the odd bite of Xenia once in a while but that keeps them trimmed back a little.

[AndrewLL]

I'm in the process of setting up a 140gal tank and have narrowed down the centre piece fish to either a Regal Angel or Scribbled Angel.

I had previously also considered a Majestic Angel but moved away from one of these as my tank is located in a spot where I constant walk past to get to my front door. So from what I've been told I think a Majestic is a bit too flighty for high traffic areas.

I think a scribbled would do OK in high traffic but I have no previous experience with Regals. Can anyone give me an idea how a Regal would go?

Good thing about a Regal over a Scribble is that they are much more reef-safe.

Andrew

[Aquaduck]

My tank is located in the dining room against the wall. To get from the kitchen to the dining room I have to walk past the tank. There is constant traffic of a family of 5 moving through this area and the Regal has become accustomed to this. My yellow tang on the other hand is still very flighty.

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

Steve

Thanks for your answer. Good to be connected. As I suspected you got a alpha male.

Bojan

Beautiful tank. Good size for regal. You should make sure the regal eats well before you put it in the tank, or even consider taking out the tangs temporarily when you add the regal. The hippo and yellow tangs are as you know, pigs.

Andrew

Most regals IMO/IME are extremely shy and sensitive. My toddler runs past the tank few times a day and that always freaks her out. In the beginning she shut down for a long time. Lately she recovers quickly. As long as there isnt constant harrassment/movement, you should be fine.

[AndrewLL]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I've got a couple of months to make up my mind which way to go.

Andrew

[reef runt]

hey i have a 2ft cube (60gal) i know i have asked this before and was told i could but im asking again could i put one of these angel fish in until i up-grade? (dont know how long this will be though)

[reef runt]

anyone

[curthendrix]

A 2' cube (60g) is not enough swimming room for an adult Regal.

[yoboyjdizz]

i wouldn't put one in even at the smaller size never know how long its going to take you to upgrade....stuff happens in life

[john37]

hi, i really love this fish and was wondering what size tank everyone has their fish in. what size is the tank and size of the fish?

[pecan2phat]

Hi john37,

I have my Regal in a 120g and he (I think it's a he) is about 3.5".

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v509/pecan2phat/DSC01100.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v509/pecan2phat/DSC00985.jpg

[Aquaduck]

Nice tank! What lights do you have?

[pecan2phat]

Thanks Aquaduck,
The tank is lit by two XM 250w SE 10ks and two URI 110w super actinics. All the bulbs are fired off Ice Caps.

[Steve Atkins]

Regal is about 12cm, tank is just under 1600L (about 408USG).

http://users.actrix.co.nz/stevea/Tank2005_0723_142321AA.JPG

Steve

[smokez01]

Pecan, i must say, you have one absolutely georgeous tank!
i love how clean it is, do you have a thread regarding your tank??

and one BEAUTIFUL Regal!!

[pecan2phat]

Thanks smokez01.
Unfortunately, I never had the insight to start a tank thread.

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

Pecan

Nice tank and regal. Is the tank custom built?
Where is the peppermint hiding?

Been dreaming getting a school of peppermint angels once I win the lottery...

Steve

I see why your regal is doing so well. Nice huge tank. Is it viewable from both sides?

Henry

[john37]

can i put a little regal in a 60gal cube?

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

John

It can be done, but only if you are truly dedicated and experienced.

Greg Scheimer has one in a 40 gallon tank. Morten has his pair in a 75 gallon. Copps had his in a 65 gallon tank. These guys are pros.

On the other hand I have mine currently in a 46 gallon bow. I am a relative noob compared to those guys and I am having problems with nuisance algae and with water quality issues(high phos).

I blame most of the problem with my crappy skimmer(aqua c), and low circulation due to sand bed. I cannot feed the regal as much as I want to. For that reason, I am setting up a 125 gallon tank with skimmer rated for 300plus gallon tank and serious circulation so that I can keep the regal fat and healthy.

So you can do it but make sure you are up to the challenge.

Henry

[john37]

great i think i'll give it a try.....what type of corals do they pic at? i have dendros and i'm planning sps as well as rics. For a skimmer i actually will be running a ASM G3 and i'll have a large (>90gal) fuge soon. still working on my tank. dont worry, if i get the angel it wont be for a few months after my tank settles a lil.

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

John

IMO it is critically for your success that you read this entire thread. I know its long but it is very informative and will prepare you for the challenge ahead.

Another great resource is wetweb media (sorry dont have the link but google search should help)

You will find that regals are highly individual creatures. Some eat sps although most will not. Most eat zoos although not all.

Mine will not eat anything in my tank except.. sponges, hair algae and snail eyes!!! Its killed a few snails already. So far it has ignored clams sps lps(acan lords and red goni)

Henry

[smokez01]

Originally posted by pecan2phat
Thanks smokez01.
Unfortunately, I never had the insight to start a tank thread.

maybe nows a good time!!!!! :rollface: :D it would be alot more of a learning experience to see how you set things up.

Seriously, i really, really like your aquarium!

and regal!

[pecan2phat]

Hi Henry,

The tank is from Glass Cages. Nothing really special, I had the front & side panels done in low iron glass, euro-braced it to eliminate any center bracing and a few holes drilled in the back for closed loop drains. Quality is so-so, but I'm happy with it vs the price of a Miracles Aquarium tank (they do nice work!).

The Paracentropyge Boyeli is lounging behind the Candy cane (only kidding)!
Forget about the cost, but I haven't even seen any showup on any wholesalers inventory list.

[Steve Atkins]

Originally posted by HOZERTHEBONEFISH
Pecan

Steve

I see why your regal is doing so well. Nice huge tank. Is it viewable from both sides?

Henry
No. It just looks like it because I had a bit of a reflection problem when I took that picture. I must get some better ones, the colours in that pic are a little washed out.

Steve

[smokez01]

with the reef that i am going to be setting up in the future, a regal was definatly one of my choices

will i be able to have a regal and a blue face angel?

if i add the regal first, and the blue face about a month down the road, will they be ok with each other?

[Rook]

Hello all, its been a while since I posted in this thread. I've had my regal, which is a pacific regal, for just over five months now. The prior owner had it for about eight, so it is over a year in captivity.

The regal is eating very well on a mixed frozen foods, some pellets and just starting to eat nori. He (I think he is a he) is very active, alert and a very aggressive eater, even against the maroon clowns.


So, some pictures :)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a372/rooksreef/112_1208.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a372/rooksreef/112_1225.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a372/rooksreef/112_1223.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a372/rooksreef/112_1226.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a372/rooksreef/112_1221.jpg



Can anyone tell if it is a male or female?

Also, I believe it is a healthy plump weight. I can see its lateral line, but I suspect you always can. Anyone agree?

[Rook]

Also, since I have had him his colors have started to really become more vibrant. The white is becoming blue and the gold is becomming a darker richer gold. You can see in the pictures where the white lines are turning blue and the lines around the head have turned blue.

[Steve Atkins]

He certainly looks to be busy doing fish stuff. I see some fin damage at the back there, which is pretty much the normal condition for my one, so I would suspect yours is just as active. It looks good and healthy, or at least about the same as mine. It also looks like it is a male based on spine length.

Steve

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

Pretty regal rook.

Some updated pic of my regal. Cross my finger, knock on wood doing well. Outraces all other fish for food although the yellow tang has gotten a lot larger than her.

I am battling some phosphate issues and therefore the tank is dirty. Forgive the algae.



http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/henryyoo/regalpicoct05.jpg http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/henryyoo/regalpic1.jpg

[Tremelle]

It has been awhile, but I am back with a Red Sea Regal. When I upgraded my tank my wife wanted a couple of big colorful fish. Well today I met one of her requirements. It is about 5" to 5.25" in size. It is very colorful and healthy looking. Now I just hope it will hold it's own when introduced to the Chrysurus that is in the system already.

http://www.sykesweb.com/images/regalangel.jpg

I have kept Regals in the past, and contributed to this thread also, in my 105 system. This one is going into my 210 setup.

[pecan2phat]

I just love the shape of these angels!

I can't remember ever seeing a Regal at a LFS that was any larger than 5".

Good luck on the new addition Tremelle.

Off topic a bit, what do you guys think about my notion of adding a smaller Goldflake angel in with my Regal that has been established for about 5 months now? Also, would anyone consider the Goldflake to be SPS & clam safe? Calfo said that they are FAR by being reef safe, yet I've heard some differing opinions.

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

Tremelle

Nice fish. Hope he does well. Did you get it at LFS or mailorder?

Henry

[Rook]

How about a pic of a Pacific Regal Angel I took while scuba diving off Bora Bora.

Its a bit blue. I need to figure out that whole white balace issue while scuba diving.


http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a372/rooksreef/109_0952.jpg

[JDS]

Just an update!:)

I've had my angel now for around seven months and haven't had a problem yet. To me it doesn't seem any more difficult to keep the any other angel has long as eating before you get it. Although I do realize seven months is not all that long. I feed my REGAL about every other day with a variety of different foods.

I've read a lot of people that have had sudden deaths with no apparent reason. I was wondering if maybe were actually overfeeding it to death. So that's why I feed every other day and its work so far.

[Mike Dizon]

As I mention, dont get too exicited fish keepers. If your regal is eating. This does not mean its not cyanide caught. In my experience, one main reason they dont last is because as I mention in my post this fish is cyanide caught many collectors here do have a hard time getting them. This fish do hide in the rock very good and will not go out. Sure it will eat like all but stop and die without any reason like many. Don't just trust any dealer or your LFS. Many marine fish here are exported around the world. Dont bother keeping this fish unless you are 100% sure it from the REDSEA or MAC certified. Save your investment in the long run. Until I see things change here with angelfishes. It is not worth keeping.

Many butterfly, tangs, batfish, damsel, clownfish, wrasse from the Philippines are VERY safe. They are easily net-caught with or without the MAC stamp.

[jsmith0193]

I picked up a Red Sea Regal Angel from a local petstore today. It had been there for 2 months and was still fat and eating well. It is going in my 125 gallon aquarium with a pair of common clowns, a pair of flame hawks, a potters angel and a couple of cleaner shrimp. After a couple of hours of aclimation it ate some mysis and is out and about. I am very hopeful that it will continue to do well.

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

Rook

Cool to see pic of a regal in its native habitat. Thanks for pic. Looks nice and plump.

JDS

Interesting theory.

Can you post pix of your regal? Is its body full?

I doubt that its dying from gluttony or ammonia spikes from too much food. Those regals probably would have died if they were fed less. Tough to prove or refute your theory.

[Mike Dizon]

jsmith0193,
Good choice! But How do you know if your regal came from the redsea?
Is there any marking or stamp that your regal came from that area.
Because some LFS owners can surely mix up this fish from the ones from the pacific.

[pecan2phat]

Good question Mike!

The only way that I know that my LFS regal came from the Red Sea is that he gets his RS shipments in separately from his Bali & Hawaiian shipments. I watch when his RS shipments come in and all the fish are native to the RS out of that shipment.

[JDS]

Originally posted by HOZERTHEBONEFISH
Rook

Cool to see pic of a regal in its native habitat. Thanks for pic. Looks nice and plump.

JDS

Interesting theory.

Can you post pix of your regal? Is its body full?

I doubt that its dying from gluttony or ammonia spikes from too much food. Those regals probably would have died if they were fed less. Tough to prove or refute your theory. I think it might be time to purchase a digital camera.:)

I also don't believe it gluttony. I was wondering if maybe excess amount of fat without the ability to really work it off could do something negative to the internal organs. But like you said it's tough to prove or disapprove.

[jsmith0193]

Mike - I checked the fishes passport - it was definately Red Sea. Actually, they could have lied to me - but it is yellow throated.

[Steve Atkins]

Mine's yellow throated and it came from Indonesia.

Steve

[jsmith0193]

I was told he was from the red sea. They could have lied to me, I don't know. Its not going to keep me up at night, and you shouldn't let it keep you up either. I apparently should have stated that I was not aware of the exact location the fish was collected since I didn't get a copy of the id of the collector along with a pic of the collector and fish.

[Steve Atkins]

Originally posted by jsmith0193
.... since I didn't get a copy of the id of the collector along with a pic of the collector and fish.

That was very lax of you. :D

I'm certainly not worried about where mine came from. He's happy, has settled in well, has started to stand up for himself in the odd territioral dispute and has an apetite to match the rest of his tankmates. For now, that is all that matters.

Steve

[jsmith0193]

I know, at this point I am considering a trip to the LFS owner's house to interrogate him.

[szwab]

i always thought the yellow throated were red sea and the blue/grey were Indonesian.

Steve maybe you got a red sea regal that was labeled wrong?

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

From what i have read, there are some yellow throated regal from non-red sea regions such as bali.

In general red seas regals have yellow chest.

[Steve Atkins]

Originally posted by szwab
i always thought the yellow throated were red sea and the blue/grey were Indonesian.

Steve maybe you got a red sea regal that was labeled wrong?
The "Red Sea" regal colouring is, AFIK, really Red Sea and Indian Ocean colouring. The Indian Ocean and the Pacific more or less meet around Indonesia. From what I understand, around that part of the world, you can find both colour schemes.

Steve

[szwab]

good to know :)
thanks

[ClarksZ06]

I have a regal that came in red sea and has the yellow chest. I have seen regals come in as Indonesian with the whitish chest. I don't really know for sure.

[Mike Dizon]

Jsmith, I just came back from a short holiday. My bestfriend owns a resort here in the Philippines 4 hours away from my place. His beach resort is a perfect santuary area. I have been releasing fishes there regularly. Different fish everytime. Recently, 1 french and 1 Annularis Angelfish are what i released in the wild. These angelfishes are not endemic here so it is sort off special. Had it for almost 1 year already grew double the size.

Regarding your Regal. You cant blame your LFS. Many dont know or wont know unless they import the fish directly form the REDSEA and not buy it from transhippers.

If you follow the literature, those Regal from the Indian Ocean and Redsea have a yellowish orange in the breast and head, while the Pacific have bluish gray coloration.

Again like I mentioned, how do you know if your regal is from the redsea?

In my experience, I have seen Regals that have the yellowish orange in the breast and head over here in the Pacific and bluish gray coloration at the same time.

My suggestion nextime try to look for a mac retailer in your area specially for all large angelfishes. This way you will have assurance and the area of origin would not matter pacific, Indian Ocean or Redsea. As long as it is net-caught. Your investment is safe. Cost more but worth it.

[jsmith0193]

Not to pick a fight - but I think it is far worse to introduce non-native species to the pacific than it is to buy a fish from a non-mac retailer - "special" is a nice way of putting it. The retailer I purchased from might be a MAC retailer, I didn't bother checking - and I definately did not get a bargain, so it was not me being cheap.

[onereefnotenuf]

Originally posted by Mike Dizon
Jsmith, I just came back from a short holiday. My bestfriend owns a resort here in the Philippines 4 hours away from my place. His beach resort is a perfect santuary area. I have been releasing fishes there regularly. Different fish everytime. Recently, 1 french and 1 Annularis Angelfish are what i released in the wild. These angelfishes are not endemic here so it is sort off special. Had it for almost 1 year already grew double the size.



do you have any idea what kind of non native pathogens you could be releasing into the ecosystem by releasing a non native fish into your local waters? any fish that has been in aquarium for any length of time could have picked up any number of deseases that the local fish population can't deal with due to no prior exposure. in my opinion totally irresponsible.

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

Mike

Please dont do it. I think you mean well but...

And if you are going to continue to do it, dont let anybody else know about it.

If you cant figure out why you are getting the third degree from everyone, its time to hit the books(start with RC) or start your own bb.

[Mike Dizon]

jsmith0193 and HOZERTHEBONEFISH, We are off topic regarding this and, your comment are welcome just send me a PM this or visit my website.

The regal as far as I am concern do not live long comming from here. It is that simple and my search to find out why lead me to talk to the collectors who catch them and not all use net.

Now, why do I recommend MAC this is because they are the only organization that plans to put a LAB testing facility to test for cyanide so this is another assurance.

[jsmith0193]

Perhaps the regal angels from your area don't live long because of the foreign species that you are introducing into their environment. :D

What do the MAC folks think of introduction of foreign species?

[Mike Dizon]

Regals have been dying not because of the foreign species release. It was only a few days ago I release this species in the wild. This species have been dying for years before I started to releasing fishes in the wild.

And for your info a scuba diver have sited Adult French Angel and Queen Angel here believe it or not. Knowing this I was really shock to discover this from a scuba diver who took the picture and did not even know it was. Until I told him what it was. Very Rare encounter. Found in one of our 7100 island.

We have more problems like illegal logging in our country and illegal use of cyanide that is killing hundreds of fishes. Sorry, this is an interesting topic to discuss but since RC has an announcement I must keep the topic in line with regal angels. Good luck with your regal.

[onereefnotenuf]

mikedizon,
i started a new thread on this subject so it could be discussed at length. you may want to take a look at it.

[billpa]

Lets not forget the link to the topic :)

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=701583

[Psionicdragon]

Where is a good place to get a regal angel with some guarantee on the fish?

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

Psionic

I looked everywhere. There is no fish store in their right mind(if they did their research) to offer any guarantee on the regal. Every mail order store has them in the "exempt" category.

[Psionicdragon]

True, I have found that out also. But if I am ordering from a place that states the fish is eating like themarinecenter:justrarefish:phisybusiness, I want some guarantee :)

[nctangman]

Psionicdragon,

Excuse the dose of reality, but unfortunately, sorry to say there are no guarantees in this hobby.

Although, I do like your thinking. :)

[Psionicdragon]

Originally posted by nctangman
Psionicdragon,

Excuse the dose of reality, but unfortunately, sorry to say there are no guarantees in this hobby.

Although, I do like your thinking. :)

Hehe True, I was asking for the arrive alive guarantee type of thing and not guarantee forever :P

[nctangman]

Ah, OK..

I have used LA and Vivid Aquariums both I believe have 14 day arrive live guarantee. I had a cleaner shrimp from Vivid that was DOA, and I didnt have any troubles or push back getting credit for it.. Dave was very easy to work with.

Kirk

[Kahuna Tuna]

I have a question for all the regal angels owners out there. What do you folks think of keeping this fish in a 180 gallon SPS only reef? Any nipping or eating of SPS? Thanks in advance.

[Rondelet]

Just wanted to say this is a most excellent thread with lots of great practical information on Regal Angels. I've had a Pacific Regal for a few months now and will post a summary of my impressions soon (wanted to give it some time to round out my observations).

I do have a general question to all the Regal owners: has anyone heard of captive spawning (and rearing) for this species? I am aware of the pairing video posted some time back, but was wondering if there were any further successes in this area that people might have heard. I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this question, but thought it would be good to check.

Also, I'm looking for a [good] photo of Red Sea Regal (which show the yellow throat coloration) and permission to use it. This is for a profile I'm working up for another group. Full photo credit will be given.

Thanks for the help.

[Psionicdragon]

I just reread Vivid's guarantee and they have regal exempted.

How many people have bought a regal from vivid the first time and it lived and ate?

If two regals are placed in the same tank at the same time, given that the tank is big enough to substain both, will they get along or fight to the death?

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

Kahuna

I think in general regals are sps safe although there are always exceptions.

Rondelet

You can use my pix but they are not very good!

Psionic

I had a regal from vivid. Ate a little bit got cloudy eyes and died in about 10 days or so. It was a larger male (good 4.5-5 incher) Not very full in the belly like my healthy female. I am not likely going to mail order regals.

[Kahuna Tuna]

Thanks for the reply Hozer, it's not that I'm lazy or anything, I've actually gone back to page one of this thread and am reading through the replies but this is one intense thread! Great info on this challenging and beautiful fish.

[Rondelet]

Hozer: thanks for the pic. Should work with some post processing to lighten it up (if you that's ok).

Hozer & Psionic: IMO I wouldn't buy any fish unless I had a good look at it and could observe it and the surroundings it came from. Probably a topic for another thread, but I'm not a big fan of buying fish mail order - sight unseen.

[Psionicdragon]

Originally posted by Rondelet
Hozer: thanks for the pic. Should work with some post processing to lighten it up (if you that's ok).

Hozer & Psionic: IMO I wouldn't buy any fish unless I had a good look at it and could observe it and the surroundings it came from. Probably a topic for another thread, but I'm not a big fan of buying fish mail order - sight unseen.


I had a regal from vivid. Ate a little bit got cloudy eyes and died in about 10 days or so. It was a larger male (good 4.5-5 incher) Not very full in the belly like my healthy female. I am not likely going to mail order regals.

I would agree, but there are not any fish stores around me that are willing to take risks on regals or other fishes that I am into :(. I really don't want to mail order, but if I really want it, I will have to.

[Rondelet]

Originally posted by Psionicdragon
I would agree, but there are not any fish stores around me that are willing to take risks on regals or other fishes that I am into :(. I really don't want to mail order, but if I really want it, I will have to.

Psionic,

I appreciate your dilemma here and realize many stores will not carry RAs for a variety of reasons - but mostly because they feel it's unethical. The trick for me has been to find a LFS with a marine/reef specialist who knows what they are doing and whom, after many discussions, I have a lot of confidence in. Interestingly, the main LFS stores that cater to marine/reef enthusiasts in Victoria all have a no return policy for saltwater purchases. They will take fish off your hands, but will not issue credit - all sales final!

Good luck with the search.

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

Rondelet
Look couple pages back in this thread. I have a few pix posted of my regal that are much better quality than my avatar.

Psionic
I am surprised that the bay area has limited supply of regals in the LFS. It would seem that after So cal it would have the next best livestock selection.

[Steve Atkins]

Originally posted by Rondelet
Also, I'm looking for a [good] photo of Red Sea Regal (which show the yellow throat coloration) and permission to use it. This is for a profile I'm working up for another group. Full photo credit will be given.

Thanks for the help.

Use one of mine if you like.

http://users.actrix.co.nz/stevea/IMG_1349sml.JPG

http://users.actrix.co.nz/stevea/IMG_1371sml.JPG

Interesting looking at those pics. I think he has grown a bit since then. I don't notice it on a day to day basis as the big Javanese damsel that was just a bit bigger than him, has grown also and is still just a bit bigger than him. Also, the blue stripe on one side that is incomplete in the pictures is starting to join up now.

This one has never bothered any SPS that I have noticed, but I suspect he may have had a peck at an LPS in front of his cave (where he spends hardly any time these days) after I injured it myself by dropping an SPS on top of it.

Despite now having had plenty of time to investigate his food supplies, he appears to have no interest in the sponges I added as they are all growing quite happily.


Steve

[Psionicdragon]

Originally posted by HOZERTHEBONEFISH

Psionic
I am surprised that the bay area has limited supply of regals in the LFS. It would seem that after So cal it would have the next best livestock selection.


Thats what I thought, but I see a store that gets it once in a while and it never eats :(.

I found another store that has one and I got it. Its eating in my tank.

What should I do to keep it pest free? If I remember correctly, most of you guys feed nori as part of their diet?

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

My advise is to feed it a lot and frequently.(without polluting your tank) I gave mine frozen mysis and live brine.

Mine ignores all nori completely.

[Steve Atkins]

Originally posted by HOZERTHEBONEFISH
Mine ignores all nori completely.

They do seem to have a wide variety of tastes, as mine charges into the nori and, when I first put it in, is quite prepared to push his way in between other fish to get his share.

I put a folded up sheet of nori in once a week, which gets eaten by about 1/2 the fish, and the frozen food I use contains nori.

Steve

[Psionicdragon]

Thanks for the responses.

It has a very healthy appetite and always pecking around for something.

Should I medicate it to get rid of any internal and external parasiteS?

[Aquaduck]

Originally posted by HOZERTHEBONEFISH
Mine ignores all nori completely.

Funny, because mine eats as much Nori (if not more) than my yellow tang. It could be the geographic area difference between the yellow breast and the grey breast. Perhaps the Indo-pacific ones prefer more vegetation in their diet. The tang has to wait in line until the RA is done. The RA eats it with such vigor you would swear it was a pit bull. I'll try and get a video of it eating tonight.

[Psionicdragon]

Mine is showing some ich and a small wound on the side.

I changed the water out and continue to feed it mysis and brine. It wouldn't eat flakes or Formula 1.

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

Mine had some ich too in the beginning. I have a uv which may have helped. I gave mine lots of Kents garlic and selcon with the food which helped.

Henry

[Rondelet]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6217838#post6217838 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Steve Atkins
Use one of mine if you like....

Steve, much obliged (I went with the top photo of your two).

Hozer: I looked at one of your shots a page or two back - it's an excellent picture but what are all the white spots? Doesn't look like ich. Looks as if you have a lot of particulates in you water?

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

They are particulates. I should get a sock filter or something...

My regal did have some ich in the beginning...

[Rook]

My regal used to ignore nori all thogether. When I added a tang to the mix the regal started eating nori almost at once when it watched the tang eat it.

I try to feed a lot of variety and I make sure some of the food contains garlic, fatty acids and vitamine addatives.

[Psionicdragon]

great news! my angel fish is still eating. The wound has almost completely heal. Ich is still there thouch :(

[drknap]

I just acquired a 5 to 6 inch Indian Ocean Regal via mail order. He is fat and looks healthy. I have him in my refugium at the moment because I feared he would not be able to compete with the agressive eaters in the display tank. I definitely have heighten concerns about success with keeping him alive after reading some of this thread. He is still not eating. I'm thinking I should keep him in the refugium, which has live rock and tons of macro algae, until he is fully acclimated and eating. I'd hate to put him in the main tank and then have problems.

[drknap]

error

[drknap]

Sorry, triplicate thread from browser lock up. Couldn't delete.

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

drknap

I agree that you should keep it in your refugium. Try live brine and mysis with kent garlic and selcon. Feed frequently, and be patient. It took mine forever to eat initially

Good luck.

[nctangman]

drknap,

Which online vendor did you purchase yours from (if I may ask)?

Kirk

[drknap]

saltwaterfish.com. I've used them many times over the past 2 years, for fish, and I have always got healthy specimens-and alway much bigger fish for the price. Communication with them however could be better.

[hlama]

drknap,
nice to see you here. you will get good feedback here. not any know it alls telling you, you have to this or that. just everyone shareing experiences.

wow its been a while, this thread has grown HUGE!!! i love it.

ok since this thread has grown so much lets here about your regal and any corals he/she has gone for. i think most of us know sps are pretty safe and zoo's are not so safe. so lets here it what has your been up too. include any that have not gone for anything.

[nctangman]

drknap,

Do you happen to have a pic of your fish you can share?
I would be interested in seeing it.

Most of the LFS here don't carry a regal angel, and I am very particular...ur, ok, I will say it--picky, when it comes to purchasing large angelfish (ie, regal, emperor, etc.).

Kirk

[drknap]

I'm starting to become concerned. Besides not eating, I noticed a subtle irregularity on his side that is developing into a leison of some sort, also a few fuzzy specks on his side fine. I'll post a pic when I get the time. It has been about 38 hours since introduction. I acclimated him over 7 hours. He came in water with a very low spg of 1.014. My systems tends to runs on the higher side. 1.024/5.

[drknap]

Poor shot and mind he is in my refugium. He did take 2 mysis shrimp soaked in garlic today. Put they pretty floated in front of his mouth. My skimmer is working overtime with all the feeding attemps. I'm defintely concerned about the fuzz and sore on his one side that is becoming more apparent. Couldn't get a decent shot of it.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/44417regal_day_2.jpg

[GSchiemer]

It might just be a bad picture, but the belly on that Regal Angel appears "gray" in color. That's indicative of an Indo-Pacific Regal Angel rather than an Indian Ocean/Red Sea specimen. You indicated earlier that you bought an "Indian Ocean Regal." The Indian Ocean/Red Sea Regals have a bright orange belly and they do MUCH better in captivity than their Indo-Pacific counterparts. The IndianOcean/Red Sea Regals are also much more expensive than Indo-Paciifc fish. If that fish was sold to you as a Red Sea or Indian Ocean fish, I'd look into it. If you get a better picture, I'd be able to tell for sure.

As for the marks and not eating, I'd wait a few more days before I became very concerned. The fact that it took any prepared food is a very good sign. The next few days will be very telling. It should be exploring the aquarium and start eating more and more prepared food at each feeding. If it does not steadily improve, then you probably have a bad fish.

By the way, for anyone else reading this, I know that some people have claimed to have kept Indo-Pacific Regal Angels alive in captivity, but I've NEVER seen it done for any real length of time. I would never buy or recommend that anyone buy an Indo-Pacific Regal angel. I'd even be in favor of banning the collection of these fish. OTOH, I've seen many Indian Ocean/Red Sea Regals live long lives in aquariums. One of my Regal Angels died recently after 8 years in my aquarium. I have another that's 5 years old and going strong.

Greg

[drknap]

Pardon my ignorance but I didn't even inquire upon ordering it-a mistake I will not make again. It is indeed probably an Indo-Pacific Regal Angel and from the sounds of it, likely doomed. What a shame.

[Tremelle]

I have had my Red Sea Regal for about a month now. It just started taking prepared foods about 5 days ago, to my knowledge. It could have been accepting it before then, but it would go into the rockwork when I would pour the food into the tank. Now it eats with the other fish.

It has yet to harm or nip at any corals in the tank. I do only have leathers and mushrooms since I love angels.

[Steve Atkins]

Just realised that mine will reach it's 6 month anniversary of going in my tank the day before Christmas. I still remain amazed that he has never given me any problems either with eating or disease and has only managed the usual scuff and fin damage associated with sharing a tank with other ‘robust’ individuals.

The other day I found teeth marks on the base portion of one on my acro’s. It might have been the Regal but even before he arrived, the occasionally bit of bite damage occurred. As per usual in these cases, I could identify no guilty party, the particular offence was not repeated, and the coral has recovered.

I once witnessed him take what looked like a bite of my clam’s mantle but either he just took something off the shell and only annoyed the clam, or he did not like the taste, as the clam is back to normal and is again ignored by the Regal.

Steve

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

Greg

Sorry to hear that your older regal died.
Was it old age, disease or equipment failure?(or all of the above?)
Still an amazing accomplishment. May it rest in peace...

[drknap]

Day 3 in tank of Indian Pacific Regal. He's eaten maybe three pieces of mysis shrimp. He has some small fuzzy spots on his side fin and around a sore. He's activity level appears good and stable. I suspect he must have some sort of infection. I'm wondering if I should do anything or hope he acclimates and becomes healthy enough to improve on his own.

[MSHUR]

hi all,
i need ur opinion guys,how to handle my situation..
i got my regal about 3 month ago from physhy\i bussness.fish came in really good condition,i have place her in my qt for about 2 weeks..everything wend great and smooth.i place her in my display tank..sps tank..
she was eating good mainly mysis and sometimes spirulina flakes.. about 3 weeks ago i run out of mysis and start feeding her with flakes..spectrum and spirulina
she didnt eat so good but she eat small portions and i notice she start getting thinner.. of cause i run out to lfs anf got her pack of mysis. now she still eating mysis but not like she eat before:(
she become more shy for some reason.
so, guys what would u recomed for me to safe her..

thankx,mike

[doody]

How long between running out of mysis and getting more?

[MSHUR]

for about two weeks,but i have them now
she is eating but not aggressively,like she use to..only couple of mysis...4or5 i think

[doody]

Not haveing her food for two weeks might have stressed her. Good thing is that she's still eating a bit just keep an eye on her. Make sure you are offering her food a few times a day with caution not to overfeed the tank.

[MSHUR]

thankx,robert
thats what i am trying to do now...
i hope she would recover...

mike

[SHOmuchFUN]

I brought home a beautiful regal angel for my 120 from the LFS who had it eating and quarentined for a few weeks time. I brought mine home and acclimated it VERY slowly. As soon as I added it to the tank, I had a yellow tang that was constantly pestering it and would back it into a corner.

I decided to seperate the two and put the regal in my refugium. When I woke up the next morning, it was stiff as a board :( That was a quick $80 down the tubes. Not to mention a waste of a gorgeous fish. :mad:

[SHOmuchFUN]

I brought home a beautiful regal angel for my 120 from the LFS who had it eating and quarentined for a few weeks time. I brought mine home and acclimated it VERY slowly. As soon as I added it to the tank, I had a yellow tang that was constantly pestering it and would back it into a corner.

I decided to seperate the two and put the regal in my refugium. When I woke up the next morning, it was stiff as a board :( That was a quick $80 down the tubes. Not to mention a waste of a gorgeous fish. :mad:

[hlama]

dame that sucks. should have put the tang in the refugium. much cheaper and hardier. maybe you can get some creadit back from the LFS. worth a try.

[SHOmuchFUN]

This was a while ago... I tried to catch the tang, but it was too quick. The Regal was easier to catch. I have since given the yellow tang away :p

[Steve Atkins]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6311449#post6311449 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MSHUR
hi all,
.....
so, guys what would u recomed ......

thankx,mike
I think you should acquire a great variety of different foods and/or try or get one, or several, of the frozen food mixes. Their appetites seem to differ a lot between individuals - for instance some like sponges and some don't eat nori. Mine ignores sponges and tears into nori. As well as feeding frozen mysis shrimp and a frozen "marine green" mix, I produced a frozen mix of my own, including: mussel, octopus, squid, nori, cabbage, vitamins, scallop, fish, sponge and shrimp. All of this was to make sure it had plenty of variety to choose from and to give it a varied diet.

I still mainly feed these mixes but, over time, it has learnt, by copying the other fish, to eat every type of food I put into the tank. In the early days it was quite picky but probably it was just ignorant of the fact that the stuff drifting past was even food.

Steve

[GSchiemer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6310859#post6310859 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HOZERTHEBONEFISH
Greg

Sorry to hear that your older regal died.
Was it old age, disease or equipment failure?(or all of the above?)
Still an amazing accomplishment. May it rest in peace...

Although I don't know the normal lifespan of Regal Angelfish, I suspect that mine died of old age. It just became slower and slower in its actions and activity, and ate less and less over a period of a few months; then it died. I had the fish for 8+ years in captivity and it was probably 4+ years old when I got it, so it was probably 12-14 years old when it died. There is no other event that I can attribute to its death but old age. It looked absolutely perfect when it died. I was sad when it died, but it lived a good long life, at least for a fish. :)

My "newer" Regal Angel (5 years old now) continues to do very well and is a lot less finicky than my old Regal. It eagerly eats flake and pellet food, which my old Regal Angel would never touch. Both fish NEVER bothered any of my corals or clams.

Greg

[BlueStag]

Juvenile Regal.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/Poon415/P1000181.jpg

[hlama]

nice little guy.

[hlama]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6316705#post6316705 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SHOmuchFUN
This was a while ago... I tried to catch the tang, but it was too quick. The Regal was easier to catch. I have since given the yellow tang away :p always works out like that. i am trying to decide if i want another regal or a yellow tang (tang more for cleaning as well as added color). what to do what to do?

[Steve Atkins]

.... i am trying to decide if i want another regal or a yellow tang (tang more for cleaning as well as added color). what to do what to do?
I put in a regal and a yellow tang at the same time. They had spent the previous three weeks sharing the same quarantine tank, at the importer, and when they first went in to my tank used to hang out together. They still get on fine.

Steve

[Psionicdragon]

my regal stopped eating.... 3 days n counting

[jlui]

Hi All,

I purchased a RS Regal from LFS couple days ago. After putting it into my display tank, my Powder Blue Tang was all over the regal. Backing him into the corner, whipping its tail and nipping at him. I was finally able to catch the PBT and now he's in the refugium. The regal is doing well and eating too.:-)

My question is to all that have Tangs with their Regal. How long should I wait before putting the PBT back or should I even put him back at all?

BTW...I want to thank everyone who contributed to this thread. I have learned so much from it.

Joe

[moonpod]

Joe, I'd leave the PBT in jail for a good long time. As long as the PBT is eating and doing ok, forget about 'em for awhile--a few months like. You need to let the regal get established b/c obviously the PBT thinks the tank is his kingdom.

[Steve Atkins]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6338828#post6338828 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by moonpod
Joe, I'd leave the PBT in jail for a good long time. As long as the PBT is eating and doing ok, forget about 'em for awhile--a few months like. You need to let the regal get established b/c obviously the PBT thinks the tank is his kingdom.

I would tend to agree, especially if the chasing is obviously stressing the regal. My blue tang chased the regal for months. and even now, six months down the track, despite the fact that they generally get on quite well and the regal is starting to assert his position over other fish, the blue tang will occasionally attempt to show it who is still boss.

However, in this case, the regal spent most of the first week in behind the reef getting to know all the escape routes and took all this chasing in it's stride. It would just dart behind the reef and then re-appear after the tang had passed. From reading this thread, however, I would judge that this somewhat cheeky and indomitable behaviour is unusual in a newly introduced regal, so caution is advised.

Steve

[drknap]

It's been one week since arrival (mail order) of my Regal Angel (I suspect Indian Ocean). He is eating mysis shrimp regularly. He did develop what I suspect is lymphocystis on one side fin around a superficial sore but I think that it has peaked and is now improving. He is in the refugium still along with a copperband. I will be adding him to a tank at some point which is inhabitated by one yellow, one blue hippo, one sohal, and one chevron tang. From recent readings, I'm afraid to add him to the main tank.

[SHOmuchFUN]

You have all that in a 120?

[drknap]

From that response, I'm thinking your thinking that's too many. They all seem very happy and healthy. What do you think?

[jlui]

moonpod/Steve,

the PBT is eating in the fuge so I'l can leave him there for a while.

Thanks for the advice.
Joe

[hlama]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6339627#post6339627 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drknap
From that response, I'm thinking your thinking that's too many. They all seem very happy and healthy. What do you think? OK OFF SUBJECT A LITTLE HERE GUYS, sorry but i think it is needed. beside the regal is part of it. so to answer your question, yeah thats too many. they maybe getting along now but in time they will become more aggressive as they get older. depending on how long your tank is will determine how many you should keep. but even if its a 6 foot long tank still too many. the cheveron and hippo tangs get about a foot long each. the sohal gets about a foot and a half long. the yellow not bad only about 8". to give you an idea here is a 120ish gal tank i have. its 72X18X20. the fish i have and will be getting is as follows. with full grown size.
2- clown gobies, a yellow and green one.(ea. 2")
2-percula clowns (3")
4-filamented flasher wrasse. 1male and 3female(ea. 3.5")
1-lawnmower blenny(5")
1-orcid dottyback (4")
1-canary blenny(4")
1-hippo tang(close to a foot)
1-either a yellow tang or a regal angel(8-10")
do have room for one or two more small fish if i find one of those got to have fish. but as far as the bigger fish only gettting the two could push it and get 3, say over 8" but staying under the foot mark. like both the yellow and the regal. but i like them to feel comfortable enough so i see them all cruzing around. could go with 4 if i take out some(a few) of the 3-4 inch fish. remember too, one 10" fish produces more than double the bio load as 10 1" fish, not to mention the swimming room needed, especially for tangs. your regal will not need as much swimming room as your tangs. but still.
for you what i would suggest is taking the sohal tang back. pick three out of the hippo, cheveron, butterfly, yellow tang or regal angel. would avoid picking the hippo and cheveron togather. dont know if you have any other smaller fish but would need to adjust accordingly if you do or intend on getting any. i am not one of those tang police guys at all. but for your enjoyment of them, it would get real fustrating later when one of these guys starts attacking everyone else in the tank. o and these suggestions are basded on you haveing a six foot long tank. hope this helps. and sorry for getting off topic everyone.
but to save face, Steve Atkins, you can see the list for this tank hat why i am trying to decide on either the yellow tang or a regal angel. hummm. i could do both but na, to much yellow.:smokin:

[drknap]

Thanks for your reply. To keep on subject, the Regal Angel is about 6 inches, and becoming my new treasure. Where as the Tangs are each about 4 inches. I don't think I could part with any of them, maybe the yellow first. Taking a step back, my system is definitely overstocked with fish and corals, but things seem to be thriving (knock on wood). I planning a 300 gallon so I think they will all be happy in there.

[Steve Atkins]

Originally posted</a> by hlama

but to save face, Steve Atkins, you can see the list for this tank hat why i am trying to decide on either the yellow tang or a regal angel. hummm. i could do both but na, to much yellow.:smokin:

But note that the tank is part of a two tank system that holds more than 600USG all up. Also note the reef has beed going for over 10 years so it's ability to hold fish is greater than a more recently set up tank.

I suspect that as long as corals like acropora are doing well the tank then you can be pretty happy that the water conditions are adequate to keep most fish.

Steve

[drknap]

On that note, I've been so occupied with the new Regal Angel, wanting him to eat and offering him mysis shrimp several times a day, that I haven't been looking at my sps's. I've got closed polyps on handful of acros which is certainly not normal and skimmer isn't skimming. I suspect I've overfed and water is quality is declining.

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

Oh no..I think the tang police is onto this thread!! Or is it the new "angel police"LOL

[hlama]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6341212#post6341212 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Steve Atkins
But note that the tank is part of a two tank system that holds more than 600USG all up. Also note the reef has beed going for over 10 years so it's ability to hold fish is greater than a more recently set up tank.
Steve ture ture did not pay any attention to that. but was thinking more of the aggression. with 3 fish about a foot long and 3 others about 10". would be crowded in a 120gal tank. but if getting a 300gal tank soon no worries.

[MATTT]

A thought for those that just bought a regal angel and it has not been eating yet.

I bought my regal angel about two weeks ago, it is not a red sea. The angel is healthy swimming and pecking at the rock. Til last night it will not eat any food I put in the tank that float by.

Knowing that my regal angel loves to peck at the rock for some thing. I tie a piece of shrimp to the rock with a rubber band and drop it at the spot where it usually pecking at. Within instant, the regal is pecking at a piece of shrimp.

Try that and see if it works with your.

mattt.

[Steve Atkins]

Originally posted</a> by MATTT
...I bought my regal angel about two weeks ago, it is not a red sea. The angel is healthy swimming and pecking at the rock. Til last night it will not eat any food I put in the tank that float by.

Knowing that my regal angel loves to peck at the rock for some thing. I tie a piece of shrimp to the rock with a rubber band and drop it at the spot where it usually pecking at. Within instant, the regal is pecking at a piece of shrimp.

Try that and see if it works with your.

mattt.
That is a good idea. Regals do not normally eat floating food in the wild. Mine only learned to do it by copying other fish. In the very early days I would feed him be dropping 1/2 a freshly opened mussel down the back to where he was hiding.

Steve

[Psionicdragon]

Mine wouldn't even pick on the rocks. I think its going to go bye bye. 5 days and hasn't eaten.

Fed brine, mysis, and formula 1. I even tried pellets and flakes, and seafood.

[Steve Atkins]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6341743#post6341743 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drknap
.....and skimmer isn't skimming. ....
Sounds like you have a problem with the skimmer. I would have though that overfeeding would make a normally functioning skimmer skim more, not less. - at least mine does.

Steve

PS: Well, here we are. Made it to 6 months

[snorvich]

Well, I have an interesting data point for you. A friend of mine had his regal suddenly decide it was no longer reef friendly. This is in an SPS tank of 400 gallons. So, while I was considering getting a red sea Regal, I have now modified my plans dramatically and will stick with Genicanthus species angels. The regal is gorgeous but my corals are an expensive lunch.

[GSchiemer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6346607#post6346607 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snorvich
Well, I have an interesting data point for you. A friend of mine had his regal suddenly decide it was no longer reef friendly. This is in an SPS tank of 400 gallons. So, while I was considering getting a red sea Regal, I have now modified my plans dramatically and will stick with Genicanthus species angels. The regal is gorgeous but my corals are an expensive lunch.

IO/RS Regal Angels are fairly well-behaved in reef aquariums, especially towards SPS corals. I'm not saying that a Regal Angel has never picked at desirable corals, but it would be unusual. They MAY pick at the odd coral, but never terrorize a reef tank, and frankly, there's no coral I would rather have more than this fish.

Underfed fish will also sometimes pick at corals that they would normally ignore, so that may be an issue with your friend's fish. Personally, I've seen and experienced WAY more problems in reef aquariums with tangs than with Regal Angels, and tangs are generally regarded as "reef-safe."

Exactly what happened with your friend's Regal Angel to "suddenly" make it "no longer reef friendly?" I'm sure there would be a line of reef aquarists willing to take an established Regal Angel off his/her hands. Does he/she happen to live in NY? I'm willing to take a chance with the fish in one of my reef aquariums. :)

Greg

[Psionicdragon]

My regal may not make it to tomorrow :( sigh..

[hlama]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6346607#post6346607 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snorvich
Well, I have an interesting data point for you. A friend of mine had his regal suddenly decide it was no longer reef friendly. This is in an SPS tank of 400 gallons. So, while I was considering getting a red sea Regal, I have now modified my plans dramatically and will stick with Genicanthus species angels. The regal is gorgeous but my corals are an expensive lunch. hey can you ask your friend what coral or corals he did go for. the exact name. and how long was the angel in the tank before this happend. or if this coral was a new addition. or was the regal just making room near his home in the tank. the regal to me is one of those fish that is well worth stocking around.

[Psionicdragon]

Are the blue / grey belly more exposed to cyanide compare to the red sea regals?

[GSchiemer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6348903#post6348903 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Psionicdragon
Are the blue / grey belly more exposed to cyanide compare to the red sea regals?

Unequivocally, yes! Although the Regal Angels collected in Fiji are probably not caught with cyanide, I've not seen them fair any better in captivity than Indo-Pacific Regals.

In addition to the cyanide issue, the Indo-Pacific Regal Angels (blue/gray belly) are much LESS likely to adapt to captive life and MORE likely to pick at corals! The Red Sea/Indian Ocean variant (orange belly) is a prettier fish too. The only advantage of the Indo-Pacific fish is price, but that's not much of an advantage when it dies prematurely.

I've said it before in this thread and in articles that I've written about this fish: I highly recommend avoiding the Indo-Pacific Regal Angels and would even support not collecting them for the hobby trade unless by special request.

Greg

[JDS]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6203018#post6203018 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Psionicdragon
I just reread Vivid's guarantee and they have regal exempted.

How many people have bought a regal from vivid the first time and it lived and ate? I got my regal from them in april of this year,and it is still doing grate. eats any thing I give it.

[Psionicdragon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6349198#post6349198 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSchiemer
The only advantage of the Indo-Pacific fish is price, but that's not much of an advantage when it dies prematurely.

Greg

So true, I had my regal angel for 2 weeks. It ate everything that I place in the tank. 6 days ago, it decided to not eat anymore. It died today. I still don't know why it stopped eating. I thought it was a bacteria infection, so I used meds in the QT tank..oh well =/

JDS,

did you get yellow belly or blue/grey/white belly one?

[Tagareef]

Psionicdragon,

I am very sorry about your Regal.

I just got a Red Sea Regal 3 days ago. So far so good. My yellow tang bugged him for a day but has since backed off.

Fingers crossed!

Luis

[Psionicdragon]

GL Luis!

I love these angels and all, but its so disheartening to lose a life. Mine was eating well and was fat as can be. But something made it stop eating.

You might wanna move the tang to a sump or refugium. For some reasons, tangs like to harass regals.

[Tremelle]

I was in a lfs yesterday, and found myself facing a hard decision. I have a beautiful 4.5" male RS Regal in my 210 now. The lfs had 2 2.5" RS Regals that were eating and swimming about together. They were eating mysis and brine. I was thinking of trading my 4.5" male for the 2 smaller ones. The only thing that kept me from buying them was the look on the face of my current Regal. It swims up to the glass when ever I am near the tank and it is very inquisitive of everything that goes on in the tank. What would you have done?

[Psionicdragon]

I would've kept the one that I had and bought the other two :P

[Tremelle]

I seriously thought about that option also. The 2 smaller ones would most likely remained females with the 4.5" dominant male. The concerns I had were as follows.

First, I already have a 5" Chrysurus angel, 4" Blonde Naso, and 4" Purple tang along with the 4.5" Regal. I am not sure I wanted to try 6 big fish in my 210 gallon tank.

Secondly, I am going out of town on Monday for 4 days. I would not be around if the harassment got too bad from the male Regal or any other fish. I even thought about buying them and having the store hold them til I got back, since I know the staff pretty well.

[JDS]

JDS,

did you get yellow belly or blue/grey/white belly one? [/B] It's the yellow belly one.

[doody]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6351792#post6351792 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tremelle
I was in a lfs yesterday, and found myself facing a hard decision. I have a beautiful 4.5" male RS Regal in my 210 now. The lfs had 2 2.5" RS Regals that were eating and swimming about together. They were eating mysis and brine. I was thinking of trading my 4.5" male for the 2 smaller ones. The only thing that kept me from buying them was the look on the face of my current Regal. It swims up to the glass when ever I am near the tank and it is very inquisitive of everything that goes on in the tank. What would you have done?

Duse you gotta share the LFS name if your not buying them. Someone here will buy them.

[Tremelle]

The name of the lfs is The Fish Gallery in Dallas, TX. They have them priced at $90 each, then I get a 15% discount through my local marine fish club. I called them at the close of busines yesterday, 12/24, and they still have them both. What would you do?

The same day I ran across another 2.5" sized RS Regal at another lfs. They wanted $150 for it. That size RS Regal must have been heavily stock on at least one of the supplier's list.

[pecan2phat]

Wow Tremelle,

Those sizes usually go for $59 at one local LFS here in NY. There are other LFS that will hit the $90 mark out here but this guy gets them year round and sells them for $59.

[GSchiemer]

$90 is a very good price for a Red Sea/Indian Ocean Reagl angel of that size, especially one that's eating at the store! I've seen them for $149 and more at some LFS's and online. OTOH, the Indo-Pacific Regal Angels typically sell for less, and that may be the fish that Pecan observed at his LFS's. $59 is actually a good price even for an Indo-Pacific Regal, but personally I wouldn't buy one at any price.

Greg

[Psionicdragon]

2.5 are pretty rare. So ya that is a killer deal for 90-150.

3.5-5.0 is around 30-50 in the Bay Area, but thats without knowing if it eats or not.

[pecan2phat]

Greg,
The $59 is for a RS Regal.
This guy moves a lot of fish and he deals with the *****-shipper vs the wholesaler in Cali.

[Psionicdragon]

Oops, I thought it was a blue chested one. My bad!

[zfunk007]

I haven't posted on this thread since July. So I figured I would again since my Regal is still alive and well. I have had him for 6 months now. He hasn't grown too much but then again I'm not sure what their growth rates are. The main point is, he is doing well. Here are a few pictures:

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/70623regal_1.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/70623regal_2.JPG

All I feed him now is Spectrum Pellets and live caulerpa. Although I will be getting him some live sponge on my dive trip this week. Hope everyones Regals are doing well.

[Psionicdragon]

Anyone ever seen or heard of a regal that would only pick at flakes, but not brine or mysis shrimps? I got another Regal this monday and it ignores everything but flakes. However, it will pick at the flake and spit it back out.

[doody]

I noticed that lot of people have success with Spectrum Pellets. However, there are a few different types of spectrum. What kind of spectrum is everyone useing?

[GSchiemer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6362233#post6362233 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pecan2phat
Greg,
The $59 is for a RS Regal.
This guy moves a lot of fish and he deals with the *****-shipper vs the wholesaler in Cali.

Hard to believe that anyone is retailing good Red Sea Regal Angels for $59. Is the store called "Fishtown USA"? They're fish are inexpensive but the quality is questionable and I've never seen Red Sea Regals in that store.

Greg

[pecan2phat]

Greg,

I guess you've been in my neck of the woods, lol!

Your correct, the LFS is Fishtown USA. My current regal that I have in my 120 is a $59 one from them.

I'm surprised that you haven't seen any there, I normally see the RS Regals in that store about every 2 months and they normally get in about 5 to 10 at a time.

[zfunk007]

I feed mine the Spectrum Thera A+A. The anti-parasitic formula.

[dgasmd]

Certainly this is one of my nicest fish of all times. It is a IO/RS. I originally got it at some hole int he wall LFS that I happened to see next to a restaurant I went to have dinner at. It was sitting in the bag right out of a shipment and I took it home. One of my fattest fish too. He eats everything I feed too.

http://www.dgasmd.org/750g%20tank/Livestock/13.jpg

http://www.dgasmd.org/750g%20tank/Livestock/17.jpg

http://www.dgasmd.org/750g%20tank/Livestock/18.jpg

http://www.dgasmd.org/750g%20tank/Livestock/19.jpg

http://www.dgasmd.org/750g%20tank/Livestock/20.jpg

http://www.dgasmd.org/750g%20tank/Livestock/22.jpg

The question I have always had is regarding multiple regals in a tank. I know someone with 3 of them in his 180g tank along with some other angels in a full blown SPS reef. He tells me they all get alone just ifne, but is there a trick to this like size, opercular spine size, etc??

[nbd13]

Hey Alberto,

John and i talked at length about this one time.

basically the longer that opercular "blue" spine is its supposed to be a male.

best thing is to compare pics in this thread of that spine and figure out what sex yours is. Then get the opposite sex.

you can do a small group like John, just make sure you only have ONE male and a couple females (2-3).

if you do have a male it might be best to get 2 females an introduce them at the same time so if there is an agression from the current fish it will be spread amongst 2 fish instead of 1. kind of like you fairy wrasse thing.

Nick

[doody]

Ok, can some one please photoshop a pic to point out this spine that's been mentioned?

[nbd13]

After looking at your pics Alberto,

i think it may be a female. which would work out if you wanted to add a male.

anyway you can get a closer pic to confirm?

thanks

Nick

[nctangman]

dgasmd,
Very nice looking fish. Great colors!!

Just curious, did you QT this fish before introducing it to the main tank?

Kirk

[Tremelle]

Here is a pic of my 5" Red Sea Regal with it's quarter to half inch gill spines. They have not been photo shopped.

http://www.sykesweb.com/images/210%20Tank/regalangel1.jpg

[dgasmd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6400560#post6400560 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nctangman
Just curious, did you QT this fish before introducing it to the main tank?

Kirk

I did not. At the time, there was only a mystery wrasse and a pair of clowns in the tank (750g). It was a huge risk in terms of introducing parasites to a new system, but I was very lucky. I do not recommend it to anyone though.

[doody]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6399550#post6399550 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by doody
Ok, can some one please photoshop a pic to point out this spine that's been mentioned?

I meant could someone put a circle around them?

[doody]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6399550#post6399550 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by doody
Ok, can some one please photoshop a pic to point out this spine that's been mentioned?

I meant could someone put a circle around them?

[Steve Atkins]

http://users.actrix.co.nz/stevea/gilspine.jpg

steve

[doody]

Ohh!

[hlama]

nice info steve. i wonder if there is a difference in the male or female nipping on our corals.

[Steve Atkins]

I have seen mine take the odd exploratory nip at corals, but not actually remove any flesh. Well before he arrived, the odd bit of damage would appear from time to time and I suspect my large blue tang, although I have never actually witnessed the culprit in action. When I have seen teeth marks, they seem about blue tang size.

Steve

[hlama]

i am just a little curious of the difference in the sexes going after corals. my thinking perhaps females are more prone to nipping. because maybe they are, out of habit, perpareing a place for there eggs and just makeing room. i have noticed with other fish the females are more aggressive in keeping things out of there dens. males seem to be more concerned and aggressive towards other fish.

[GSchiemer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6421723#post6421723 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hlama
i am just a little curious of the difference in the sexes going after corals. my thinking perhaps females are more prone to nipping. because maybe they are, out of habit, perpareing a place for there eggs and just makeing room. i have noticed with other fish the females are more aggressive in keeping things out of there dens. males seem to be more concerned and aggressive towards other fish.

Sorry, but your theory is all wet (pun intended). Regal Angels are dispersal spawners and not nest builders.

Greg

[hlama]

my bad but still wonder about the sexes. maybe the male is more prone because likes to keep things out of his territory maybe i dont know just curious. looked into it but dont think anyone has ever paid any attention to it. could be one sex has never nipped at any corals. not that most ever do. think i will just start asking those that have had them nip.

[Steve Atkins]

I sense a PhD thesus coming on....

Steve

[BillyFSU]

The newest addition to my tank. Been with me a few weeks now, and eating cyclopeeze, spiralina, nori, and mysid shrimp. I initially got him eating using chopped up large shrimp stuck in the nori clip. He was eating at the LFS before I got him but went on a hunger strike in the QT tank. He started eating fine once I moved him over to the display and he got a bit more used to my presence. I think my other fish helped also in getting him to eat.



http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/48933Regal_Angel__2.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/48933Regal_Angel.jpg

[Tremelle]

This morning, as always, I got up and checked the tank. Everything seemed normal. I went about my day. Around 5 pm my 5" Regal Angel swam up to the front glass as usual to check me out checking him out. I leave and comeback a hour later and it is dead as a door knob. I have no idea what happened to it. It was eating like a pig, no signs of aggression from tankmates, and no outward signs of illness or parasite. It remains a mystery to me. :(

Rest In Peace My Friend
http://www.sykesweb.com/images/210%20Tank/regalangel1.jpg

[GSchiemer]

Sorry to hear about your Regal Angel. It's difficult to say why it died suddenly. It's an uncommon occurrence with that fish.

It's hard to tell from the picture, but it does look somewhat malnourished. There's appears to be a tell-tale pinching in the dorsal musculature (nape), but this is hard to see unless the fish is facing you. If this was the case, then it may explain the death. The eye also doesn't look clear, but this may just be the picture. The tank also looks somewhat eutrophic (lots of cyanobacteria). That's not a good environment for a Regal Angel.

OTOH, the answer may simply be that stuff happens. Occasionally a fish that appears perfectly healthy will suddenly drop dead. It could be the result of a sudden trauma, which is not that unusual in an aquarium. Even a quick bang against the rocks or a glass cover can kill a fish.

Greg

[Tremelle]

The pic is not really a good pic. It was just a quicky I took one evening. It's eyes were clear all the way to the end. What appears to be cyano in the background and on the rocks is hair algea with some bubbles on them. It was eating like a pig, but it must have not gotten enough to eat. That is a possibility.

Thanks for offering up some suggestions to the cause. I will keep those factors in mind with all my fish.

[delafe]

Releasing fish back to the wild is incredibly irresponsible. Please don't do it. You are putting into jeopardy an entire eco-system.

-Alfred

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6021340#post6021340 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by onereefnotenuf
do you have any idea what kind of non native pathogens you could be releasing into the ecosystem by releasing a non native fish into your local waters? any fish that has been in aquarium for any length of time could have picked up any number of deseases that the local fish population can't deal with due to no prior exposure. in my opinion totally irresponsible.

[elekamit]

Hey guys, I may be getting a regal angel after studying about them for a couple of months.

I am getting it from a friend's aquarium, the fish is eating everything!!!, and has no disease what so ever!

the question is:
Should I release him straight away (after acclimation offcourse) to he main tank?, or should I put him in a "cage"/basket so that the other fish get used to him?

I have a couple of tangs which are fairly aggressive.

p.s.
Since he is coming from a stable tank I am not going to quarantine him.

[elekamit]

Hey guys.
I am going to get a regal angel from a friend's tank.
I have studied about the fish, and I think my tank will make a good home for it.

The question is:

Should I just release him into the tank (after acclimation offcourse).

Or should I put him in a floating Cage/Basket so that the other fish get used to him, and if so for how long?

Since he is coming from a stable tank and has no disease I will not be qt

[MATTT]

Guys,

Just a thought,
If I ordered a red sea regal angel and received other than a red sea. Even when if was confirmed by the place where I ordered the fish. What would you do ?

mattt.

[Steve Atkins]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6511014#post6511014 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by elekamit
..

I have a couple of tangs which are fairly aggressive.
..

• How big is the Regal relative to the tangs?
• What sort of temperament does the Regal have?

Mine went in with a tang about 3 times its mass and it was chased quite a bit for the first couple of months by this and a few other fish. The Regals temperament meant that it just rode it's way through all this, but I do not think all regals are so unflustered by being chased. It gets on OK with that tang now and has established itself at about 3rd in the pecking order behind the tang and a very large Javanese damsel.

Steve

[doody]

Elekamit, I would add it strait to the display to reduce stress. However, if your tang fish are stressing it out, I'd put the tangs in a QT tank. Once you know the regal is good, you could slowly introduce the tangs back into the display. One by one. Keep in mind I've never owned a regal. I am baseing this off of my research and oppinion.

[elekamit]

Well, it's like this:

doody, there is NO WAY I can take out the tangs or any of the fish for that matter, my rock work is complicated...

Any way, my other tangs are a yellow and purple tang and the regal being added is slightly bigger then the purple tang which is the biggest of the bunch.

So what do u suggest?, basket at first or straight to the tank?

[doody]

I'd go straight in the tank. They may not bother him at all, but who knows? Is there any way you can isolate an end of the tank with some kind of plastic grate or something?

[elekamit]

No way man, Thw only way I can isolate him from the others is a cage/net that floats.

Plus!, I wouldn't put a plastic grate even if I could, I don't wanna get every other fish stressed

[doody]

True. Like I said I never owned the fish. I'd put it straight in, but wait for other oppinions.

[GSchiemer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6512996#post6512996 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MATTT
Guys,

Just a thought,
If I ordered a red sea regal angel and received other than a red sea. Even when if was confirmed by the place where I ordered the fish. What would you do ?

mattt.

I'd be mighty upset if that happened to me. There is a big difference in quality between the Indo-Paciifc and Red Sea variant of the Regal Angel, and a big difference in price! I'd call the place and lodge a complaint. You should get your entire purchase price back. If they want the fish back, it should be at their cost. Just be sure that you've identified the fish correctly. Can you post a picture? Can you post a link to their ad?

Greg

[elekamit]

Can anyone who have or had the fish please answer my q?

Thanks guys!

[doody]

Slow down Someone will get to you

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

doody, there is NO WAY I can take out the tangs or any of the fish for that matter, my rock work is complicated...

There is always a way...

Your best shot at success is to get rid of the tangs at least on a temporary basis. Thats what I did.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=707656

Otherwise your regal may not eat well initially. I would not do the net/cage thing.

I would recommend my favorite which is the small fish hook method

[Psionicdragon]

Ya..chill a sec :)

[elekamit]

sorry, maybe i got psyched out a bit.

any way, what i am trying to say is that i got many different caves, and many openings. this is no normal rockwork, i once tried all of the methods by calfo, non worked.

[doody]

How much coral do you have in the tank? Got pics?

[moonpod]

In general I find tangs to be relatively easy to trap. You get a clear plastic container--they got 'em in the pet store for like keeping hermit crabs. you leave the top middle open. bait the bottom with food. Leave it in there for several days. You need a string or something that allows you to fairly rapidly pull the container up. When fish are spooked they swim down, not up, so when you rapidly reel up the container, the fish swim farther down into the container. This method works well with greedy feeders like tangs.

[elekamit]

If the regal I am bringing is bigger then both of my tangs, will they still be a threat?

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

They can be a physical threat. I had to remove a yellow tang that suddenly turned violent on my regal angel and it was a bit smaller than the regal. It left a nice gash on the regals side.

There are no guarantees. Tangs are food blackholes and your regal may not get any food. Try to remove the tang for best chance at success.

Dont be fooled. Steve Atkin's regal is an anomaly and most regals need all the help they can get for success, or they will die.

[Steve Atkins]

Try using some mirrors round the tank. I use these for a day or so whenever I introduce a new fish. Usually the fish already in the tank spend more time dealing with their own reflection than with the new fish. Not all fish are fooled but it does reduce the overall level of interest in the new fish.

My Regal is certainly not one to regard as typical.

Steve

[JDS]

I personally would never introduce a regal angel into an established tank with tangs. We already know how difficult it is to start this fish in captivity. It makes sense to reduce the amount of stress as humanly possible. Especially in the beginning!!

[JDS]

I personally would never introduce a regal angel into an established tank with tangs. We already know how difficult it is to start this fish in captivity. It makes sense to reduce the amount of stress as humanly possible. Especially in the beginning!!

[elekamit]

So, I don't understand what are the downsides of putting it in a plastic cage (big) which floats, for a day or two, that way the tangs can take out their aggression on the cage and i can observe if there even is an aggression, don't u think?

[doody]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6523743#post6523743 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by elekamit
So, I don't understand what are the downsides of putting it in a plastic cage (big) which floats, for a day or two, that way the tangs can take out their aggression on the cage and i can observe if there even is an aggression, don't u think?

It'll stress the regal out.

[JDS]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6514928#post6514928 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Steve Atkins
• How big is the Regal relative to the tangs?
• What sort of temperament does the Regal have?

Mine went in with a tang about 3 times its mass and it was chased quite a bit for the first couple of months by this and a few other fish. The Regals temperament meant that it just rode it's way through all this, but I do not think all regals are so unflustered by being chased. It gets on OK with that tang now and has established itself at about 3rd in the pecking order behind the tang and a very large Javanese damsel.

Steve did you put the regal in your 400 gallon reef? If so your results in a 125 might be a little different.

[Steve Atkins]

did you put the regal in your 400 gallon reef? If so your results in a 125 might be a little different.
Yes, straight into a 400 USG with about 23 other fish, all but a few of them smaller than the Regal. I also put in a yellow tang plus 4 small damsels at the same time and they, especially the tang, shared of the agression. The Regal and the tang used to hide out in the same hole and it must have been a good bonding experience since they still both 'sleep' more or less in the same spot.

A 125 might be quite a bit different if is were reasonably stocked.

Steve

[elekamit]

You ARE RIght guys!
it's out with the tangs!

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

Wise move. Best of luck with your new regal

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

Wise move. Best of luck with your new regal

[kalare]

I'm trying all over the online vendors for a red sea regal of around 2-2.5 inches. You guys know where I might find one in good condition?

Thanks

[doody]

Email this place. I've read good things bout them.
http://www.phishybusiness.com/

[MATTT]

Well,

Just ordered two small red sea regal angel from Liveaquaria.com. It should be delivery on Saturday at 1:30pm. Can't wait.

mattt.

[DrBegalke]

what's the difference between Regals from different oceans/seas?

[Rondelet]

There are two varieties commonly offered in the trade, easily distinguished by coloration. Those from the Indo-Pacific have a grayish-blue throat and belly, while those from the Red-Sea/Indian Ocean have a bright yellow, sometime orange throat and belly. It is thought by many that Red Sea/Indian Ocean Regals are much hardier than Indo-Pacific Regals. Having said that, I have an Indo-Pacific and it is doing very well and eats like a champ - perhaps and exception to the rule.

[elekamit]

EVERYONE!
Please post how long and in what method you acclimated you regal.

[DrBegalke]

Rondelet: That's what I thought, but wasn't sure... Thanks.

[Rook]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6546349#post6546349 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MATTT
Well,

Just ordered two small red sea regal angel from Liveaquaria.com. It should be delivery on Saturday at 1:30pm. Can't wait.

mattt.


Well, did you get the Regals?

[kalare]

I don't mean to be rude or presumptuous, but I see a few people in here that have implied that they may try to keep a regal angel and only have limited experience with the hobby. This is just my opinion, but these fish are not easy to keep and it would be wise, both for the welfare of the fish and your wallet to purchase and care for something easier till you have more experience and can devote your time and energy to the fish. Many a regal angel, moorish idol, two spot goby etc. has perished at the hands of a relatively inexperienced keeper, and advaced alike, however the chances of success with more experience is much higher. Please take this into consideration.

Mattt: I was just about to order some thursday night but decided to "sleep on it"...whoops, they're all gone by friday afternoon :(.

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

Kalare

Excellent point. This thread is deceiving in that it gives many inexperienced fishkeepers false hope that regals are easy.

Everyone posts about their new regals but majority do not post when it has died. People that post regularly are the lucky few(incl me) that has a rare freak healthy regal. This is purely selection bias.

When some people dont even bother doing basic internet and book research and asking basic questions that has been addressed a thousand times in the thread, I cringe at the thought of another regal dying a slow death in the hands of a unprepared, inexperienced fishkeeper.

[pecan2phat]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6550834#post6550834 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by elekamit
EVERYONE!
Please post how long and in what method you acclimated you regal.

I was looking at my fish log or fish geek diary and my RS Regal was purchased on 4/10/2005 for $44.95 at FishTown USA in New York. (I think I mentioned that my fish was purchased for $59 a few pages up)
Since reading this thread prior to my purchase, it was decided that the Regal would be acclimated straight into the tank (120g) versus quarantined.
Regal did not eat for 2+ week, then started munching on zoanthids, then started to take prepared foods around the 3rd week.

[delafe]

Got one! I was able to find an eating Regal at a local shop. I'm very happy with it... Now if I can catch the very large damsel that is harrassing it. I have had to keep the lights off for the past 12 hours in the hopes that the Regal gets acclimated and will "fight back".

Otherwise I may have to tear down my tank to get at the damsel.

-Alfred

[BillyFSU]

Bad news. Found my regal (pacific-grey breasted) dead this morning after having it a month. It was eating mysid, nori, hikari angel feed, and cyclopeeze in my tank and had been eating mysid shrimp in the LFS for probably 4-6 weeks before I bought it. It was well fleshed out, and was active about the tank. I'm really at a loss to figure out how it died.

[moonpod]

Alfred I got two words for you "spear fish".

Billy sorry to hear that. I've had that happen to me before as well. Part of the "mystery" of the Regal. Better luck next time

[kalare]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6558599#post6558599 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BillyFSU
Bad news. Found my regal (pacific-grey breasted) dead this morning after having it a month. It was eating mysid, nori, hikari angel feed, and cyclopeeze in my tank and had been eating mysid shrimp in the LFS for probably 4-6 weeks before I bought it. It was well fleshed out, and was active about the tank. I'm really at a loss to figure out how it died.

IndoPac regals are often doomed. This is why we all go after the red sea variety. Some believe it is because many are collected incorrectly and/or with the use of drugs.

[kevin21]

hey, awesome thread btw! tons of info.

i was wondering(dont pound me or anything..i heard this from a couple of people):

would it be ok to have a regal in my 75g mixed reef, 29g sump/fuge...skimmer....fluval. 40lbs LR 55lbd baserock?
thats my filtration.

he would be my last addition when the tank is more established.
what do you think?

thanks

[kalare]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6562862#post6562862 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kevin21
hey, awesome thread btw! tons of info.

i was wondering(dont pound me or anything..i heard this from a couple of people):

would it be ok to have a regal in my 75g mixed reef, 29g sump/fuge...skimmer....fluval. 40lbs LR 55lbd baserock?
thats my filtration.

he would be my last addition when the tank is more established.
what do you think?

thanks

The tank is large enough for a med size regal...but remember smaller tanks require more experience...and I notice you only have 6 months of it. I hope no offense is taken, but I seriously recommend trying an easier fish for your sake and for the fish's.

And the fluval, IMO, is a nitrate producer/detritus trap.

gl

[MATTT]

Kalare,

No, liveaquaria.com send me an e-mail saying that it is out of stock. That is funny, because I ordered it on Friday morning before the nine o'clock deadline to have it ship Saturday. I even call them twice to make sure, and was told that the regals are in the package. I notice that the available list was gone by Friday afternoon. Well better luck next time.

mattt.

[kevin21]

yea, i was planning on him/her being the last fish, which will be ta my 1 year mark...i have 7 months experience now.

thanks

[fishpimp69]

Just a quick ?, had my regal for 2 weeks was eating everything including my zoo's. But then i went away sat came back didn't see him, thought I would go to bed and look in the morning, and came to find he was not there. So it's been 2 days and still no sign. Are these fish jumpers or what could of happened to him on sat. I have looked everyewhere. It was also around 5 inches. You would think i would see bones or some kind of body right? Any ideas?

[JohnL]

This thread was automatically split due to performance issues. You can find the rest of the thread here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=758598