Regal Angel Primer [Archive] - Page 5 - Reef Central Online Community

64Ivy

01/29/2006, 09:24 PM

Finally took the plunge and picked up this 3 1/2" RS Regal yesterday.

http://www.moyesreef.com/uploads/Regal-Angelfish-1-29-06.jpg

Already eating PE Mysis, Pro-V, and Formula 2 and was actually harrassing a pair of saltwater catfish at the LFS! Good signs all in my book. I am currently housing it in my 40g frag tank which used to be my fuge and is still remoted to the main tank. There are several pieces of live rock for it to hide behind as well as pods, snails, a few favia, some Frogspawn frags and even a few SPS frags to keep it company. No other fish. My plan is to keep it here at least a month and test it for any appitite red flags that happen to appear. I am hoping that by switching a few 'LPS' and 'SPS' morsels in and out, I can see any problems before it gets into the main tank. Also, the fish is not perfect. It has a tiny 'cyst' on its anal fin (barely visible in the picture) and another on its other side. The person who accompanied me to the LFS (Not a store employee, rather a published expert on reef fishes) told me not to worry about them as they didn't look to be parasitic. But as this is literally the first new fish I've introduced to my system in about a year, I'm just a tad nervous about them. So far, the fish's behavior seems completely normal but if anything changes, you all will be the first to know. In the meantime, any comments, warnings, or general advice would be appreciated.

Psionicdragon

01/29/2006, 09:38 PM

So lets recap on how to get a regal to eat:

Spectrum Pellets
Mysis Shrimps
Veggies
Clam on a half shell

Am I missing anything?

GSchiemer

01/29/2006, 09:42 PM

64Ivy,

It's too late now, but I meant to tell you to acclimate that fish VERY SLOWLY. After you left the store I was told that the specific gravity of the fish system was 1.014! Most fish can tolerate a rather large downward movement in salinity but it's more difficult moving up, especially if you're running your reef at NSW levels (1.025). Anyway, it doesn't appear that there was any harm done since you've indicated that it's eating well. In addition to the foods you've mentioned, which are all excellent, you might want to try a live clam on a half shell and red macro-algae (Seaweed Selects brand from Ocean Nutrition).

If it picks at corals and you decide that you don't want it, let me know because I'll take it. :)

Greg

GSchiemer

01/29/2006, 09:47 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6618865#post6618865 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Psionicdragon
So lets recap on how to get a regal to eat:

Spectrum Pellets
Mysis Shrimps
Veggies
Clam on a half shell

Am I missing anything?

Yes you are.

I think the clam on a half-shell is a good idea to coax a new Regal Angel to eat, but "veggies" and pellet food would not be on my initial list. I'd try live adult brine shrimp initially, as well as Pro-V (Pro Salt) and red macro-algae.

Frankly, there is no magic list. My recommendation would be to try all the foods mentioned until something works, then stick with it.

Greg

HOZERTHEBONEFISH

01/29/2006, 09:59 PM

64 ivy:

Not a bad wingman to have when you are shopping for a regal!!

Looks like a beautiful male. Best of luck and keep us updated please

Henry

64Ivy

01/29/2006, 10:03 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6618905#post6618905 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSchiemer
64Ivy,

It's too late now, but I meant to tell you to acclimate that fish VERY SLOWLY. After you left the store I was told that the specific gravity of the fish system was 1.014! Greg

I always make it a practice to test the S.G. of the vendors water when I acclimate a new fish OR coral. The water tested out at 1.023 (I keep mine at 1.025). Nevertheless, I acclimate by the drip method anyway and in this fish's case, it took over 3 hours. I hear you on the food too. Do you recommend clam on the half-shell even though it's eating already?

Steve Atkins

01/29/2006, 11:46 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6607495#post6607495 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Psionicdragon
Well, I just got my first ever Red Sea Regal and I want to know somethings.

It has been hiding behind the rocks for a couple of days, when will it show itself?

I think it is eating, but I am not sure. How can I tell and what motion do i look for especially when it stick's its butt in my face :P ?
After spending it's first few hours at the front of the tank, ducking other fish, mine then spent most of the next week in behind the reef. From time to time I saw it thru the tank ends and it appeared to be just calmly pecking its way through what was growing back there. Since it did not come out to feed I would put an occasional freshly opened mussel (clam I s'pose in some parts) down the back for it (plus one in front to keep the others busy). Although I did not get a clear view, it seemed to get into these. At that stage, the most encouraging part was that despite still hiding away, it appeared to be behaving otherwise pretty normally.

Steve

delafe

01/30/2006, 12:08 AM

I am having the same problem. My new regal comes out and is clearly pecking at the rocks, but as soon as I come out into the open it quickly hides in the rocks.

I have been heavily feeding the tank a mix of mysis, brine shrimp, Formula 2, Reef Plankton and Julian Sprung's Sea Veggies (some kind of red algae) and I am not 100% sure if it is eating. It WAS eating mysis in the store.

Any ideas on how I can get it used to people in front of the tank?

-Alfred

sonofgaladriel

01/30/2006, 12:17 AM

My new Red Sea Regal. Only had him a few days now but he seems to have settled in nicely. He swims out in the open most of the day and is picking on the rocks all day long. He has nibbled on nori but I have not seen him eat any prepared foods. I'm trying the half clam/mussel trick tomorrow and will try some live brine. All outward signs point to an apparently healthy fish that tolerated acclimation and his tank mates well.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/sonofgaladriel/DSC03611_editedMedium.jpg

delafe

01/30/2006, 12:21 AM

What is the fish to the right of the regal? Beautiful!

-Alfred

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6620311#post6620311 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sonofgaladriel
My new Red Sea Regal. Only had him a few days now but he seems to have settled in nicely. He swims out in the open most of the day and is picking on the rocks all day long. He has nibbled on nori but I have not seen him eat any prepared foods. I'm trying the half clam/mussel trick tomorrow and will try some live brine. All outward signs point to an apparently healthy fish that tolerated acclimation and his tank mates well.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/sonofgaladriel/DSC03611_editedMedium.jpg

GSchiemer

01/30/2006, 12:35 AM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6619113#post6619113 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 64Ivy
I always make it a practice to test the S.G. of the vendors water when I acclimate a new fish OR coral. The water tested out at 1.023 (I keep mine at 1.025). Nevertheless, I acclimate by the drip method anyway and in this fish's case, it took over 3 hours. I hear you on the food too. Do you recommend clam on the half-shell even though it's eating already?

That's kinda funny. They told me that the specific gravity of the fish system was reduced to 1.014 because a new batch of fish had recently arrived. Either you or the store has a faulty instrument. I'm betting it's the store. :)

I'd try additional foods, such as the clam, in order to bulk the fish up. While it was eating at the store, it wasn't eating heartily and it's uncertain whether it can get enough food from the water column to sustain itself. These fish are not used to feeding from the water column; they feed primarily from the substrate in the wild and actually need time to "learn" how to feed from the water column.

Greg

delafe

01/30/2006, 01:03 AM

Greg:

How would you suggest I feed my newly acquired (shy) regal?

I am using a clip to feed red algae and will pick up some nori tomorrow. Other than that I am (over) feeding my tank frozen foods of all kinds so that they float behind the rockwork.

Thanks,

-Alfred

delafe

01/30/2006, 01:05 AM

Oh, had a similar problem with a swing arm hydrometer. The older they get the more inaccurate they are. All stores should have a refractometer. (All hobbyists should also!) Best $60 I ever spent, got a good one so that I will never have to invest in one again.

-Alfred

64Ivy

01/30/2006, 01:40 AM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6620451#post6620451 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSchiemer
That's kinda funny. They told me that the specific gravity of the fish system was reduced to 1.014 because a new batch of fish had recently arrived. Either you or the store has a faulty instrument. I'm betting it's the store. :)

I'd try additional foods, such as the clam, in order to bulk the fish up. While it was eating at the store, it wasn't eating heartily and it's uncertain whether it can get enough food from the water column to sustain itself. These fish are not used to feeding from the water column; they feed primarily from the substrate in the wild and actually need time to "learn" how to feed from the water column.

Greg

Yeah, I started testing all vendors water several years ago when I got a fish that nearly died from being brought up to 1.025 from 1.015 too quickly! Not only didn't that store mention it but actually denied it until I threatened to come down and test it for them. Later, they blamed it on employee error.

Anyway, I'll go out and get a few clams and such tomorrow. May have to order the Seaweed Selects and definitly the Gracillaria (which I stopped using some time ago due to talk of a flatworm problem). Hopefully, that's all sorted out now. Anybody know?

moonpod

01/30/2006, 01:46 AM

The gracilleria that reefnutrition sells supposedly should be pretty clean. Kinda pricey though.

Try something live as well as a "treat" to get 'em going. The red shrimp feed from oceanrider is something the fish dig. Don't get your gracilleria from there though. It's kinda thick and "different" and for whatever reason my fish anyway don't eat it as well as other gracilleria offereings.

Maybe those white shrimp that liveaquaria and a few other sites sell as well.

Patience is usually IMO the best way to go. Frankly, the fish is a good one and is gonna eat or it won't. You can definitely optimize the situation, but sometimes the they just won't eat.

Steve Atkins

01/30/2006, 02:09 AM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6620235#post6620235 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by delafe
Any ideas on how I can get it used to people in front of the tank?

-Alfred
Time......

Steve

Da Bumsta

01/30/2006, 05:19 AM

HELP!!! I think my Regal is dying. Got him from a LFS and he was eating spectrum in the store, had him a week and he wont eat anything at all. Tried Mysis, Seaweed, Frozen Angel formula soaked in garlic and without garlic, and of course pellets. It still wont eat, just sits in the corner of the aquarium. Hides when I get neat him. Where do I go from here?

HOZERTHEBONEFISH

01/30/2006, 07:29 AM

Da Bum

Need more details. Please post your tank parameters for a start. What kind of tankmates?

sonofgaladriel

01/30/2006, 12:01 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6620350#post6620350 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by delafe
What is the fish to the right of the regal? Beautiful!

-Alfred
That's my male Watanabe angel. He is a beauty. Great reef fish!

nctangman

01/30/2006, 07:10 PM

sonofgaladriel,

Nice pic of your fish, but the red brain coral caught my eye first.
<VBG>

nctangman

01/30/2006, 07:10 PM

sonofgaladriel,

Nice pic of your fish, but the red brain coral caught my eye first. I really like it.
<VBG>

irmee4

01/30/2006, 07:25 PM

i had to get rid of my regal angel as it starting terrorizing all of my corals in my tank after being a perfect citizen for about a year.

GSchiemer

01/30/2006, 07:36 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6626191#post6626191 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by irmee4
i had to get rid of my regal angel as it starting terrorizing all of my corals in my tank after being a perfect citizen for about a year.

That's very unusual behavior and could be the result of being underfed, but a statement like this doesn't tell us anything because you didn't state what type of regal angel and EXACTLY what corals were "terrorized." Even when angelfish do pick at corals, it's typically limited to one or two species. Also, a 30 gallon tank is too small for a regal angel, assuming your "bio" is correct.

sonofgaladriel

01/30/2006, 09:15 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6626059#post6626059 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nctangman
sonofgaladriel,

Nice pic of your fish, but the red brain coral caught my eye first. I really like it.
<VBG>
Thanks! When fully expanded, its about 12" in diameter. Great color, red with pink highlights.

nctangman

01/30/2006, 09:18 PM

Sonofgaladriel,

Where did you purchase it from?

I would like to get one for my tank; will compliment my nice bright yellow leather I have. :)

sonofgaladriel

01/30/2006, 09:23 PM

Sorry, but it came from one of my fellow local hobbyists who in turn got it from one of our LFS. He purchased it a few years ago and unfortunately, we have not seen one like it since. The LFS has tried to get more in due to local interest by has been unsuccessful.

omnity

01/31/2006, 11:39 PM

I have never posted to this thread, but have read it often, and all the way through. I have a red sea regal that has been with me for about five months; he is about four inches long and eating wonderfully (combination of many kinds of food). Tonight I noticed what appears to be almost dust on his eyes. The specks are too small to even really have a color and definitely too small to show up in a pic. I'm afraid itâ€™s some kind of fluke. I can't make out any on the body, but they easily could blend in with the scales. The only potential change in behavior is that he has, possibly, been spending a little more time at the cleaner shrimp station then usual (though this might be me looking too hard...) Has anyone had an experience similar to this and if so have you treated successfully (thinking fresh water dip, but would like to avoid having to catch him if possible)? All levels test perfect (nitrates, trites, salinity, ph, calcium, etc). Sorry this is so long, just trying to get all info out at once. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
-Eric

Da Bumsta

02/01/2006, 03:55 AM

Hey Hozer, sorry it took so long. I have a 55g nitrated low all levels almost perfect in fact. tankmates. Bi-color that was in LFS with regal, clown, sailfin, foxface, niger trigger. Dont know what to do. Any help would be greatly appreciated..

kalare

02/01/2006, 04:52 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6638390#post6638390 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Da Bumsta
Hey Hozer, sorry it took so long. I have a 55g nitrated low all levels almost perfect in fact. tankmates. Bi-color that was in LFS with regal, clown, sailfin, foxface, niger trigger. Dont know what to do. Any help would be greatly appreciated..

First, WAY too many fish. The sailfin get's at leats 1.5 feet long, and the trigger gets at least a foot. The bicolor is going to be aggressive to any new angels, the sailfin as well and the trigger as well. Get that regal out to someone with a PEACEFUL tank.

Second, ammonia and nitrite and preferably nitrate should all be zero, not low, zero. Nitrate is tolerable to some fish, but I wouldn't bet that it's a good thing when trying to keep a regal.

Not to be rude, but as I stated earlier in this thread, I think people should research more before buying this fish, as more than 90 percent of them still die. This thread, as another has stated, gives people a false sense of how easy to take care of the regal angel is. So many success stories, so few failures (in comparison to all regals sold). I firmly believe that you should have more experience before trying a fish of this degree of difficulty.

I hope nobody takes offense to this, however I think it needed to be said. I see so many people in this thread that just ask questions like: what do i feed it, what needs to be done, etc...when there is a 40 page thread dedicated to the fish. If you're thinking about keeping this animal, is it too much to ask to actually research and read the whole thread? If you're not dedicated enough to do that, I don't think regals are your fish.

JohnSiesta

02/01/2006, 08:14 PM

I'd be interested in some feedback. I have a RS Regal Angel on hold, likey to receive late next week. I have a 90 gallon display with 70 gallons in a plumbed-in sump & refugium. I have a Multi-colour dwarf angel, firefish, midas blenny, Orange shoulder wrasse, leopard wrasse & watchman goby, & clown goby. I am assuming that I have enough water volume in the system to add the Regal. My ammonia and nitrate are zero and I run a Deltec APF 600 (for up to 270 gallons).
Any advice before I recieve the fish? The Multi-colour dwarf is a little aggressive, but the rest of the tank is very peaceful.

Da Bumsta

02/02/2006, 04:04 AM

Hozer I agree totally. I was told by an "expert" that he and I would be able to take care of him. As of today he is eating well, my sailfin and the regal have been transfered to a 150g reef tank. I am now building my refugium to get my levels correct. I appreciate your help.

64Ivy

02/02/2006, 10:37 AM

Lotsa different conversations going on at the same time here so let me just pop in with a little update on my RSR. This is day 5 and the fish continues to do well. I have done a lot of experimenting with foods and so far I've had success with PE Mysis, Formula One (frozen), Formula Two (Frozen), Prime Reef (Frozen), Pro-V (Frozen), Fresh Clam, and Fresh Oyster. He also does a bit of picking at the live rock so he may be finding a pod or two as a snack. I have not gotten him to take any of the Seaweed Selects or Gracillaria yet but it may take him a while to learn those two. He has NOT disturbed any of the corals in the tank and that includes a half dozen zoanthids. Maybe he's simply too full. :p

moonpod

02/02/2006, 12:33 PM

Hey that's great to hear! I wouldn't worry about the green stuff. Protein for the fish, protein I say!

Typhon

02/02/2006, 12:51 PM

I totally agree. The success rate of Regals are still very low. I know many people are posting their success stories ,but I am sure that a great deal of others with loses that just don't post for one reason or another.

I know of 2 LFS in town that will never carry Regals because they have never had one survive longer than 2 months.

Currently I am on my second RS Regal (had him 3 months now). The last one was eating well and fat too. But one day after 3 months he died with out any physical signs.

I don't consider a few weeks or few months success with Regals. If you are able to keep a Regal for years then those are true success stories.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6642327#post6642327 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kalare

Not to be rude, but as I stated earlier in this thread, I think people should research more before buying this fish, as more than 90 percent of them still die. This thread, as another has stated, gives people a false sense of how easy to take care of the regal angel is. So many success stories, so few failures (in comparison to all regals sold). I firmly believe that you should have more experience before trying a fish of this degree of difficulty.

I hope nobody takes offense to this, however I think it needed to be said. I see so many people in this thread that just ask questions like: what do i feed it, what needs to be done, etc...when there is a 40 page thread dedicated to the fish. If you're thinking about keeping this animal, is it too much to ask to actually research and read the whole thread? If you're not dedicated enough to do that, I don't think regals are your fish.

moonpod

02/02/2006, 12:53 PM

My first RS Regal did that too Typhon. I dunno how/why but a few months afterwards just friggin dropped dead.

My second one (IO yellow belly) was doing great (more than 2 years) and then I had a holding system disaster that wiped out EVERYTHING during my recent tank move.

My new one is eating some stuff, but I'm...not impressed. However, it's still fat and pooping, so I suppose it's getting enough, but I'm still not real....sanguine about it's long term chances....

Typhon

02/02/2006, 01:08 PM

How long have you had your new one?

Mine was the same way for the first 2-3 weeks then suddenly he began eating everything I put into the tank.

My IO/RS Regal is about 4.5". He is at least .5" bigger than my RS salfin and 1-1.5" bigger than my other tangs. The other tangs never bothered him except for the Purple Tang (which I removed and retroduced after 2 weeks). He will allow me to feed him straight from a turkey baster. Here is a pic of him.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/typhonreef1/Reef/RegalAngel2.jpg

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6649000#post6649000 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by moonpod
My first RS Regal did that too Typhon. I dunno how/why but a few months afterwards just friggin dropped dead.

My second one (IO yellow belly) was doing great (more than 2 years) and then I had a holding system disaster that wiped out EVERYTHING during my recent tank move.

My new one is eating some stuff, but I'm...not impressed. However, it's still fat and pooping, so I suppose it's getting enough, but I'm still not real....sanguine about it's long term chances....

moonpod

02/02/2006, 01:16 PM

2-3 weeks

Typhon

02/02/2006, 03:06 PM

Give him some time. As long as he is still fat and picking on LR. Mine for the first 1 week would only pick on LR (That was enough to keep him fat). It wasn't until the middle of the 2nd week that he began eating nori off the clip. By the end of the 3rd week he was pushing the Tangs out of the way for mysis and formula II.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6649154#post6649154 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by moonpod
2-3 weeks

maxxII

02/02/2006, 03:16 PM

64Ivy,
Where did you get yoru Regal from?

Nick

moonpod

02/02/2006, 04:10 PM

Typhon, I'm not "impatient", it's more of a....it's not all that impressive vs my previous experience. Obviously it's doing ok. It's still fat and it must be eating something b/c something is coming out of it. But it just doesn't demonstrate the "gusto" of my previous ones.

64Ivy

02/02/2006, 05:19 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6650006#post6650006 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by maxxII
64Ivy,
Where did you get yoru Regal from?

Nick

An LFS. I'd been looking for a 'good one' for several months when Greg notified me of this guy. They'd had it over a week already and it was eating pretty well.

Creetin

02/02/2006, 05:31 PM

64ivy, I have been lucky to get my angels to eat gracilaria by making a wrap with clams and mysis soaked in garlic, selcon and entice. I wrap the gracilaria around the food so it dont escape. (Tight as you can) and rubberband it to a rock. That gets the angels attention and after a week they destroy the gracilaria as soon as it drops without the food in it.

JDS

02/02/2006, 09:08 PM

This is a picture of my Red Sea Regal Angel that I've had since April 05. I would guess it's about 4 1/2 to 5 inches.http://

JDS

02/02/2006, 09:13 PM

I knew that was entirely too easy.:D you can go to my photo gallery to see it.

nctangman

02/02/2006, 10:00 PM

Jeff,

Your fish looks nice and fat..Where did you get it from?

64Ivy

02/02/2006, 10:04 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6651021#post6651021 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Creetin
64ivy, I have been lucky to get my angels to eat gracilaria by making a wrap with clams and mysis soaked in garlic, selcon and entice. I wrap the gracilaria around the food so it dont escape. (Tight as you can) and rubberband it to a rock. That gets the angels attention and after a week they destroy the gracilaria as soon as it drops without the food in it.

I bet there are restaurants in NYC that would charge $22.50 apiece for those. It's the rock that makes it 'hip'.

Thanks. I'll give it a try.

JDS

02/02/2006, 10:21 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6652968#post6652968 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nctangman
Jeff,

Your fish looks nice and fat..Where did you get it from? I got it from vivid aquarium.

delafe

02/03/2006, 04:46 PM

My regal is doing MUCH better after I got the damsels out. It is starting to venture out and it stays a while out of curiousity when I pass in front of the tank, but hides after a while. Slowly but surely. I see him going after brine shrimp and mysis, been feeding the tank HEAVILY to make sure he gets plenty to eat!

Also, he has been picking at the rocks. Plenty of sponge and other stuff for him to nibble on. Has not touched a single zoo or other coral in my tank. Now to roll the dice again and get a copper band butterfly. ;-)

-Alfred

nctangman

02/03/2006, 08:27 PM

Jeff,

This is good to know. I got my CBB and flame angel from vivid in Aug '05 and they have been doing great. The CBB eats PE Mysis Shrimp from my hand.

Kirk

JohnSiesta

02/10/2006, 07:39 AM

Just got my RS Regal Angel. It's nice and fat. Te LFS had him three weeks (on hold for me) so I put him straight into the display tank. He immediately began to swim around and enjoyed a thorough cleaning from the cleaner shrimps. He has since been hiding in the caves. I was assured that he eating frozen brine at the LFS. I haven't seen him eat yet. I've also added live brine that he'll hopefully see. I am going to try the mussell/clam blend tonight.

doody

02/10/2006, 11:45 AM

JohnSiesta, Just because he was eating at the LFS does'nt mean he'll eat for you. Yes, you have a greater chance of success because he was eating, but the transfer could stress these guys out. Did you actually "SEE" him eat at the LFS? If you did'nt "SEE" it eat at the LFS, it's a good chance the LFS lied to you. Or it could be that the LFS definition of eat is: it nipped at brine once.

JohnSiesta

02/10/2006, 01:17 PM

Doody,
Thanks for the Note. I didn't see the fish eat as he was in Toronto and I'm in Halifax. I do know that they had him for three weeks so I assume he must have eaten. I watched a Regal in a local LFS last Fall for 10 days while the LFS assured me that he was eating. I wasn't going to buy him until I saw him eat. He died on the 11th day at the LFS from starvation. Needless to say, I'm nervous about getting this guy to eat.
John

moonpod

02/10/2006, 01:36 PM

If it's still fat after 3 weeks at the LFS it's eating something. They don't stay fat for that long otherwise ya know?

doody

02/10/2006, 02:20 PM

Moonpod's right. It would be a little thin by now. Try the mussell/clam. Lots of people have success with that. If it takes to the mussell/clam, you can stuff other foods in the shell to get the fish to eat them. Just to let you know it's normal for these guys to go into hideing after a transfer. Got any aggressive fish in there with him that might keep him in his hole?
Got a pic? What LFS did you get him from?

delafe

02/10/2006, 02:55 PM

Hate to be negative- but how do you know that they held the SAME fish for three weeks?

In either case, try brine and mysis. Mine is eating like a pig...

-Alfred

sonofgaladriel

02/10/2006, 03:19 PM

Week 2 with my Red Sea Regal. From day one he has been 'nipping' at the rocks and some sponge I have growing on the undersides of some rocks. As of today though, he has not eaten any prepared foods that I have seen. I tried the fresh clam the first week. The juvenile imperator tore it up, but the Regal didn't touch it. I've since tried a mixed gumbo of squid/octopus/cod/shrimp/mussles/crab/garlic and he hasn't taken to that either. He is still fat and deficating, so he must be getting something. Oh, I always have plenty of nori in the tank 24/7 as well, but I haven't seen him nip at it since the first few days. But of course I don't get to watch him for but a few hours each day.
He swims out in the open 90% of the time. My male Watanabe has recently started 'showing' up to him but no real aggression.
What else should I try? Should I be worried at this point?
Thanks

luvtolean

02/10/2006, 03:48 PM

Maybe try two clams so if the imperator is pigging out, the Regal still has one to goto in peace?

I had a Regal years ago and it took a few tries, but it finally started eating live clams on a half shell from the store...and then prepared foods.

Maybe if you can, QT the imperator so the Regal can start eating in peace?

I'm hoping in the not so distant future to try a Regal again. It's one of my all-time favorite fish.

Rao

02/10/2006, 04:05 PM

The Regal can get many weeks of starvation and still look good. I was taking care for a friend of mine regal (we thoug if he se my regal eating it will eat too) and the regal last for tree months whit out taking any food. Maybe some acidental pick in some rock but starving any way. So with Regls is realy important to see them eat, i thing the survival oportunities for an eating regal are more than 60% mora tan a regal we don't see taking any food, i think stuffs like patogens, infections, Etc, seem to be lest importan than the feeding issue, in Regal angels.

JohnSiesta

02/10/2006, 04:52 PM

Don't have a picture yet (he's staying in two caves). I got him from Reefraft in Toronto. They received 4 Regals in January, sold 2, then mine and still have one.
I only have one semi-aggressive fish, a dwarf multi-color angel. I missed the whole Superbowl until I caught him sunday night and moved him to the refugium so that the tank ould be peaceful for the Regal.

Steve Atkins

02/10/2006, 07:17 PM

..... Should I be worried at this point?
Thanks
Possibly not. If it is still eating food from under your reef then it may not find any reason to try food that it does not know. As the food supply under the reef runs out and it starts to get hungry it should begin to take more motice of other food supplies and this is when it will start to learn from the other fish.

At least this is pretty much how it went for my fish.

At the moment, that fact that it is still interested in food is the critical factor since, as long as it wants to eat, you will have a chance of getting it to eat your food.

Steve

Steve Atkins

02/12/2006, 05:52 PM

The lad, 7.5 months down the track. I think he has grown about 1cm since I got him. The road to tank domination is obviously not a smooth one, as I noticed, while taking this picture, that he has a few new battle scars.

http://users.actrix.co.nz/stevea/Regal20060212_1.JPG

http://users.actrix.co.nz/stevea/Regal20060212_3.JPG

The large black blur just above the regal is the tank 2IC. This used to be one of two cute little Javanese damsels a few years ago. I have seen a lot written to the effect that all damsels are just small packets of aggression, so it has turned out a good thing that this is largely a load of bollocks. Of the 7 damsels in my tank, only one would meet this description and it is not either of these big black fellows (actually I think one might be a girl as I have seen them get a bit amorous from time to time). They are no more assertive than any other fish their size and I am rather hoping the Regal will use them as a model for reasonable behaviour in a community tank.

Steve

delafe

02/12/2006, 07:04 PM

My regal is now eating flake food! Took a few weeks, now if I could only get my anthias to eat flake I would be a happy camper, they just spit it out.

-Alfred

delafe

02/12/2006, 07:07 PM

Steve:

You are very fortunate that your damsels are not mean bullies. It took a great deal of effort to take out two damsels from my tank that came close to killing my regal when I first added him to the tank. They had killed smaller fish in the past, but I had assumed (wrongly) that if the fish added was larger they would leave it alone.

-Alfred

Steve Atkins

02/12/2006, 07:27 PM

The aggressive damsel in my tank chases everything up to, but not including, the Blue Tang and the larger of the two Javanese damsels, if they happen to get too close to it's cave. It also gets beside itself with frustration/rage if I dare to re-arrange the sand near it's cave and will spend several frustrated hours getting it right again (funny to watch but I feel a bit mean doing it).

When I put in the Regal, I also put in a Yellow Tang and three Yellowtailed blue damsels plus stuck 3 mirrors up around the tank. The combination of the new fish and all the reflections caused the damsel to get so wild it attacked every other fish in the tank (the plan to divert attention from the Regal certainly worked in this respect). I actually got a bit worried as it was obviously loosing many of it's fights and it's fins became more and more ragged. Luckily he/she carmed down after a day or so.

I look after another tank, about 25% bigger than mine and it contains a Flame Damsel that will often bite me.

Perhaps my tank is an exception with only one really aggressive fish out of 7 damsels and 4 chromus, but I do not know why that would be so. I have to admit, I rather like damsels.

Steve

Milleme

02/12/2006, 09:00 PM

Do yall think a regal would do ok in a 58 gal w/ 3 bartlett's anthias? I havent really done any research on them yet.

sonofgaladriel

02/12/2006, 11:37 PM

Thanks for all the replies guys. As of today I have not seen him eat any prepared foods and I've tried just about everything.
The good news is that he continues to constantly pick at the rocks and sponge AND I have seen him munching on my yellow colonieal polyps AND he is definately deficating! I'm glad to see him munch on these yellow polyps as I consider them a weed and was about to Joe's Juice them before the grew into my SPS colonies! There are enough of them to feed him for some time. I hope he eats them all and then gets hungry enough for some of my food.
He is such a beautiful fish. Fortunately, he continues to swim out in the open all day. He no longer hides when I stick my hand in the tank to feed or adjust corals. I think he has settled in and feels comfortable in the tank.

Psionicdragon

02/13/2006, 12:44 AM

how do you convert a regal eating fresh clams to prepared food??

Project Reef

02/13/2006, 04:21 AM

Regal One: RIP, died after adding a PBT. PBT was living happily in an established system AND QT'd for almost 4 weeks, yet still came down decided to get sick. Never picked at corals, ate formula 2 flake, spectrum pellets and red sea weed selects with gusto.

Regal Two: Took about 3 1/2 weeks before he decided to eat prepared foods with gusto. Found zoanthids delicious but never picked on other corals. Now living happily in a friend's 240.

Now,

Regals 3 and 4:

Small juvis straight off the Red Sea shipment. Getting along well together and began eating formula 2 flake food with gusto after just a few HOURS in the system. Pride and joy specimens which have completely ignored corals. :) Definitely a cool reef aquarium phenomena. I'll try to get some video if possible.

sonofgaladriel

02/13/2006, 09:51 AM

Video would be great! Congrats on the healthy pair!

Psionicdragon

02/14/2006, 02:19 AM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6726073#post6726073 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Milleme
Do yall think a regal would do ok in a 58 gal w/ 3 bartlett's anthias? I havent really done any research on them yet.

no, the tank is too small.

kalare

02/14/2006, 03:02 AM

john37

02/14/2006, 03:03 AM

just aquired a 3.5 in regal this weekend and he will eat a little mysis but just spits out the spectrum pellets. Anything i can do to get him to eat the pellets? What else do they like?

kalare

02/14/2006, 03:09 AM

You're asking a little much a little early. Feel good about it eating mysis. Give it some time and it may eat the spectrum (especially since it's trying and just spitting them out already). This thread is full of info on their different eating habits and likes. I suggest you read the whole thing...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6736904#post6736904 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by john37
just aquired a 3.5 in regal this weekend and he will eat a little mysis but just spits out the spectrum pellets. Anything i can do to get him to eat the pellets? What else do they like?

Project Reef

02/14/2006, 04:45 AM

My little Regals, chase formula 2 flake down all over the tank and seem to never get full. The spectrum pellets, they catch but spit out, catch again and spit out again. My very first regal did the same thing, but eventually after a 7 to 8 feedings, began eating them. The pellets obviously have a much different texture, taste and hardness to them so it will take some getting used to. You may try to soak the pellets for 20 to 30 seconds in some tank water to 'soften' them up a bit.

64Ivy

02/14/2006, 05:28 AM

Mine is beginning its third week of QT...or rather, isolation in my frag tank. Still doing very well on a diet of clams, oysters, PE Mysis, Pro-V, Formula's One and Two, and Prime Reef. Will even rush out of its hiding place and hang at the front of the glass in anticipation of being fed whenever I walk into the room. So far, it hasn't picked on any corals or zoanthids either; a model citizen.

Hey Ali, congrats on the twins! You GOTTA post up some pictures.

By the way, what are Spectrum pellets?

moonpod

02/14/2006, 05:54 AM

spectrum is a company that makes a pellet food. My fish dig 'em.

slobound

02/14/2006, 12:33 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6737139#post6737139 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Project Reef
My little Regals, chase formula 2 flake down all over the tank and seem to never get full. The spectrum pellets, they catch but spit out, catch again and spit out again. My very first regal did the same thing, but eventually after a 7 to 8 feedings, began eating them. The pellets obviously have a much different texture, taste and hardness to them so it will take some getting used to. You may try to soak the pellets for 20 to 30 seconds in some tank water to 'soften' them up a bit.

Hey Ali, I picked up a juvi regal about 3 weeks ago. It's eating well too - mysis, brine, chopped shrimp, and a little spectrum. Won't touch the spirulina flake though. It's in my sump with my mystery wrasse and perc pair. Still a little sketched out to put him in the display... fearing for my corals. Decisions decisions...

Rao

02/14/2006, 02:08 PM

just spits out the spectrum pellets. Anything i can do to get him to eat the pellets? What else do they like?

Soak the pellets in selcom or vita chem, mine loves it!!

Psionicdragon

02/14/2006, 11:47 PM

so no one knows how to make a fish eat other things beside clam?

Project Reef

02/15/2006, 06:21 AM

Garrick,

Go for it! What the heck are you waiting for? :D

Michael, these are Spectrum pellet foods:
http://www.nlpublish.com/images/products/promotional/booklet-big-1.jpg
Some of the best fish food on the market. I use the Thera+A non-medicated anti-parasitic formula.

The twins are really going after the pellets now as well. Starving lunatics, they're tearing it up. I love 'em. I'll do my best to get some shots or a vid.

Psionicdragon,
You can try injecting the pellets right into their stomachs using certain aiptasia applicators on the market. Seriously though, there is no way to answer your question. If we knew how to make a fish that doesn't want to eat, EAT, then we wouldn't be having long, drawn-out, informative discussion threads such as this in the first place. Just be consistent in your feedings, try a variety of foods of different textures/consistencies and provide the fish with a good environment. Another tip would be to have several 'pig-like' dither fish such as small chromis or wrasses which can 'teach/show' the finicky fish how to eat and help them recognize what is food. This may help them get accustomed to the 'new' foods.

64Ivy

02/15/2006, 12:22 PM

Okay then. I just ordered some; the Marine Formula and both sizes of The Thera+A. Thanks for the tip.

Steve Atkins

02/15/2006, 03:57 PM

...... Another tip would be to have several 'pig-like' dither fish such as small chromis or wrasses which can 'teach/show' the finicky fish how to eat and help them recognize what is food. This may help them get accustomed to the 'new' foods.

That was one of the keys in my case. The fish was always interested in eating but didn't have a clue about chasing food down in the water column. Living in a tank full of greedy gluttons and being a naturally inquisitive sort of fish (as most angels are) it gradually learned that anything I put in was likely to be food and how to chase it down.

Steve

GSchiemer

02/15/2006, 04:13 PM

I don't know why but the Spectrum pellet foods work well with finicky angels. My Regal greedily eats it as well as a finicky Blue-Face.

Greg

slobound

02/15/2006, 08:53 PM

Here's my juvenile regal angel... all 2.5" of him
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/slobound/DSC_1149.jpg

HOZERTHEBONEFISH

02/15/2006, 09:58 PM

Thats a cute little guy(or gal) Slobound. How long have you had it for?

About them spectrum pellets,(and I think we should all get paid or be sponsored by spectrum at this point) its gotten to a point where my regal doesnt really like frozen mysis compared to the pellets!!

In the past she used to attack the mysis but now she eats a few and looks as if to say... where are the pellets?

Lately I have been mixing cyclopeeze flakes and spirulina flakes with spectrum and the regal also digs them flakes.

Psionicdragon

02/15/2006, 11:05 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6745129#post6745129 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Project Reef

Psionicdragon,
You can try injecting the pellets right into their stomachs using certain aiptasia applicators on the market. Seriously though, there is no way to answer your question. If we knew how to make a fish that doesn't want to eat, EAT, then we wouldn't be having long, drawn-out, informative discussion threads such as this in the first place. Just be consistent in your feedings, try a variety of foods of different textures/consistencies and provide the fish with a good environment. Another tip would be to have several 'pig-like' dither fish such as small chromis or wrasses which can 'teach/show' the finicky fish how to eat and help them recognize what is food. This may help them get accustomed to the 'new' foods.

They are actually eating...clams only. I have tried mysis, brine, spectrum, flake, seaweed, pellets, etc and they won't go for it besides clams. It isn't that they aren't eating..its that they won't eat something else.

Steve Atkins

02/15/2006, 11:42 PM

One thing I have recently discovered that all the fish, including the Regal, are very keen on, is diced up frozen baby squid tubes. I had previously used these is part of the frozen food mix I prepare but recently started feeding just the diced tubes to a Tubastrea I keep in the sump. When I put the remainder into the tank there is a major stampede, even more so than the usual stampede at feeding time.

Steve

slobound

02/16/2006, 12:56 AM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6750786#post6750786 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HOZERTHEBONEFISH
Thats a cute little guy(or gal) Slobound. How long have you had it for?

About them spectrum pellets,(and I think we should all get paid or be sponsored by spectrum at this point) its gotten to a point where my regal doesnt really like frozen mysis compared to the pellets!!

In the past she used to attack the mysis but now she eats a few and looks as if to say... where are the pellets?

Lately I have been mixing cyclopeeze flakes and spirulina flakes with spectrum and the regal also digs them flakes.

I've had my little guy for about 3 weeks now.

john37

02/17/2006, 04:58 PM

I am so excited! Today is the first day that i saw my little regal eating spectrum pellets!!!!!! Got him last saturday so it's been 6 days now. Anyways got a lil photohappy. Enjoy!
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b352/johnjung37/regal1.jpg http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b352/johnjung37/regal2.jpg http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b352/johnjung37/4favorite.jpg http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b352/johnjung37/mysterypowderandregal.jpg http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b352/johnjung37/flashfish.jpg http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b352/johnjung37/FTSfish.jpg

doody

02/17/2006, 05:25 PM

Cool! Nice pics too. I guess spectrum gets an other notch on their belt.

Milleme

02/17/2006, 09:26 PM

So a 60 gallon is fit for a regal and a powder blue now? Im not criticizing you of doing something wrong b/c u might be planning a bigger tank or something but i was told earlier that a regal was to big for my 58. i see you have a 240 gal. sump also so that could make a difference and you also probably have more expereince. Anyways how wide is your tank. I think the fish is pretty sweet and understand that they take a lot of care. im just curious. btw the tank looks cool.

john37

02/17/2006, 09:38 PM

haha, yeah i thought i might get flamed for that. I already ordered my 225 and it's set to come here at the end of the month.

they're in a 24"x24" box. The powder blue is about 3.5" and the regal is even smaller. As you can see, they are about as long as my mystery wrasse.

The 240 sump has over a 100lbs of lr for the high bio load.

doody

02/17/2006, 09:57 PM

No aggression between the PBT and the RA in that small of a tank?

Milleme

02/17/2006, 09:58 PM

Ah, it all makes since now! Sounds pretty wicked. Sorry bout that.

john37

02/17/2006, 10:10 PM

i put them in at the same time. I learned that when you put in fish at the same time there is less aggression.

Later i'm planning on 2 more tangs(purple, and maybe my old yellow) but then they'll both be bigger than the powder blue and i'll put both in at the same time to disperse aggression.

doody

02/17/2006, 10:19 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6767078#post6767078 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by john37

Later i'm planning on 2 more tangs(purple, and maybe my old yellow) but then they'll both be bigger than the powder blue and i'll put both in at the same time to disperse aggression.

In the new 225 right?

john37

02/17/2006, 10:23 PM

yes, yes. Dont worry....it's all under control. This is a regal angel thread, so i;m going to stay on topic.

The regal doesn't eat all the spectrum i put in the tank, but at least he's eating some. I'm also going to try the frozen cyclopeeze and see if he/she likes it better. Also my two new sunbursts need something other than mysis.

doody

02/17/2006, 10:31 PM

Was'nt your eating a little mysids? If so you can try to soak the pellets and mysids together. Have you tried the clam or mussle deal?

Bluecircle

02/24/2006, 06:09 AM

My regal is with me about 4 months. I think my regal is a girl. Anyone here can help me to confirm it? she eats everything that I put into the tank.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/15664166_6652.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/15664166_6645.jpg

Rao

02/24/2006, 01:30 PM

I think sexin regals is not an very studied matter, but for wath we have been talking here look like a girl to me. Primary for the short gill spine.

Regards

BlueStag

02/25/2006, 02:44 AM

I took a clam and served it in an open shell. Mine took to it quickly. Ate the whole thing. For the finicky Regals give it a try.

doody

02/25/2006, 08:06 AM

Live or frozen clam?

BlueStag

02/27/2006, 01:31 AM

It was a frozen clam. I've been feeding one clam every three days. He finishes it clean. I leave the other two days so he might be hungry enough to try other foods.

So far he eats frozen brine shrimp, frozen mysis, frozen Angel formula from Ocean Nutrition, and formula 2 flake.

He has also finished off all my zoanthid covered rocks. I think I am going to grow zoanthids in my frag tank from now on to give him a treat every once in a while.

Mine is the yellow bottom Red Sea type.

Johnson7

03/02/2006, 12:15 PM

I've read almost this entire thead (save a few pages) can someone tell me directly what the expert care involvig Regals is (maybe a list)? I understad that they are delicate and can be difficult to get eatting, what else deems them expert fish? I just want to gauge how close I am now that I have a couple years under my belt.

64Ivy

03/02/2006, 01:12 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6863355#post6863355 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bthomas
I've read almost this entire thead (save a few pages) can someone tell me directly what the expert care involvig Regals is (maybe a list)? I understad that they are delicate and can be difficult to get eatting, what else deems them expert fish? I just want to gauge how close I am now that I have a couple years under my belt.

Well I'm certainly no expert, having acquired my very first Regal about a month ago but it seems to me that the most important factor is getting a healthy fish to begin with. Make sure it looks good, behaves 'normally (a little research will tell you what 'normally' is), and that you SEE it eating before you bring it home. After that, it doesn't seem like they're much more difficult than any other angel.

HOZERTHEBONEFISH

03/02/2006, 02:48 PM

Bthomas

You seem to have the answer already. They are extremely delicate and they dont like to eat. They are just so sensitive. Dont let a few success stories(those who post all the time) with their freak regals fool you into thinking that regals are easy. I got lucky with my first regal and then learned with my second that they are very tough.

The only chance of keeping a regal for a extended period of time is to start with a plump healthy specimen which is so difficult to obtain. The are just inherently skittish and sensitive fish.

64 ivy
I have to disagree. They are much more difficult to care for than a average angel even if you pick a good specimen. If you look through this thread there are countless regals (red sea and indo-pacs) that just drop dead after what appears to be healthy few months or a year. They dont survive any small mistakes by hobbists expert or otherwise as many other fishes would.

If you read wetwebmedia and countless textbooks, it categorizes regal as "doomed" species for a reason.

There is a reason why only one person has a regal that lived past 5 year mark who happens to be the guy that helped you pick the regal if I remember correctly.

Henry

Steve Atkins

03/02/2006, 04:28 PM

There is probably not that much you can do in the first instance, apart from choosing the right fish. Early success seems to be very much dependent on the fish itself with the three main factors being; was it healthy to start with, will it decide to eat and will it be intimidated into not eating and generally giving up on living, by it's tank mates?

If you successfully get past these issues then diet may well be the critical factor at keeping it long term. An inadequate quality (note not talking about quantity) diet may gradually weaken the fish and make it more susceptible to disease and parasites.

My first regal attempt, over 6 years ago, lasted about 4 days. It was never given a chance by itâ€™s tank mates. My current Regal has been very successful BUT my importer, who I have known for a long time and trust totally, thought it was the healthiest and most active regal he had ever seen (in the business over 20 years) and had selected it personally when he saw it in a holding tank in Singapore.

I donâ€™t think it is a freak, I just think that it is as good as they get and I was very lucky to ask the right question, during the right phone call, at the right time. Even though it has got over the first hurdles well, I am still very concerned to give it an excellent diet and have put more effort into getting and making the right food for it than ever before.

Steve

JDS

03/02/2006, 05:13 PM

I have to agree with what has been said so far. But I consider stress just as important as a fish that is eating. In my opinion you'll stand a lot better chance of success if the regal is the top fish in the tank. They just don't handle the stress of being around more rambunctious fish, at least in the beginning. I've had mine for eleven months, and it's still somewhat skittish. If I approach the tank to quickly it will dive for cover.

BlueStag

03/02/2006, 05:35 PM

Served a mussel open faced today. Regal went right at it. Even got a little aggresive towards the six line wrasse. I think he was saying, "it's all mine." I really am a believer in the open faced shell fish. Clams, Mussels. The amount of energy that my Regal spends to eat it, tells me he likes them more than flake or brine shrimp.

Aquaduck

03/02/2006, 05:44 PM

Unfortunately mine has decided after 9 days of living peacefully, it likes the taste of Crocea clam mantles. I thought I'd try adding a Crocea since the Regal never bothered my Maxima clam. So I tried diverting his attention to a zoo covered rock. Well all the zoos were eaten in no time at all (about 30 zoos) and then the clam was back on the menu. :eek:

So the clam is now under glass where the Regal can't bother it. Looks like I'll have to sell the clam after the bite marks grow out Oh well, I tried and the Regal got a zoo treat out of the ordeal.

GSchiemer

03/02/2006, 05:52 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6864438#post6864438 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HOZERTHEBONEFISH
Bthomas

There is a reason why only one person has a regal that lived past 5 year mark who happens to be the guy that helped you pick the regal if I remember correctly.

Henry

Here's where I'll disagree with you. I had a Regal Angel for 10 years that died in 2005. I have another one that's going on 5 years in captivity. I also know of others in captivity for extended periods of time. While I agree that they're sensitive and not as sturdy as some other genera of angelfish, they are far from "doomed." Now I should add that I'm referring to the Red Sea/Indian Ocean variant. The Indo-Pacific Regal Angel IS virtually doomed in captivity; although I've heard of a few "exceptions."

Greg

GSchiemer

03/02/2006, 06:00 PM

BTW, it's been my experience that the Indo-Pacific variant of the Regal Angel is more likely to pick at corals and clams compared to Red Sea/Indian Ocean specimens. I think this has something to do with their natural dietary preferences and may be a contributing factor into why they're more difficult to keep in captivity.

64Ivy

03/02/2006, 08:15 PM

I guess when I said once the fish is eating and behaving normally, they don't seem much more difficult than any other angel, I should have specified the Red Sea variant. And while I also understand the Regal in general is a lot more sensitive to human error or outright neglect than other angels, I've seen too many that seem to be surviving under basic care to be considered anomalies. Maybe not 5 years (yet), but 5 years ago, I wouldn't have taken one home for free because I was under the misconception that NONE of these fish would live long no matter what we did. Hopefully, as we continue to learn from our shared experiences, it won't be long before the five year mark is common.

HOZERTHEBONEFISH

03/03/2006, 01:06 AM

Greg

That person that I am referring to... is you. I guess I am wrong in that you happened to have two regals that have passed the 5 year mark.

Henry

Aquaduck

03/03/2006, 10:26 AM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6866080#post6866080 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSchiemer
BTW, it's been my experience that the Indo-Pacific variant of the Regal Angel is more likely to pick at corals and clams compared to Red Sea/Indian Ocean specimens. I think this has something to do with their natural dietary preferences and may be a contributing factor into why they're more difficult to keep in captivity.

A very possible theory. My Indo-Pacific Regal has been in my care for 14 months now and is doing well as far as I can tell. He gets a zoanthid treat every once in a while. It has never once tried to eat any SPS. I am growing sponges and sea squirts on rocks in my sump that I will be rotating into the main display tank for the Regal to pick over. The Regal is second in command only to my yellow tang. He's aggressive at eating time, chasing away all fish smaller than himself. Keeping my fingers crossed that he live past the 5 year mark. I have a long way to go.

GSchiemer

03/03/2006, 10:29 AM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6869409#post6869409 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HOZERTHEBONEFISH
Greg

That person that I am referring to... is you. I guess I am wrong in that you happened to have two regals that have passed the 5 year mark.

Henry

Oh, I guess I should have figured that out before posting. :o

I do agree that we have to be careful in our discussions and not imply that this is an "easy" fish to maintain in captivity. As I've said many times, I don't know of ANY Indo-Pacific Regal Angels that have been in captivity for a LONG period of time. And, IME, only one out of four or five of the Red Sea/Indian Ocean Regal Angels do well for any length of time. So by no definition is this an "easy" fish.

Greg

64Ivy

03/03/2006, 07:56 PM

Well, after about four weeks of QT in my auxilliary tank, I just introduced my Regal to my reef. Before then, I fed the fish then slowly darkened the tank so that most of the them would retire early. Once I released the Regal, he immediately disappeared behind the rockwork. Pretty hard to see much of anything now so I guess today's update ends here. Wish us luck.

elekamit

03/06/2006, 06:20 AM

Would you say this is a male or female? :

http://www.reef-center-host.com/pix/albums/userpics/10059/IMG_1450_resize.jpg

http://www.reef-center-host.com/pix/albums/userpics/10059/normal_IMG_1072_resize.jpg

?

Steve Atkins

03/06/2006, 03:33 PM

I would think that is a male. The spine is smaller than some males, but seems quite a bit larger than those fish reported to be females.

Steve

john37

03/06/2006, 03:41 PM

will regals live on mysis alone or do they need more nutrition?

john37

03/06/2006, 03:42 PM

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b352/johnjung37/mysterypowderandregal.jpg

just for fun

kalare

03/06/2006, 04:42 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6893464#post6893464 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by john37
will regals live on mysis alone or do they need more nutrition?

I would thinkt that they need more nutrition. Their food habits is perhaps one of the major reasons for failure so mysis alone I don't think is a very good idea. Currently, mine will only eat mysis and clam but I've only had it for around 1.5 weeks. I'd suggest bumping up the mysis with garlic extract, selcon, and similar things while at the same time adding small amounts of other foods durring feeding time (formula two, angel formula). After a while, hopefully your fish will start eating the other foods, and hopefully mine will as well.

GL

64Ivy

03/06/2006, 07:00 PM

Update: After three days in my main reef and a rather rude welcome by my Purple and Chevron Tangs (oddly enough, Attilla, my Sohal, completely ignores him), I'm happy to report that the harassment as all but stopped and the Regal is out front about 75% of the time and is eating.

Even better, he also has time now to pose for pictures...

http://www.moyesreef.com/uploads/Regal-Angel-1.jpg

asnatlas

03/06/2006, 07:11 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6893471#post6893471 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by john37
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b352/johnjung37/mysterypowderandregal.jpg

You have a wrasse in a BB tank ?? Do you have a "sand box" or anything ?? How is it working out and how long have you had him with the BB ??

john37

03/06/2006, 07:20 PM

had himfor a little while now. He's fine w/o sand, i think.
anyways, he's great, eats everything and is fairly nice to everyone.

Project Reef

03/13/2006, 09:44 PM

Update on the twins.

They are both extremely healthy, vibrant, assertive fish. Eating anything I add to the tank. Sometimes I think they'll even eat me. They're always hungry it seems. Pretty much begging for food whenever I approach the tank.

Bad news is that they're BOTH picking on corals! Certain Acropora, echinophyilla, some zoanthids, and clams and they chomp down like champs. The Twins are just too cool though. I'm not getting rid of them. I'd still rather remove the clams, acros before I get rid of these spectacular fish. :) I'm seriously considering converting this system over to a softy (Tonga mushrooms, Tonga yellow leathers, blastos, ricordea, photosynthetic gorgonia, euphyllia tank and then set up another system for the SPS and clams.

slobound

03/13/2006, 09:54 PM

NO WAY! That's horrible and my biggest fear of my regal. Well, I put mine in the display and so far, so good. No chomping of any corals that I can see. Well, if you need a place to store your acros... I'm only a couple hours away. Hahaha

john37

03/13/2006, 10:03 PM

so my regal is only eating mysis and i've tried pellets and flakes but he/she will just suck in a flake and spit it out.

how long does it take to get them to switch. and how do i do that?
thanks for any help

Steve Atkins

03/13/2006, 11:38 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6947616#post6947616 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by john37
so my regal is only eating mysis and i've tried pellets and flakes but he/she will just suck in a flake and spit it out.

how long does it take to get them to switch. and how do i do that?
thanks for any help
Have you tried fereshly opened mussel/clam? (Y/N):
And the result was?:....
Have you tried frozen angel formula? (Y/N):
And the result was?:....
What do other fish in the tank eat:....

Steve

HOZERTHEBONEFISH

03/14/2006, 12:51 AM

Project Reef:

Pix please

john37

Took my regal about a 3-4 weeks. Keep mixing a little bit of spectrum pellets and spirulina flake with the mysis. Your regal will eat it soon enough.

Henry

rkehockey16

03/14/2006, 10:03 AM

i have a 125 with a naso and an achilles in it, i was wondering if i would be able to put a regal in there. the 2 tangs are the only fish in the tank now that are bigger than 1" long.
Naso 6"
Achilles 4"
lawnmower blenny 3"
clown goby 1/2"
sixline wrasse 2"

HOZERTHEBONEFISH

03/14/2006, 03:37 PM

rkehockey

You probably shouldn't do it. The regal at least initially, won't be able to get to any food, assuming the achiles doesnt shred it to bits.

I believe your tank is already close to max in terms of bioload.

Steve Atkins

03/14/2006, 04:24 PM

rkehockey16

There are not really many places in a 125 for a regal to hide from the attentions of larger unwelcoming fish.

If you want that mix to have a chance of working you will need to introduce an already largish and dominant regal that is well used to and comforttable with life in a tank.

Steve

rkehockey16

03/14/2006, 10:32 PM

well, i well just have to wait until i get a BIGGER tank!!

luvtolean

03/15/2006, 04:53 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6895005#post6895005 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by asnatlas
You have a wrasse in a BB tank ?? Do you have a "sand box" or anything ?? How is it working out and how long have you had him with the BB ??

It's no big deal. I've had a 5 bar in my BB for a year...I've actually never seen one even bury in the sand, they're rock dwellers.

Most of the fairy wrasses are OK without sand too...just watch out for jumping. :(

hlama

03/15/2006, 09:58 PM

Most of the fairy wrasses are OK without sand too...just watch out for jumping. :( [/B] yup yup. i have 5 wrasse Paracheilinus mccoskeri with only a 1/2 sandbed.

JDS

03/20/2006, 08:22 PM

What does everybody think? I'm contemplating trying to pair up my regal. I'm 99 percent sure I have a male. I have plenty of tank space being that my tank is 210G with a 5 inch male regal angel and a 4 inch Harlequin tusk that it. I don't know whether I'm pushing my luck trying to get a second healthy fish.

JDS

03/20/2006, 08:23 PM

DP sorry:)

Redfish

03/20/2006, 09:38 PM

I doubt seriously that pairing is the correct term, but I have two regals in my 225. I initially got what I felt was a male. I then added a second smaller fish. I have a pretty good supplier so I asked for the smallest fish with the smallest cheek spine. They have been together now for about three months. The larger fish rules the roost and will ocassionally show the smaller fish who runs the tank, but there is no real continuous agression.

They feed together well.

I feel that I got pretty lucky. You probably need to be willing to yank a fish out of your tank if it does not go well. I would also highly recommend that you try and get the second fish eating well before putting them together. That is pretty tricky with regals in terms of having a big enough tank for quarantine.

JDS

03/20/2006, 10:12 PM

I really wish I had another reef tank setup just for that reason.

RichK

03/21/2006, 12:11 AM

For those who have regals in a tank with LPS, what are your experiences with the fish and the corals. I've been contemplating a Regal or a Mjaestic angel for my 125G SPS reef for quite some time now. My only worry is that it may find my family of Gonioporas a tasty snack. I've had an Asfur and flame angels before and they never touched the gonis, but what about the regal? Also, will a Regal eat Xenia (not that I care). Greg, do you have any input on this?

Redfish

03/21/2006, 12:34 AM

Mine do not bother sps or the few acans I have. I cannot attest to anything else.

Steve Atkins

03/21/2006, 05:08 PM

Mine will eat Anthelia. I have not tried any Xenia in the tank but suspect it would eat it. I have an open brain and a pearl bubble but the regal doesn't bother either, nor does it bother the clam I put in to test it (might add more clams now).

Steve

RichK

03/31/2006, 08:19 AM

After patiently waiting for these fish to become available, I just ordered one last night. It should be here Saturday morning and I hope it arrives in good condition. I pm'ed a few guys here who had had their regals for a little while now and they provided me great information. You guys know who you are, thanks alot! I hope all goes well with my new fish and look forward to keeping it for many years. My yellow tang is going on 12 years old now, so I hope the angel does just as well. I'll post when I get it and also I'll try and get a picture or two.

Project Reef

03/31/2006, 08:32 AM

The Regal Twins are still doing great. Good news is that they have, at least seemingly, stopped (or dramatically decreased) picking on corals. Still eating anything I put in the tank as far as prepared foods go.

RichK

03/31/2006, 08:34 AM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7081002#post7081002 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Project Reef
The Regal Twins are still doing great. Good news is that they have, at least seemingly, stopped (or dramatically decreased) picking on corals. Still eating anything I put in the tank as far as prepared foods go.

Without me going back and looking, where did you get your Regals from? What corals did they pick on?

doody

03/31/2006, 08:45 AM

Yes, (without me going back), what size tank do you have the pair in.

RichK

04/01/2006, 10:51 PM

Well, my Regal arrived today from Live Aquaria. It's about 4" long and quite a nice looking fish! Looks fat. After about an hour and a half of drip acclimating, I released it into the tank. There was some agresssion from my yellow tang, but the angel just shrugged it off and went on its way. So far it has picked at a few rocks and really only hid for the first 45 minutes. It looks like it is searching for food, something I hope is a good sign. Tomorrow I will try a clam and some mysis. I can only hope for the best. I'll try and take a couple pictures tomorrow.

GSchiemer

04/01/2006, 11:27 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7002456#post7002456 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichK
For those who have regals in a tank with LPS, what are your experiences with the fish and the corals. I've been contemplating a Regal or a Mjaestic angel for my 125G SPS reef for quite some time now. My only worry is that it may find my family of Gonioporas a tasty snack. I've had an Asfur and flame angels before and they never touched the gonis, but what about the regal? Also, will a Regal eat Xenia (not that I care). Greg, do you
have any input on this?

IME amd IMO, a regal angel is unlikely to pick at Goniopora or Xenia corals. I have regal angels with both of these corals for many years without incident. Here's a picture of one of my regals in a tank with lots of xenia, SPS corals, and zoanthids. Sorry for the lousy picture quality; it's the 50KB limit of RC.

Greg
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/26885Regal_and_Xenia.jpg

RichK

04/03/2006, 09:06 PM

Well, 24 hours after adding the fish to my tank, it seems to be actively feeding on the rock. It seems to prefer algae and maybe a bit of sponge. It's hard to see exactly what it is eating, but it does chew it up pretty good and doesn't spit anything out. It has also tried a few bits of food floating by in the water column. It's an extrmely calm fish. When I add food, it seems to get excited but doesn't eat it yet. It hangs out in the "back" of the tank, but since my tank is viewable from both sides, I can keep an eye on it. Here's a picture for you viewing pleasure.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a358/richknecht/regal1resize.jpg

RichK

04/03/2006, 09:08 PM

And one more:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a358/richknecht/regal3resize.jpg

bureau13

04/04/2006, 12:15 AM

Any words of advice on whether to put a Regal and Majestic in the same tank (240 gal)? I have the Majestic right now...he's got adult coloration, but he's still fairly small...if I do this, how important is it that I add the Regal to the new tank at the same time I move the Majestic over?

jds

hlama

04/04/2006, 03:29 AM

i would put the regal in first. the majestic is more aggressive. regals are kinda wussies comepared to most other angels, ofcourse there are those indivuals that are just mofo's.

Steve Atkins

04/04/2006, 06:05 PM

RichK

The personality of your regal seems to be similar to mine, which is, judging from this thread, pretty unusual. Mine also took being chased a bit in its stride. The main difference is that mine spent most of the first 4-5 days cruising round under the reef eating its way through whatever had grown their over 10 years and only started to hang out with the other fish when it needed to start eating the food they ate.

Steve

RichK

04/04/2006, 08:59 PM

Steve, mine has yet to really sample any foods offered (mysis, formula 1&2, Vibra-gro pellets, Nori, and sea weed flakes). It does however, continue to feed from the rock work. Whatever it is eating, it really chews it up. From what I can see, it seems to be`eating hunks of algae that is growing under and between the rock. I just hope it is getting enough. Maybe some of the others who have had their fish for a while can chime in here.

Steve Atkins

04/04/2006, 09:18 PM

From what I recall, mine did not take any real notice of what the other fish were eating until it ran out of whatever it was eating under the reef and started to get hungry. It then took a while for it to get proficient at chasing down floating food. I am guessing that for a while it found plenty of food under the reef.

Steve

doody

04/04/2006, 11:54 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7111950#post7111950 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichK
Steve, mine has yet to really sample any foods offered (mysis, formula 1&2, Vibra-gro pellets, Nori, and sea weed flakes). It does however, continue to feed from the rock work. Whatever it is eating, it really chews it up. From what I can see, it seems to be`eating hunks of algae that is growing under and between the rock. I just hope it is getting enough. Maybe some of the others who have had their fish for a while can chime in here.

Just a thought. If you gan blow some food onto the algea its eating so that it sticks to it, maybe he'll start to get a tast.

pecan2phat

04/05/2006, 11:39 AM

Rich,
When I purchased my Regal last year, it did not eat for about 2 weeks. During this time, it just foraged on the live rock. About the 3rd week, it started to munch down on the zoanthids in the tank and by the 4th to 5th week, it started to accept frozen prepared foods. Afterwards it also will take Spectrum pellets too.
Now I can understand why the failure rate of keeping Regals were so high back in the 80's due to acclimating them into fish only tanks, established reef tanks with live rock is almost a must IMO.
I wasn't worried due to the fact that I had introduced an Golden pygmy angel a few months prior to the Regal and I never saw it eat prepared foods for about 3 months. Pretty cryptic fish but now it eats with everyone.

RichK

04/05/2006, 01:04 PM

Well, this morning I went down to see the tank before I left for work and the Regal was right out front hunting stuff on the rock. It is definitely eating caulerpa roots and such that my Doliatus rabbitfish missed. The angel tears at them and munches them down. I was alos glad to see it out front because it was just staying in the rear corner area of the tank not venturing out much. I am sure glad my tank is viewable from both sides. This allows me to keep an eye on the fish and to see what exactly it is eating. When it finds something it likes, it really tears into it. So I don't think I am too worried about the fish at this time. However, it would make me feel better to actually see the fish take prepared foods.

Right now, it seems to have settled in nicely. My rock is over 10 years old with plenty of growth, both algae and sponge, on the underside and other places the rabbitfish can't get to. These fish are so nice to look at. The colors are awesome. I hope it stays with me for a long time.

copps

04/05/2006, 01:15 PM

Hey Rich, have you tried the clams on the halfshell as we discussed?

Rondelet

04/05/2006, 01:38 PM

I had lots of macro algae (a couple species of Caulerpa), but my Regal Angel demolished 6 months worth of growth in about 2 weeks. He's a major grazer. I also had a nice growth of Halimeda, which he tears at, but just seems to damage it rather than eat it. I now propagate blade Caulerpa in another tank for feeding to my Regal on occasion (he eats it way faster than I can grow it). Interestingly, he's not a big fan of Seaweed Selects (Red or Green) and only picks at them sparingly. I'm slowly trying to wean it over as it would be a lot easier for giving him green stuff (other fish in the tank love the stuff). Not surprisingly, his favourite food (by a mile) is frozen ON Formula II. It's a Indo-Pacific Regal which I think have a strong preference (requirement?) for marine plant material.

I've had the fish for 6 months now without incident - and am hoping to beat Gary's odds for Pacific Regals. Mine eats very well, mostly ON Formula II and Angel Formula, along with macro algae, the odd clam on the half shell and even some live sponge. Interesting story - put a large live Red Ball Sponge about the size of a grapefruit into my tank to see what would happen. My Regal took a big interest in it and started to graze on it. In about three months, he appeared to have eaten about a third of it. Then the sponge started to die - which I eventually linked to a very mild ammonia spike due to a problem with a mechanical filter. I quickly moved the sponge, fixed the problem and restored my water. The Regal didn't bat and eye and the sponge is recovering, ever so slowly, in my Caulerpa propagation tank. My next move will be to try diced frozen squid as suggested by Steve - sounds like a good idea. I think the key to good nutrition is to keep with what works, but to constantly try new things. My Regal is also the undisputed dominate fish in the tank (I think mostly because he's by far the largest), which I also think goes a long way to husbandry success.

There's a picture in my profile from when I first go him. I will post an update shot marking 6 months.

BTW - Thanks to all who've contributed to this thread. I have found it to be invaluable for information on keeping Regals (read it in its entirely twice before I go mine). I agree that Regals are not forgiving, and therefore shouldn't be considered easy. My approach, like most I'm sure, has been to focus my attention and husbandry on my Regal - essentially building my tank around it.

Kahuna Tuna

04/05/2006, 02:04 PM

Rondelet-
I noticed you keep a meridithi, beautiful fish BTW, with your regal. Do you keep any corals in your tank? I was also wondering how the yellowtail and the regal get along and wether they pick at corals. TIA.

Rondelet

04/05/2006, 03:25 PM

Kahuna,

No corals per se. I did have some zoos and shrooms, but the Regal Angel didn't bother with them. I say had because I moved them after putting the Lattice Butterfly in (which went after them within hours of being in the tank). Apart the sponge, which the RA really liked - to nibble, I did have a large leather coral (not sure of the species). The RA picked at it from time to time - not sure why. I suspect it was picking stuff off of it, rather than picking at it. Hard to say. However, it was moved with the sponge as it appeared to be affected by the ammonia spike. My focus with the tank has been on the fish.

The RA and the Yellowtail get along - now. I say this as the RA really harassed the Yellowtail when I first put it in - to point of making it sick. I cleared this up and now, after a month, the aggression towards the Yellowtail (which is a lot smaller) from the RA has gone down quite a bit. Everyone knows their place relative to the RA, which the RA reinforces from time to time. My particular RA is a bully and he makes no bones about it. When the Lattice Butterfly (same size at the Yellowtail) was first put in, the RA chased it around and actually took a chuck out of his side (which has since healed). The Yellowtail for its part is a real champ - super hardy fish that can take a few knocks, appears not too susceptible to Cryp, and eats like a champ. There is a picture in my album if you're interested.

Project Reef

04/05/2006, 04:25 PM

Rondelet, are you concerned with the potential health risks of Caulerpa toxicity if feeding your Regal large amounts, long-term?

Rondelet

04/05/2006, 04:36 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7117778#post7117778 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Project Reef
Rondelet, are you concerned with the potential health risks of Caulerpa toxicity if feeding your Regal large amounts, long-term?

Now I am!

PR - can you expand on this? I don't give him that much, but he seems to really like it (along with my Coral Beauty and Regal Tang - although they don't seem to eat as much). What is the nature of the toxicity, is it species specific? Truth be known, I was more concerned about the sponge, but figured he wouldn't eat something that would kill him. Any info on Caulerpa toxicity that you can provide would be most appreciated.

Aquaduck

04/05/2006, 05:11 PM

Zoos also contain a known toxin and my Regal Angel has eaten 40 to 50 at one time. Cleared a whole rock bare. Just because a plant or animal contains a "bad" substance doesn't mean it's not edible for another animal. They are all part of the food chain. So if the tang is eating caulerpa, then I think the tang knows that it's safe for him to eat it and likewise my Regal knows he can eat 50 zoos at a time with no ill effects.

hlama

04/05/2006, 05:54 PM

yeah i agree. caulerpa gets a bad rap. i have never ever known anyone to lose a fish because it ate caulerpa. plus caulerpa is not really toxic. some fish and/or corals due find caulerpa noxious. but still compared to a leather corals or other softies caulerpa really is not all that noxious. if he eats it and likes it no worries just dont make it a main part of the diet, but just a little snack treat from time to time.

RichK

04/06/2006, 03:14 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7116287#post7116287 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by copps
Hey Rich, have you tried the clams on the halfshell as we discussed?

John, yes I did. I put in 2 on opposite sides of the tank. I figured one will attract the other fish, and the Regal can have one for itself. However, my Copperband(which has buddied up with the regal nicely) decided that they were both for it and totally destroyed both and also defended them. Neat to watch, but it wasn't my intention. The Regal has really started to venture out now. It has gotten much bolder and actually displays to the yellow tang now. This has made the tang decide to leave the regal alone. I'm gonna try the clam thing again this weekend when I can watch the copperband closely and see if the regal shows interest. So far, the regal really seems to be eating alot off the rock. It will find something and not leave that spot until it has picked the rock clean. So, I think it is eating fine at the moment. I hope it will start to show interest in other foods soon. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the help and ideas.

copps

04/06/2006, 03:25 PM

Yeah copperbands evolved that nose for something... these are key reasons they have a better chance being isolated at first, like the aggression from the tang and the inability to compete for food... hopefully Rich you've got enough to carry it through until he decides to start eating prepared foods... Happy to see Live Aquaria come through again!

My trio continues to do well, although I need updated pics... these are a couple I posted way back...
A shot with flash under actinics only where you could see all three feeding near the turkey baster...
http://xs70.xs.to/pics/06095/mix3.jpg (http://xs.to)

And another...
http://xs70.xs.to/pics/06095/mix1.jpg (http://xs.to)

mortenN

04/06/2006, 03:44 PM

John, very nice.

copps

04/06/2006, 03:58 PM

Thanks Morten... and right back at you! Nice system! I see we share the same passions... I have an outlet to get a gem tang but need the cohones to spend a grand on one fish... What did you pay for yours in Norway? (If your wife may read this you could PM me :D)... Reef on!:smokin:

Maximus

04/06/2006, 04:25 PM

John,
Do your regals pick on any lps or zoanthids? I've been toying with the idea of getting one but I'm afraid my lps population may take a severe beating.

copps

04/06/2006, 04:30 PM

When I added the original one years ago the remaining zoos I couldn't remove were picked clean in about four hours... it was amazing... every nook and cranny... I've never tested mine too much with lps but friend's I know have and I wouldn't do it if I were you... Even if I tested one out at first I wouldn't do it as they could turn at any time, as my chrysurus pair and moorish idol did on my sps... sps could retract and take a bit of a beating, but if they turn on lps or zoos you may find it picked clean before you know what went on...

Maximus

04/06/2006, 04:56 PM

Thanks for the info, John. Looks like I may hold off on the purchase for now.

copps

04/06/2006, 04:59 PM

Just set up another tank already!:o :D

Maximus

04/06/2006, 05:13 PM

Hehe, easier said than done!

mortenN

04/06/2006, 05:19 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7125001#post7125001 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by copps
Thanks Morten... and right back at you! Nice system! I see we share the same passions... I have an outlet to get a gem tang but need the cohones to spend a grand on one fish... What did you pay for yours in Norway? (If your wife may read this you could PM me :D)... Reef on!:smokin:

Thanks John, no problem with my wife at all, :D , I payd $ 630,- for the Gem, but it was in Germany. You will probably not find a Gem in Norway :cool:

RichK

04/08/2006, 11:32 AM

Weekly update. Well, after a week in my reef, the regal has settled in nicely. It continues to eat any type of algae it can find. I did some tank maintenace today and I exposed a nice sized bunch of grape caulerpa. As soon as I moved my hand, the regal was right there shredding it. It did not leave that spot until all of the algae was gone. I bought a Doliatus rabbitfish a while ago to control the same algae and it ate all it could find. I wish I knew that regals ate the stuff as I would have bought one a long time ago. I am still waiting on the regal to accept prepared foods. It gets visibly excited when I feed the tank and really looks at the stuff going by, but hasn't sampled any yet. I just put 2 more clams in the tank so we'll see how that goes. Judging from the way the fish produces waste, I would say it is eating quite a bit.

pecan2phat

04/08/2006, 12:50 PM

Update on the behaviour of my RA.
I've had my RA 2 days short of a year now and when I introduced him into my 120g, it was stocked largely with SPS corals and about 7 clams. There were a scattering of zoanthids and some LPS corals.
I've stated in past postings that the RA demolished any zoos that I had left in there for him (expected) and most fleshy LPS were eventually taken out cause of declining health of the corals. Couldn't really pinpoint if it was the RA or my Golden pygmy angel nipping on the LPS corals.
My reason for this post is that the RA has always left my Clams alone. The Golden actually would nip the clams here and there but not do any real damage.
So fast forward about 9 months to Jan '06 where I set up a 102g tank that is plumbed to the same sump as the 120g. I needed more room for my corals and this was a good alternative to breaking down the 120g for a larger tank. As this 102g was setup, I interchanged corals and moved clams around a bit. So after 3 months, I decided to put back into the 120g which houses the RA, a few Croceas and Maximas and immediately the RA starts to go for the clam mantles. There are still a few clams that are in the 120g that were never moved and he doesn't bother them. I had to take out the clams that I just put in because he wouldnt stop and took some nice chunks out of the mantles in 10 minutes.

My observations so far are that even though initally clams are safe with some individual RAs, over time their behaviour changes.

64Ivy

04/08/2006, 02:35 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7136688#post7136688 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichK
Weekly update. Well, after a week in my reef, the regal has settled in nicely. It continues to eat any type of algae it can find. I did some tank maintenace today and I exposed a nice sized bunch of grape caulerpa. As soon as I moved my hand, the regal was right there shredding it. It did not leave that spot until all of the algae was gone,

Funny how individualistic these fish can be: Mine will not touch grape caulerpa or any other kind of live algae. Will take Pro-V from the water column from time to time but prefers protein, esp. Mysis.

GSchiemer

04/08/2006, 03:00 PM

Just a few comments re Regal Angels, food preferences and corals. It's been my experience that the Indo-Pacific Regal Angel is MORE likely to pick at corals than the Red Sea/Indian Ocean variant. In addition, many fish, including angels and tangs, will start experimenting will corals and clams if they are not well fed. The key is to keep them satiated with prepared foods. Keep nori, Pro V, open clams, etc. in the tank for the fish to graze on. Regal Angels are grazers and eat throughout the day. They can't be expected to thrive on one major feeding per day and will turn to picking at previously undesirable items if they're hungry enough.

Greg

Project Reef

04/08/2006, 03:04 PM

The previous Regals I had never looked twice at clams. However, both of these two are not only clam nippers, but clam eaters. The only clam they haven't bothered is a crocea clam which is imbedded in a zoanthid rock.

It seems as though they have completely stopped picking on corals. And as Greg mentioned, they don't care to eat any Red Sea pulsing xenia. Hmm, perhaps when the Twins were babies out in the wild, that's all Mama Regal made them eat so now they are rebelling.

BTW, They are both in a 44"L x 28"w x apprx. 18" tall shallow type system. Roughly 90 gallons or so. Rock is minimal, just a cove on the left side, the right side is open with sea grasses. Along with a pair of flame hawks, mystery wrasse and golden blenny. Keep in mind, these are small fish (Although one seems to have gone on a growth spurt) (Male I believe). Eventually they will be going in a 300gallon Red Sea set-up with a small group of golden butterflies, a purple tang, group of fridmanis and an emperator.

moonpod

04/08/2006, 05:25 PM

Funny how regals (and other angels) are so unpredictable. My current regal (R.I.P. The previous one--total tank crash victim) eats mysis, gamma and ulva. Only fish in my tank that'll eat ulva. I've got several clams in the tank and it completely ignores them...

RichK

04/09/2006, 03:29 PM

Well, I tried the clams again today. I added 3 this time. It didn't take 5 minutes before the regal was picking clean it's first clam. It them proceeded to go to the other clams and had no trouble "pushing" away the other fish so it could eat. Witnessing this, I headed out to the market and picked up some more clams, shrimp, mussels, nori, and scallops and made a fresh batch of mush. As I was packing it up, I added a small amount to the tank to see what the regal would do. To my surprise, it chased down pieces of food and ate from the water column! I hope this is a sign of good things to come. My 7 bartletts seemed to like the snack too.

I would just like to thank everyone in this thread for the information they provided. Without resources like this, the hobby would not be what it is today.

zfunk007

04/09/2006, 04:01 PM

Been a while since I posted on this thread. But I figured I'd post a picture of my Regal since I've had him since last July.

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/7066/myregalangel2hw.jpg

He's doing well and eating like a pig. Spectrum pellets, live sponge, caulerpa and he gets along with my Moorish Idol and Broomtail Wrasse great. Figured I'd share the success story so far.

zfunk007

04/09/2006, 04:02 PM

Wow, didn't realize that picture was so big, sorry about that! :D

doody

04/09/2006, 08:01 PM

RichK, got any full tank shots?

zfunk007, Calm down there buddy.

Maximus

04/09/2006, 08:11 PM

Do you guys think a regal would wage war against pygmy angels? Zfunk, has your regal picked on any lps, zoos, or xenia?

nbd13

04/09/2006, 10:57 PM

Maximus, you will be fine, i am getting a regal on the 29th and i have 2 centropyges as you probably already know ;)

you should be fine in terms of aggression, only problem is the coral..... Your zoos will probably be toast, might be ok with LPS.... It's a risk though as with any angel....

Nick

GSchiemer

04/09/2006, 11:17 PM

Although I've heard enough anecdotal evidence of regal angels eating zoanthids to agree that it's a risk, it's by no means a certainty. In fact, IME regal angels picking at zoanthids is unusual. I just don't want this posted as if it were a fait accompli.

Greg

ca1ore

04/09/2006, 11:55 PM

For what it is worth, my red sea regal has been an incredibly well behaved fish in my tank. I have nver seen it pick at any coral or clam - wish I could say the same about my coral beauty. I agree that keeping fish well fed is the first, best way to stop them from picking at corals. I also have an Afur which is equally well behaved; he ignores everything, including unfortunatley, the majano anemones that my LFS assured me he would eat. Oh well!

zfunk007

04/10/2006, 10:56 AM

Maximus, I think Regal Angels are hit or miss when it comes to corals. Mine ate all those kinds of corals that you mentioned. So I had to move him to my fish only tank. He is doing just fine in there though. I collect live sponge from the wild and he loves it. Between him and my Moorish Idol they will eat a huge chunk of live sponge in a matter of a week or 2.

RichK

04/11/2006, 08:12 PM

Been a couple days since my Regal started to eat after I tried the fresh clam idea. Well, it's Tuesday and the fish eats anything. From Omega One flake to Formulas 1 & 2, Mysis, homemade mush and Vibra-gro pellets. What a difference a clam makes! Since I have anthias as well, I think the Regal will enjoy the frequent feedings.

Steve Atkins

04/17/2006, 10:21 PM

Still cruising at 9.8 months.

http://users.actrix.co.nz/stevea/Regal20060414_04.JPG

Steve

Psionicdragon

04/18/2006, 04:00 AM

So from my understanding, most of you guys don't QT your regals?

Would copper treatment be horrible for them?

Tremelle

04/18/2006, 09:22 AM

I have read that copper treatment is almost certain death for any angel. They seem to be less tolerant to copper than other species of fish.

john37

04/18/2006, 11:23 AM

didn't QT mine.

copps

04/18/2006, 11:50 AM

If QT consists of a 20 gallon with PVC pipe and a sponge filter, than you'd be better off not...

But, if you're able to provide a QT with excellent water quality, lots of live rock, dim light, and no competition for food or territory you'll have a much better chance... Many times it takes a while for them to take prepared foods, but chances are much better if the food is not disappearing from established fish within seconds... also, as I've recommended before, a clam on the half shell is virtually irresistable to these guys and will tide them over until they do realize that stuff floating in the water column could be food... which really isn't the case in the wild...

Incidentally, I never use medication, fresh water dips, hypo, copper, or anything else unless absolutely necessary... just concentrate on giving the fish the least stress... I've seen some people acclimate fish unnecessarily for hours, dumping water and swishing the plastic bag... Unless temperature, pH, and/or salinity are much different it's not necessary for too long...

Just my opinion... and man is it great to see this thread develop over the years with so many beautiful regals...:) We all differ in opinions here and there, but we all share a love for this beautiful fish!

RichK

04/18/2006, 10:30 PM

John, I'd have to agree with your last statement. Without this thread, I would not know what makes these fish thrive. As with all fish, a varied diet is the key. However, for the fish to ake advantage of such a diet, it needs to be coaxed to eat in captivity. The information within this thread is a source of great information on how to get these wonderful fish to eat.

My Regal continues to do very well and as I said previously, eats anything I put in the tank. It even chases food that is on the other side of the tank. There is one thing I have found to be very cool. The fish trusts me enough to eat from my hand! This is after about 2.5 weeks in my tank. Simply awesome.

Another key is to get a good fish from the start. John, you recomended Live Aquaria. I have mail ordered delicate fish before from another well known on-line vendor and was a bit nervous about ordering such a fish as a Regal from somewhere different. But, Live Aquaria came through and sent me an awesome fish! My hat's off to places like Live Aquaria for excellent shipping of such a delicate species.

I can only hope I can continue to provide an excellent home to my regal in years to come.

pecan2phat

04/19/2006, 01:05 AM

Thanks to this thread I also did things a bit differently by not quarantining my RA and placed him/her straight into my reef tank. Here's a couple of recent shots of my RA at 12 months and 9 days. This was a $45.99 fish that was not eating at he LFS!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v509/pecan2phat/Regal3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v509/pecan2phat/Regal4.jpg

Psionicdragon

04/19/2006, 02:49 AM

The only reason why I was asking is because of ick issues. :(

john37

04/19/2006, 12:45 PM

my regal is sick.
he's lying under a rock and breathing heavily.
are regals sensitive to water quality? i mean, i have 2 sunburst anthias' and they're fine as well as sps and everything looks good. only thing i can think of is that i raised my bio load too much the last few days. Added 9 blue green chromis' and a baby purple tang oh and a yellow wrasse into my 225 gallon for a total of 16 fish. but i took out 5 fish so really didnt add that many. the regal was eating flakes, mysis and even spectrum. my favorite fish. dang i'm goin to be so bummed if he/she dies. only thing i can think of doing right now is a 25 gal water change in a couple hours.
please pray for my fish. haha. i really love this fish

pecan2phat

04/19/2006, 02:07 PM

How long have you had the regal?

Aquaduck

04/19/2006, 02:24 PM

Did you quarantine the other fish before adding them to the tank containing the Regal? Perhaps it's caught a disease from the new additions?

john37

04/19/2006, 03:12 PM

no i didn't qt. didn't really think of QTing chromises. i've had the regal since december.
maybe i should start qting fish.

Aquaduck

04/19/2006, 03:16 PM

Any fish can carry disease and parasites and you can't tell by looking at them. Unfortunately you may have caused the demise of your Regal, but I will hope that he pulls through for you. It would be a shame if it died.

john37

04/19/2006, 03:16 PM

man, if my regal caught it from one of the new fish i'm gonna be so ****ed at myself. ahhhhhhh.

Steve Atkins

04/19/2006, 04:54 PM

Once again I feel thankful for the enforced 3 week quarantine, by the importer, we have in NZ. They are currently talking of increasing it to 4 weeks but the importers are not too happy about this.

Steve

GSchiemer

04/19/2006, 04:57 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7207438#post7207438 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by john37
man, if my regal caught it from one of the new fish i'm gonna be so ****ed at myself. ahhhhhhh.

Sure that's what happened. You can't add that many fish at one time to a 225 gallon aquarium, especially without quarantine, and not expect problems. You compromised the water quality, added parasites, and generally stressed all the tank inhabitants. Unfortunately, it's unlikely that your regal will recover and I'd also expect the new chromis to die.

Greg

john37

04/19/2006, 05:23 PM

yup, you're probably right guys.....poor regal. I've now learned my lesson the hard way. thanks

doody

04/21/2006, 12:06 AM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7208084#post7208084 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSchiemer
Sure that's what happened. You can't add that many fish at one time to a 225 gallon aquarium, especially without quarantine, and not expect problems. You compromised the water quality, added parasites, and generally stressed all the tank inhabitants. Unfortunately, it's unlikely that your regal will recover and I'd also expect the new chromis to die.

Greg

Ditto, but to answer your question, I do believe regals are very sensitive to water quality. Your water quality should not only be prestine to attempt this fish, but very stable as well.

pcbaseball

04/21/2006, 08:53 PM

hey i have had a 3 inch regal angel since last sat which has been in my sump for the time being to help with stress and food issues. I have one problem though, i usually feed all my fish frozen food, but i can only get my regal to eat spectrum pellets. He is very active at feeding and agressively looks for the pelets. Should i be considered about the lack of variety and what can i do to get him to eat frozen.

Thanks

scchase

04/22/2006, 03:12 PM

Finally got around to taking a picture of my regal it is around 6".

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/136regal.jpg

nbd13

04/22/2006, 03:22 PM

pcbaseball- did you try a fresh clam on the half shell?

scchase- beautiful specimen you have there!

Nick

scchase

04/22/2006, 03:44 PM

Yep and the best part she eats everything even flake.

nbd13

04/22/2006, 03:47 PM

scchase- where did you get him from? locally?

Nick

scchase

04/22/2006, 03:55 PM

I got her from Liveaquaria about a month and a half ago spent 3 weeks in QT and then into the system were she is doing great and leaves all the corals alone.

nbd13

04/22/2006, 03:57 PM

looks sweet! i am picking one up on the 29th. i think a 4-5" male...

Nick

david8956

04/24/2006, 09:08 PM

Been in QT for a month, finally in my main tank. It's been eating well every since I got it, and was eating along with all the other fish the day it went in the main tank. Not skittish at all, guess it got used to me hand feeding it 3 times a day in QT. Now, as long as it leaves my corals & clam alone.......
(ps - not that it really matters, but is there a way to tell males from females ?)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/david8956/RegalII.jpg

nbd13

04/24/2006, 09:42 PM

David,

yes there is a way to tell...nice looking fish BTW.

If you go straight down from the eye and then back alittle you will see a blue spine, i think it's called the gill spine actually.

The longer ones equal male, shorter equals female.

If you look back aways, it goes in depth in explaining this, even has pictures of a male regal with long gill spines...

Can't really tell from your picture, but it looks like it *might* be a female. Need a better pic to tell, close up of the gill spine would be better even yet...

HTH

Nick

LargeAngels

04/24/2006, 10:28 PM

Psionicdragon: I quarentine every single angel in Cupramine copper, even some of the centropyge that are more sensitive. I have never seen any ill effects due to copper. Everyone may not agree with it, but I have seen enough nasties to treat every fish.

Steve Atkins

04/25/2006, 03:10 AM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7223173#post7223173 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pcbaseball
....... Should i be considered about the lack of variety and what can i do to get him to eat frozen.

Thanks
Not at this stage. Feeding at all is the first priority. It should expend its diet on its own over time.

Mine has just proved that, in line with my suspicions, it is partial to Xenia. I got donated three pieces and the one I put in the main tank vanished within about a day. When I put one of the other ones in, the Regal went straight for it. I guess the Xenia will have to stay in another tank.

Steve

Pennoyer

04/25/2006, 12:20 PM

Here is my new addition. Got him/her from phishy. Great shape, eating and swimming around the first night and now eats anything I put in the tank except seaweed off the clip. I think it is a female but will have to wait until a little time passes to see spine development. It's about 2.5" long and is very curious with anyone who approaches the tank.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/pennoyer/Regal.jpg

nbd13

04/25/2006, 12:36 PM

Pennoyer- when did you get him from Sedar? Are you the one that got the tiny 2.5" guys that was on the website awhile ago? or is this a new one?

thanks

nick

Pennoyer

04/25/2006, 12:45 PM

No; this is a new one he just got in. I got it on Friday (4/21) after he had it for about a week and a half prior. I saw the 2.5 one he listed a while ago, but was not ready for the fish at that time. When I was ready, he had two to choose from. I asked for the one with the smallest cheek spine because I wanted a female. This fish is so small though, that I can't tell if it is a female or just a small male. Great fish so far (knock on wood)

fourts1

04/26/2006, 01:19 PM

Have a 300g mixed reef that is being over run by anthelia and would like to find something to eat it. From reading previous posts sound like a regal might do it. Anyone have any experience with this?

hlama

04/26/2006, 02:47 PM

dont get a regal to eat your anthelia. yes there is a good chance a regal will eat it, about 90% chance. but do read up on these guys. they are very demanding, as you can see just by the size of this thread.

GSchiemer

04/26/2006, 07:26 PM

Whoa! Regarding a Regal Angelfish and "Anthelia," I'd say that there is a 90% chance that it WON'T eat it. Regardless, this is a bad reason to buy a Regal Angelfish.

Greg

Aquaduck

04/26/2006, 08:11 PM

Nice Regal! Watch him around your clam. My clam developed bite marks where chunks of the mantle were removed all around the clam. Turned out my Regal was snacking on it. Just a heads up.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7240484#post7240484 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by david8956
Been in QT for a month, finally in my main tank. It's been eating well every since I got it, and was eating along with all the other fish the day it went in the main tank. Not skittish at all, guess it got used to me hand feeding it 3 times a day in QT. Now, as long as it leaves my corals & clam alone.......
(ps - not that it really matters, but is there a way to tell males from females ?)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/david8956/RegalII.jpg

david8956

04/26/2006, 08:33 PM

Yeah, model citizen so far, but my fingers are crossed. I'm hoping since it is eating so well when I feed it will be less likely to nip on things it should leave alone.

Aquaduck

04/27/2006, 09:07 AM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7254713#post7254713 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by david8956
Yeah, model citizen so far, but my fingers are crossed. I'm hoping since it is eating so well when I feed it will be less likely to nip on things it should leave alone.

That was my thought with mine. He (or she) gets fed on a daily basis but still scouts out the tank and finds other things to nibble on, mainly algea and sponge growth, and my Crocea clam that I had to sell. I also tried some LPS and the Regal is using an Echinophyllia as an open smorgasborg. He still leaves all the SPS alone and my Ricordia don't interrest the Regal either. Whew!

Psionicdragon

05/04/2006, 03:04 PM

Are juv regals better than regular 4 inchers? As in getting to eat and whatnot?

DKRT0821

05/09/2006, 10:25 AM

Hello. I was looked for the longest time online to purchase a RA and found a seller (marinedepotlive.com) who I thought would be responsible for the specimens they sell. Anyhow, instead of placing the order online, I CALLED the seller to give them specific details about the size of the fish I was looking for. Their site showed that smalls (2-3â€) were available; however, when I called I was told they only had mediums (3-5â€). I agreed to the smallest medium and not larger than 3.5â€. I was told by the manager that he would â€œpersonallyâ€ make sure I got one as close as possible to 3â€.

The next day (4/19/06) I received the package. When I opened it, the fish was about 5.5â€ inches big (YIKES). I acclimated it, and unfortunately it was too big to fit in my QT, so I added it to my main tank, which I was very against but had to do it. Anyhow, the fish has been in my tank for the past 3 weeks (tomorrow). Not only did it come bigger in size, but also they shipped it with a cloudy eye. It has taken the fish the entire 3 weeks to clear the eye. Not only did it have to get acclimated to my tank & current fish, but it had to do it with a sick eye. The first week, it spend it on the side of the tank â€“ it wouldnâ€™t move. The second week it found a cave and hid. After a couple of days I thought it was dead since I didnâ€™t see it for some time.

Last Thursday (5/4/06) I finally saw it, and I decided to re-arrange the rockwork to allow it to come out more & be more social. It worked!! Since this past Thursday, the fish is coming out and little by little my purple tang (the â€œterrorâ€) has eased up on it. So far the fish has begun to eat some seaweed on a clip and it has started to eat some prepared food (chopped krill, mysis, chopped scallops, formula 1 & 2, angel formula, brine reef, & marine cuisine â€“ all sprinkled with some garlic). Not a pig by far, but today was its second day I saw it eat some stuff, not a lot but some & more than yesterday. It pecks on half opened clams, but doesnâ€™t devour them. The eye is still a little cloudy, but Iâ€™d say itâ€™s about 90% healed. I have a reef tank with polyps, soft corals, hard corals, and 2 clams. So far everything is untouched and hope it is a good sign of a good citizen. I am a little apprehensive as I just hope it continues to do as well as it has for the past 3 weeks. Anyhow, that is my story with Reggie (very sure itâ€™s a male). Success - ?? Not sure yet, but I hope itâ€™s a good sign and that it continues to thrive. It is such a beautiful fish & I will have a pic posted as soon as the eye is 100% healed and still alive. I do have to say that the seller did refund me the money for the fish, except the shipment fee. Ron â€“ NYC

Psionicdragon

05/09/2006, 06:04 PM

Are Maldive regals cyanide caught?

john37

05/09/2006, 07:37 PM

yay, been a few weeks since my regal got sick and now he/she's back in the main tank and better than ever

Steve Atkins

05/09/2006, 11:27 PM

Very Lucky.

Congratulations.

Mine is often sporting scrapes and damaged fins from his, not entirely successful, efforts to sort out the rest of the tank but he has never had to recover from anything like yours.

Steve

DKRT0821

05/10/2006, 10:12 AM

Mine also has a nipped fin from the purple tang (I am sure) as it attemps to scope out more areas of the tank...

I also noticed yesterday that I was 3rd in nipping at the clam I gave it and seawead on a clip...not bad!! This morning it ate a more than yesterday but mostly just the mysis & brine shrimp and none of the angel formula. I am sure it is a matter of time.

pcbaseball

05/10/2006, 06:59 PM

hey would just like to share an interesting story about my angel.
I have a 4 inch indo variation regal who eats spectrum pellets with vigor and is doing well. So last night i noticed my large Giant Elephant Ear Mushroom Coral which is capable of eating small fish. He had eaten a clownfish but thought my regal was too large. Well last night i discoverd my mushroom closed up and somthing inside poking to get out. Well i had got into the tank and sadly discovered my regal inside the mushroom attahed to the stingers of the mushroom. I managed to free the regal, but it looked all but over. He was breathing very heavy, was very pale and lay motionless on the bottom. I left him there overnight and would dispose of the body the next day. Well i come home from school and he is out and about being very active. He ate and seemed to be his usual self expext for some marks i think were caused by the mushroom. So for all who say this fish is to delicate and hard i beg to differ expecially after todays experience. I think a healthy and strong indiv. can be very hardy