Compatable Fish/Angels For Regal

[Wi11]

Hi guys,

I'm currently restocking my tank and recently (10 days) introduced a healthy (knock on wood) regal from DD. He eats like a champ, but his only food competition is from 7 red spot cardinals, 1 false perc (honorary cardinal), and a candy *** of a blotched anthias. From past experiences I know that regals are timid fish when compared to the aggressive feeding nature of tangs. I had four tangs before (blue, powder blue, yellow, and chevron) and would like to have at least two more to be introduced into the tank as the last fish. So as far as other angels are concerned, what others would be a good match in temperament to the regal? I was thinking about adding a male and female bellus and maybe a spotbreast angel. The tank is a 180 gallons and all the fish I plan to add are going to be younger, smaller specimens. Mixed reef right now, but headed in the direction of an sps dominated tank. Also, I don't want my clam nipped. So far the regal has acquiesced to this caveat, but has found my small ricordeas quite delectable.

 

[cFloor]

As you know, any angel will be a risk when it comes to corals, but along with my regals, I have a goldflake, majestic, and venustus and they all get along well and leave my SPS alone. Genicanthus should be fine in a mixed reef, i'm planning on a pair in the future as well.

 

[Wi11]

How are your other angels around the regal? I'm worried about my regal getting out competed for food and bullied.

 

[Dmorty217]

The Bellus angels should be fine but I wouldn't get anymore Genicanthus angels after that if you would like them to stay male/female. Too much of a risk adding anymore aggressive eaters with a healthy, eating Regal currently

 

[ThRoewer]

The only angel I kept with my regal was another regal - which would be my recommendation. In the wild you find them almost always in pairs and by my experience juveniles pair up well if you add a slightly larger one to the established one.
Adults can be sexed by their gill thorns - males have it significantly enlarged and it is almost twice as long as that of females.
Gill thorns of juveniles are usually much smaller (in relation to the fish size) than even those of females.

 

[alton]

Wait and come back and ask the question in 6 months. You really do not want to rush your Regal getting set up in his new home.

 

[albano]

Wait and come back and ask the question in 6 months. You really do not want to rush your Regal getting set up in his new home.

+1...Much better idea

 

[Wi11]

Who's rushing?

 

[alprazo]

Wait and come back and ask the question in 6 months. You really do not want to rush your Regal getting set up in his new home.

Totally agree. Once your regal is acclimated to captivity and introduced into the tank properly, it should be able to keep up with many of the aggressive eaters. Mine held its own with much larger Angels. But it was eating flake and pellets before I introduced it and pulled all other fish for a month and the regal went in first.

 

[o2manyfish]

The Bellus angels are a safe choice. They Bellus swim out in the open all the time. My Regal is very timid and is content to stay amoung the rock work and caves. My experience with Bellus is they don't bother anyone and nobody seems to bother them.

I also have a Goldflake with my Regal and they don't pay each other any mind. The Goldflake is another open water fish.

Dave B