Emperor Angel or Regal Angel? Both?

[Atomic081]

I have a 220g tank and I'm looking to make a big fish order. I have not bought any fish in almost 2 years. since I always QT for 2 months, I want to do it all at once to help make the transition easier.

I went on to Bali on my honeymoon 2 years ago and I'm trying to keep a Bali themed tank. I saw both Emperor Angels and Regal Angels while on the trip. I'm trying to decide which one or both to add to my tank. I will have a slightly heavily stocked tank once I'm done but I have another 300 gallons of Refugium/2 frag tanks/100g liverock tank and tons of filtration.


I'm worried about a bigger angel and my flame angel. I'm also worried about coral nipping. I know all angels are hit a miss. I had a gorgeous emperor angel last year and it ate all my zoanthids so I had to sell him. Would a Regal have better odds of not being a coral eater?


My stock list now:
Yellow tang
Purple tang
Sailfin tang
Blue tang
Flame angel
2 clownfish
Niger trigger



Thanks

Ross



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[ThRoewer]

If it was me, I would go for a regal pair.
220 gallon is not huge enough for the larger emperor.
Also, from what I read here, emperors are growing fast. Regals on the other hand grow painstakingly slow - back in Germany I had a pair for about 10 years and they didn't grow enough to notice a difference. Many here have made the same experience.

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[Dmorty217]

Regal... or Regal pair like Roewer said. A emperor won't get to "show size" unless you purchase it at that size. Even in a 220g they are territorial

 

[Dmorty217]

One will never get this size

 

[Dkuhlmann]

HOLY CRAP. That's one HUGE Emp WOW

I wonder how long it actually is, and how much one that size would go for?

 

[alton]

Your flame will do fine with either, regals are a better choice. That is eating size

 

[Dmorty217]

HOLY CRAP. That's one HUGE Emp WOW

I wonder how long it actually is, and how much one that size would go for?

That is easily 15"+, the fingers in the picture look small compared to its mouth... that's a $700 emperor for sure, probably would sell for more

 

[ThRoewer]

One will never get this size

That's the size they usually throw on the grill for dinner.
Seriously, a German store owner who went to Kenya collecting fish and corals told me that the fishermen there caught large emperors to grill at night.

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[Dmorty217]

That's the size they usually throw on the grill for dinner.
Seriously, a German store owner who went to Kenya collecting fish and corals told me that the fishermen there caught large emperors to grill at night.

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I have no doubt. Many of theses fisherman/collectors eat fish that we commonly see in our tanks... Poverty makes people do things other would never think of doing.

 

[marinelife]

A 220 is pushing it for a Emperor and Regal. I had a Regal and Emperor together in a 375 without issue. The Emperor could care less about the Regal.

 

[scchase]

One will never get this size

Good example of what a male emperor looks like as well, wish I could get one like that.

 

[ThRoewer]

I have no doubt. Many of theses fisherman/collectors eat fish that we commonly see in our tanks... Poverty makes people do things other would never think of doing.

Poverty has nothing to do with this. For them this is just a fish to eat, like a salmon to us. They caught these for eating long before they started collecting them for hobbyists.

BTW, these large fish are prohibitive expensive to ship, which is one of the reasons you will not see them in stores.
Wholesalers will only get them for special orders, usually placed for public aquaria.

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[Achilles Torben]

I love this big emporer angel but this is nothing for my tank. I confirm this fish is only for public aquaria or Hedgrew

Confirm also to ThRoewer. This is a normal fish for meal and not because poverty. Saw on Maledives eating this fish.


Grüße Torben

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[Dkuhlmann]

I love this big emporer angel but this is nothing for my tank. I confirm this fish is only for public aquaria or Hedgrew

Confirm also to ThRoewer. This is a normal fish for meal and not because poverty. Saw on Maledives eating this fish.


Grüße Torben

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I would love to see a few of these in Drew's tank. :dance: :thumbsup:

 

[scooter31707]

Ithik the Regal will be the better choice of the size of the tank, but I don't think he will have a chance being added to that stocklist that's already established, pretty aggressive fish.