Has anyone kept a regal angel in a mixed reef?

[frankpayne32]

A lfs near me has been keeping a regal angel for about a month and it is doing very well. I would love to get this fish but I have a mixed reef with many zoanthids in it. Has anyone had a regal that did not eat zoas? The fish is kept with many corals in the lfs with one rock with zoas. It has not eaten them in a month. What do you guys think? Thanks for looking!

Frank

 

[Jasanden]

I have had my grey belly regal for about 6 months in a mixed reef. I have 4 diferent kinds of zoas. The first month he picked at the blue zoas leaving the other ones alone. Never showed any interest in the lps or sps. Now I keep him fat and happy and he doesnt bother anything. I even had a 6 inch squamosa clam that he never touched. But beware every fish is diferent . When it comes to angels in a reef you are taking a chance.

 

[bradleyj]

I've had mine for 3 yrs and he has never touched a zoo. LPS yes, but no softies.

 

[frankpayne32]

Thanks for replying! I guess I have a tough decision to make...I love this fish but not sure if I do enough to risk my collection of zoas/palys...

 

[dmyers557]

If it's makes your decision easier, my regal tang has not touched a single zoa and I have tons

 

[frankpayne32]

If it's makes your decision easier, my regal tang has not touched a single zoa and I have tons

That makes it harder, lol.

 

[fullmonti]

sorry unintentional post

 

[KMUNCC]

Mine has ate a sponge but everything else is fine

 

[michealprater]

One of the best things I ever did to deal with my love of corals and angels was set up a frag tank. If the angels like the coral, it is moved to the frag tank where I can still enjoy both. My regal does nip at zoas and palys from time to time. I will say you have an 80/20 shot or so. 80% he will eat zoas, 20% he wont. Also, just because they dont eat one zoa doesnt mean they wont like a different color.

 

[frankpayne32]

One of the best things I ever did to deal with my love of corals and angels was set up a frag tank. If the angels like the coral, it is moved to the frag tank where I can still enjoy both. My regal does nip at zoas and palys from time to time. I will say you have an 80/20 shot or so. 80% he will eat zoas, 20% he wont. Also, just because they dont eat one zoa doesnt mean they wont like a different color.

Good advice, as much as I love this fish I think I am going to pass. I set up my big tank to get away from having multiple tanks in the house. But that means compromise...oh well.

 

[michealprater]

Glad I could help. Good luck.

 

[mikid]

regal

regal

its always a cra..shoot,mine doesnt bother or at least i havent seen any thing....4months with a red sea baby regal.....but in the wild they may or maynot...so you decide whats most inportant to you...reef,fish,zoas....:twitch:

 

[waxy]

Just get your Regal small, they'll be trained to eat prepared foods.

Won't nip at anything. I had a mature regal I gave to a friend, because it started nipping on my zoos.

After I gave it away, I ended up getting a much smaller one, it definitely had better manners. Eating my personally prepared foods.

Scallops, Mussels, Clams, Shrimp, Squid. ( Bought frozen, minced, and froze them into blocks.

I change their meals around, I only feed her once a day, since most of the food travels elsewhere in the system.

You may have to go through trial and error to get them eating. Regals are for advanced aquarists only.

 

[reefsic]

Great Thread. I've been interested in adding one to my display for quite some time now, but just terrified of it tasting a clam for the first time and just devouring the whole thing. I've got 2 large Deresa's and 1 Medium Crocea!