New, weak regal angel. Advice please

[3yellowtangs]

Recieved a 4-5" yellow belly regal on friday shipped straight from bali. When i got it home and opened the bag it was on it side and barely moving for friday night. Thought i would wake up to a dead fish. Saturday morning fish is swimming in place upright for all day. Today slowing swiming around the rank. So we are moving in the right direction. It is vomiting a little and not eating. Fish looks perfect though just not acting good. I have a nori clip and a fresh mussel in there.

In a 55 with small amount of cupramine at normal salinity. Perfect water conditions.

Im slowly lowering salinty By ro water changes through a fast drip.

Any advice would be great.

 

[3FordFamily]

That's a regal tang not a regal angel

It's good tbat it's mlvong in the right direction but I would say based on what you describe a 33:67 chance of survival:death. The small tank size probably won't help either although I've kept small hippo tangs in tanks that size (.5-2") as a temporary home successfully. But it is still working against you. Make sure your skimmer is ripping crap out well.

 

[3yellowtangs]

Regal angel in a 55 qt. dt is 180 reef.

 

[3yellowtangs]

How strong of flow do people keep with sick fish?

 

[gone fishin]

I have not kept angels but I believe they are pretty sensitive to copper treatments.

Why are you lowering salinity?

My QT has a low to mild flow in it.

 

[drdoolittle]

I would concentrate on getting it to eat first before medicating it. Once it starts to eat normally. Then follow your at process before adding into Your tank.

I would suggest to remove the medication in your at for now and try live food. Live brine, black worm, or small ghosh shrimps.

 

[3yellowtangs]

Lower salinity because ive always had much better success with sick or infected fish in lower salinity levels. Copper level is reisdual from last qt'd fish. I have since changed 60% of the water.

 

[snorvich]

I have not kept angels but I believe they are pretty sensitive to copper treatments.

Why are you lowering salinity?

My QT has a low to mild flow in it.

Osmoregulation is easier at slightly reduced salinity.

 

[gone fishin]

Thanks Steve, learn something new everyday.

 

[3yellowtangs]

I would concentrate on getting it to eat first before medicating it. Once it starts to eat normally. Then follow your at process before adding into Your tank.

I would suggest to remove the medication in your at for now and try live food. Live brine, black worm, or small ghosh shrimps.

Ive put a fresh mussel in the tank each of the last two days for about 2 hrs and nothing yet.

 

[3yellowtangs]

Who has recieved a mostly dead regal to have it come back to healthy?

 

[snorvich]

That's a regal tang not a regal angel

Is there a picture you have seen"

It's good tbat it's mlvong in the right direction but I would say based on what you describe a 33:67 chance of survival:death.

Based on what?

 

[3FordFamily]

I have surveillance. No but it's confusing because I just recalled that there are also two variants of regal angel like there are regal tangs. One with a yellow belly.

 

[3yellowtangs]

Boys. Im looking for advice. Egos aside.

 

[albano]

Who has recieved a mostly dead regal to have it come back to healthy?

Regals are hard to acclimate/keep to start with... One that shipped poorly is an even bigger problem.
Good luck

 

[snorvich]

Boys. Im looking for advice. Egos aside.

You got some advice: lowering salinity is good, removing copper is good. Get some live food or something similar to Nutramar Ova. As Albano said above, Regal angels are notoriously difficult.

TeamRC members try to insure that contributors to threads are giving reasonable advice or at least not bad advice. There is no ego involved, it is part of the job description.

 

[Dmorty217]

In addition to above try clams on the half shell. A disease free reef tank setting is best for these fish to get them acclimated. Very few of us have nursed a Regal angel that was on death doorstep back to life. I would venture to say most people have killed healthy Regals more often than bringing one back from near death

 

[3yellowtangs]

Fish is looking a little bloated today. I added prazi to tank to help with worms.

 

[ThRoewer]

I always had success with algae. So the easiest is to put a few strands of caulerpa into the tank, preferably one of the softer species (I remember mine liked the ones with the "suction cups" and the "bubbles")

Their natural foods are mostly sponges - the smooth and colored ones. Mostly they are black but sometimes yellow or even blue. Try if you can find a rock with those at your local store. I had a lot of them growing in my tank before I added my first Pygoplites. It took him about a week to finish them all.

Mussels are OK but they usually prefer oysters.

 

[ThRoewer]

In addition to above try clams on the half shell. A disease free reef tank setting is best for these fish to get them acclimated.

+1
That is the only way you should ever try it, especially if it is your first time with them.

Very few of us have nursed a Regal angel that was on death doorstep back to life. I would venture to say most people have killed healthy Regals more often than bringing one back from near death

+1
It is one of the fish I would rather not have than buy online, let alone import directly. It is vital to select only individuals that are perfectly healthy and show interest in their surroundings as well as are looking for food.
If they behave apathic or appear listless leave them at the store and wait for a better specimen. It's just not a fish to buy via mail-order.