Pairing the Regal Angelfish

[Inklinkerman]

Hi all,


I have an established yellow belly regal angel from the Maldives in my tank for the last 12 mths. I am now attempting to add another regal, this time a gorgeous blue belly misbar specimen.

The new regal is about and inch or so larger than the resident, has much longer gill spurs (hopefully an indication of it being a male), and I am planning to add him to the 5x2x2' display in a couple of weeks.

I will be seperating the pair initially with eggcrate, using the mirror trick for a week prior to this but would be very reluctant to do a rescape or black out due to practicalities.


My research leads me to believe these fish are social hemphrodites, with the dominant fish becoming male and are naturally found in pairs( please correct me if I'm mistaken), so I'm hoping for the new addition to become the dominant esp if it already displays some male features, is there any other features to look out for?

To complicate matters the dominant fish is a sohal tang, although it has nit shown agression to the resident angel ever. The sohal will be removed if need be.

Any suggestions? Am I on the right track?

Thanks in advance

David

 

[Jasanden]

Wow good luck. I will also attempt this when I set up my 290 gal tank. I have paired Pygmy angels before and keep 4 wrasses in a 120. I know these aren't large angels but the one thing that helps in every situation is patience. I place the new fish in a critter cage submerged in the tank. I feed it well and when the rest of the fish pay it no mind (could be a week or more)I take the lid off. I keep the critter cage in the tank for a couple days after I take the lid off. The new fish generally explore the tank right away but if another fish gives it a hard time the new fish can return to the security of the critter cage. I also find at night the new fish tend to return to the critter cage for the first couple days. Your Regals will probably be to large for a critter cage but the idea is there if you separate with egg crate or another technique. I would love to know how you make out so keep us updated.

 

[sreefs]

The sohal tang will not be a happy camper in a 5 foot tank and long term he may (will)become a real terror. Just a heads up this can happen out of the blue, one day everything is good next day you come home to some or all other fish dead. If you can seperate the two regals with egg crate this will allow them to get to know each other. good luck

 

[Inklinkerman]

The sohals future is all in hand, but thanks.

Looks like I'm in the right track then, will keep you updated.
Breeding would be the ultimate, if far off, objective. Unlikely; but not impossible

 

[alton]

First of all I am no expert, but I believe you will want to introduce a juvenile to your established adult. In my research I am finding out some times juveniles are females and the dominat ones turn to males. Maybe you would want to pm Copps and get his input? Also check out this months Coral Magazine and Matt Pedersons articile. Please keep us updated I am definitely interested in what happens.

 

[SDguy]

First of all I am no expert, but I believe you will want to introduce a juvenile to your established adult.

I'd agree with this. I don't have direct experience with regals, but with other fish I've almost always had a problem when trying to introduce a larger, more dominant fish (male or female, depending on the species of fish) to what "appears" to be a non-dominant, yet established, fish.

 

[Inklinkerman]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the input.

the problem with that though is misbars don't come along everyday and thus one is stunning.
I Will try the seperation, then if that doesn't work I will move the small fish out to the sump, then try again. The established fish has lost it's fin spot but is not old, and does show some younger traits, like the short gill spurs and is about 4".

Both will be under careful observation so neither come to any harm.

 

[Inklinkerman]

First of all I am no expert, but I believe you will want to introduce a juvenile to your established adult. In my research I am finding out some times juveniles are females and the dominat ones turn to males. Maybe you would want to pm Copps and get his input? Also check out this months Coral Magazine and Matt Pedersons articile. Please keep us updated I am definitely interested in what happens.

I don't subscribe to coral, but would consider it if the article is useful. What is the title?

Thanks again