Regal Angel Pair

[NexDog]

After a few failed attempts at keeping this amazing fish I'm going to try one final time. I would like to get a pair so need to know the best method to get a male and female. Should I aim for two of a similar size (3" is quite available here)? Or maybe one 3" and one larger?

 

[jnc914]

I got so fed up trying to keep this fish I gave up a couple years ago. However I am starting to get the itch to try again. I think the "rule of thumb" on trying to pair angelfish is to get two diffrent sized specimens. I would aim at a 3" and a 4" size. I wouldn't go with two of the same size due to aggression when one is trying to become more dominant. Good luck.

 

[michealprater]

I would get two smaller specimens (closer to juvenile the better) and make sure one is slightly larger than the other. That being said, it is definately easier said than done.

 

[NexDog]

I once tried a Regal baby that was about 1". He made it through hypo, put him in the DT and I never saw it again. Same happened to a juvi Emp once upon a time.

I can get them 2" or 3" or 4". I once heard around the 7cm or 3" mark gave best odds for success so I could go 2" and 3" or 3" and 4" or 2" and 4".

So what you reckon Michael? I know you just attempted this but one perished. IIRC both were pretty big.

 

[michealprater]

I have one in my display that is doing spectacular. I have tried several different sizes, I have always found larger ones never fair well because they are so used to the diet they have developed in the ocean. I would go 2 and 3 for sure. They will be big enough to not be fragile, but not set in their ways on diet. I would QT them together with a divider to see how they act together.

 

[NexDog]

Yah, will definitely QT together. I find that always works best for pairing and groups as the fish get to establish their hierarchy in peace.

 

[Psionicdragon]

I look at the gill spine and the smallest possible size as suggested earlier.

I kept 4 regals with no problem until ick T_T.

 

[michealprater]

Have you purchased the pair yet?

 

[NexDog]

Thinking about next week. Currently have 5 Royal Grammas in QT. Was originally 7 but I lost 2 at the start. Still, I'm happy to get 5 through. However, anything less than a 100% success rate on the Regal Angel would be unacceptable. Rarely have I not lost a fish on a QT cycle but I've never done just 2 before (normally 4 minimum) so maybe will fare better with just the pair. Also thinking about Cupramine rather than hypo as it's shorter but we'll see. This RG group is my first time using Cupramine and it went pretty well. They are due to go in the DT Wednesday night so any time after that for the Regals.

 

[NexDog]

My favourite fish supplier has two yellow bellies in marked as "Indian". We are getting a lot of Maldives Regals over here at the mo so wouldn't be suprised if they were from there. They are both 4" and he hasn't decided on a price yet by the looks of it but will probably be around the $150 mark each. Would rather go smaller but they do look nice:

 

[angel-luver!!]

wouldnt be too sure about sorting a regal angel pair as not confident on sexing, but personally if i was going to attempt it id put 2 or 3 small individuals in together and see how they get on, if there anything like dwarf angel species then having 2 slightly different size specimens may give you success. one of my future plans is to successfully pair one of the larger angel species (not sure which one yet though). Have kept groups/pairs of dwarf angels successfully.
if you are on good terms with your local fish store then perhaps they could help with establishing a pair?

 

[angel-luver!!]

very nice pics! , but id personally be a bit scared about putting 2 4" regals together

 

[michealprater]

Using cupramine is fine, just make sure they are eating aggressively before you treat. They have a small appetite as you know, and if you treat with cupramine too early, it will destroy what appetite they have.

 

[NexDog]

Anyone else have input about about getting 2 x 4" Regal Angels? Very tempting but I could get one and get a 2" from somewhere else.

angel-luver - no local LFS would carry this fish. There are 2 shops that carry a few saltwater fish but it's all damsels, clownfish etc.

 

[angel-luver!!]

angel-luver - no local LFS would carry this fish. There are 2 shops that carry a few saltwater fish but it's all damsels, clownfish etc.

thats sucks!

well hope you have success in finding a pair. be interesting to see if you get one to work out.

 

[flameangel88]

My favourite fish supplier has two yellow bellies in marked as "Indian". We are getting a lot of Maldives Regals over here at the mo so wouldn't be suprised if they were from there. They are both 4" and he hasn't decided on a price yet by the looks of it but will probably be around the $150 mark each. Would rather go smaller but they do look nice:

I think the one in the 2nd picture is a male as it has a longer body than the one in the 1st picture. Hopefully someone would chime in to confirm this. Both looks very nice. If it was me I would get both and QT at the same time with a divider in the first couple of days.

I've a 4.5" RS Regal since last November that took 25 days to eat and 2 rounds of Maracyn 2 for injury/infection. He's eating pretty much everything on the frozen side and prefers pellets more when both are offered. I have a 4-4.25" Indo Regal in last week with a rounder body. She isn't eating prepared food yet but been nipping on rocks and still pretty fat. I'll work on pairing them after the new one start eating prepared food.

 

[NexDog]

How did you get it to eat? I know it's hard and usually the live cockle is the way to go at the start. That is what I did last time I attempted it and got the fish to eat that but wouldn't eat anything else.

 

[michealprater]

Considering you are buying it from a store, ask them to put them in adjacent cubicles or maybe even put them in the same one to see how they act. Also, just make sure they are eating before you buy them.

 

[chewey]

Sorry to derail the topic a bit. I have been eyeing one of these for a while but afraid to get one due to the difficulties in adjusting to aquarium life. My LFS don't carry them so I have to order online. Any recommendations?

 

[blface]

I would get just one of the 4" ones for now & add a juvi at a later date. I like the one in the first pic because of the mis bar but you only show one side of each. Which ever eats better would be my choice. I have a juvi now that I hope to pair up with an adult at a later date. IMO they seem to be the most docile of the large angels. Good Luck