Served a mussel open faced today. Regal went right at it. Even got a little aggresive towards the six line wrasse. I think he was saying, "it's all mine." I really am a believer in the open faced shell fish. Clams, Mussels. The amount of energy that my Regal spends to eat it, tells me he likes them more than flake or brine shrimp.
Regal Angel Primer
- Thread starter DJPB
- Start date
Aquaduck
New member
Unfortunately mine has decided after 9 days of living peacefully, it likes the taste of Crocea clam mantles. I thought I'd try adding a Crocea since the Regal never bothered my Maxima clam. So I tried diverting his attention to a zoo covered rock. Well all the zoos were eaten in no time at all (about 30 zoos) and then the clam was back on the menu. 
So the clam is now under glass where the Regal can't bother it. Looks like I'll have to sell the clam after the bite marks grow out Oh well, I tried and the Regal got a zoo treat out of the ordeal.
So the clam is now under glass where the Regal can't bother it. Looks like I'll have to sell the clam after the bite marks grow out Oh well, I tried and the Regal got a zoo treat out of the ordeal.
Here's where I'll disagree with you. I had a Regal Angel for 10 years that died in 2005. I have another one that's going on 5 years in captivity. I also know of others in captivity for extended periods of time. While I agree that they're sensitive and not as sturdy as some other genera of angelfish, they are far from "doomed." Now I should add that I'm referring to the Red Sea/Indian Ocean variant. The Indo-Pacific Regal Angel IS virtually doomed in captivity; although I've heard of a few "exceptions."
Greg
BTW, it's been my experience that the Indo-Pacific variant of the Regal Angel is more likely to pick at corals and clams compared to Red Sea/Indian Ocean specimens. I think this has something to do with their natural dietary preferences and may be a contributing factor into why they're more difficult to keep in captivity.
I guess when I said once the fish is eating and behaving normally, they don't seem much more difficult than any other angel, I should have specified the Red Sea variant. And while I also understand the Regal in general is a lot more sensitive to human error or outright neglect than other angels, I've seen too many that seem to be surviving under basic care to be considered anomalies. Maybe not 5 years (yet), but 5 years ago, I wouldn't have taken one home for free because I was under the misconception that NONE of these fish would live long no matter what we did. Hopefully, as we continue to learn from our shared experiences, it won't be long before the five year mark is common.
HOZERTHEBONEFISH
Member
Greg
That person that I am referring to... is you. I guess I am wrong in that you happened to have two regals that have passed the 5 year mark.
Henry
That person that I am referring to... is you. I guess I am wrong in that you happened to have two regals that have passed the 5 year mark.
Henry
Aquaduck
New member
A very possible theory. My Indo-Pacific Regal has been in my care for 14 months now and is doing well as far as I can tell. He gets a zoanthid treat every once in a while. It has never once tried to eat any SPS. I am growing sponges and sea squirts on rocks in my sump that I will be rotating into the main display tank for the Regal to pick over. The Regal is second in command only to my yellow tang. He's aggressive at eating time, chasing away all fish smaller than himself. Keeping my fingers crossed that he live past the 5 year mark. I have a long way to go.
Oh, I guess I should have figured that out before posting.
I do agree that we have to be careful in our discussions and not imply that this is an "easy" fish to maintain in captivity. As I've said many times, I don't know of ANY Indo-Pacific Regal Angels that have been in captivity for a LONG period of time. And, IME, only one out of four or five of the Red Sea/Indian Ocean Regal Angels do well for any length of time. So by no definition is this an "easy" fish.
Greg
Well, after about four weeks of QT in my auxilliary tank, I just introduced my Regal to my reef. Before then, I fed the fish then slowly darkened the tank so that most of the them would retire early. Once I released the Regal, he immediately disappeared behind the rockwork. Pretty hard to see much of anything now so I guess today's update ends here. Wish us luck.
Steve Atkins
New member
I would think that is a male. The spine is smaller than some males, but seems quite a bit larger than those fish reported to be females.
Steve
Steve
I would thinkt that they need more nutrition. Their food habits is perhaps one of the major reasons for failure so mysis alone I don't think is a very good idea. Currently, mine will only eat mysis and clam but I've only had it for around 1.5 weeks. I'd suggest bumping up the mysis with garlic extract, selcon, and similar things while at the same time adding small amounts of other foods durring feeding time (formula two, angel formula). After a while, hopefully your fish will start eating the other foods, and hopefully mine will as well.
GL
Update: After three days in my main reef and a rather rude welcome by my Purple and Chevron Tangs (oddly enough, Attilla, my Sohal, completely ignores him), I'm happy to report that the harassment as all but stopped and the Regal is out front about 75% of the time and is eating.
Even better, he also has time now to pose for pictures...
Even better, he also has time now to pose for pictures...
asnatlas
New member
You have a wrasse in a BB tank ?? Do you have a "sand box" or anything ?? How is it working out and how long have you had him with the BB ??
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Update on the twins.
They are both extremely healthy, vibrant, assertive fish. Eating anything I add to the tank. Sometimes I think they'll even eat me. They're always hungry it seems. Pretty much begging for food whenever I approach the tank.
Bad news is that they're BOTH picking on corals! Certain Acropora, echinophyilla, some zoanthids, and clams and they chomp down like champs. The Twins are just too cool though. I'm not getting rid of them. I'd still rather remove the clams, acros before I get rid of these spectacular fish.
I'm seriously considering converting this system over to a softy (Tonga mushrooms, Tonga yellow leathers, blastos, ricordea, photosynthetic gorgonia, euphyllia tank and then set up another system for the SPS and clams.
They are both extremely healthy, vibrant, assertive fish. Eating anything I add to the tank. Sometimes I think they'll even eat me. They're always hungry it seems. Pretty much begging for food whenever I approach the tank.
Bad news is that they're BOTH picking on corals! Certain Acropora, echinophyilla, some zoanthids, and clams and they chomp down like champs. The Twins are just too cool though. I'm not getting rid of them. I'd still rather remove the clams, acros before I get rid of these spectacular fish.
I'm seriously considering converting this system over to a softy (Tonga mushrooms, Tonga yellow leathers, blastos, ricordea, photosynthetic gorgonia, euphyllia tank and then set up another system for the SPS and clams.
