Regal Angel Primer

[themoraykeeper]

Hey guys, quick question, how compatible are regal angels with other large angelfish? Any experiences with mixing and in what size tank? Looking to get a blue stripe angel and regal angel together in the future so much appreciated for any replies! cheers!

 

[Dmorty217]

They will work together providing the Regal is introduced first and the tank is large enough.

 

[ThRoewer]

Here my angelfish doing the big loop in the tank after rock rescaping. It has been doing this all day except when sleeping and eating. Seems to enjoy the extra room.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atDE4O5Hp9E

Sorry to burst your bubble but this isn't happiness about more room but rather abnormal, non-adaptive behavior, a form of Stereotypy, or even OCD.
You can observe it also on the Chelmon and the Lo. They all act unnatural.
Those fish should rather constantly scout the rockwork for their next bite, but that rockwork is way too minimalistic to meet their needs. Regals primarily need caves and overhangs, not just open swim room.

As a rule of thumb, every time you see a fish for a long period of time swim in monotonous repeating pattern - especially along the glass - the fish doesn't feel at home in the tank.
It may be OK when the fish was just placed into the tank and hasn't yet settled in, but you shouldn't see it in an established fish.

 

[themoraykeeper]

They will work together providing the Regal is introduced first and the tank is large enough.

Ok mate cheers! What kind of size would you say would be advisable? I was thinking around 125-150 min as they both stay small but would like to check before I go ahead

 

[horseplay]

Sorry to burst your bubble but this isn't happiness about more room but rather abnormal, non-adaptive behavior, a form of Stereotypy, or even OCD.
You can observe it also on the Chelmon and the Lo. They all act unnatural.
Those fish should rather constantly scout the rockwork for their next bite, but that rockwork is way too minimalistic to meet their needs. Regals primarily need caves and overhangs, not just open swim room.

As a rule of thumb, every time you see a fish for a long period of time swim in monotonous repeating pattern - especially along the glass - the fish doesn't feel at home in the tank.
It may be OK when the fish was just placed into the tank and hasn't yet settled in, but you shouldn't see it in an established fish.

Makes sense. Just replaced the rocks a few days ago so we'll see. There is nothing to graze on other than the glass. There are more intricate caves than before which is part of the goal of the change.

 

[OrionN]

I agree with ThRoewer in the sense that the swimming pattern of the three big fish is abnormal. Hope they will adapt and become more normal as they get use to the new aquascape. I think the Regal angle will like it better if the rock structure is a little bit more private for him.

My Regal did not grow very much over the last year that I have him, in my 360 gal tank. He was a little bit larger than my male flame angel and still jut a little larger then the Flame after 1 year. He is young, just finish loosing his spot. He is fat but a little secretive. My favorite fish in my tank for sure. No if I can only pair him up with another Regal Angel.

 

[ThRoewer]

...
My Regal did not grow very much over the last year that I have him, in my 360 gal tank. He was a little bit larger than my male flame angel and still jut a little larger then the Flame after 1 year. He is young, just finish loosing his spot. He is fat but a little secretive. My favorite fish in my tank for sure. No if I can only pair him up with another Regal Angel.

I assume yours is a pacific bluebelly. In my experience and from what I found in books and on the web they are more secretive even as adults.
My two little bluebelly regals are getting along much better now. The chasing has reduced significantly and when I feed them they are out eating together.
Though aside from feeding you mostly see them hushing through the rockwork or scraping along overhangs.

In many ways they behave more like dwarf angels than like large angels.

 

[OrionN]

Yes mine is a Pacific Regal, only about 2.5 inches. I hope he will be less secretive as he get bigger.

 

[this is me]

Man, I think I just got ripped. Just received my so called yellow belly regal from on an online vendor.
It looks to be a blue/white/grey belly regal to me out of the bag. I notified the vendor immediately and he told me that the yellow will come in after the fish settle in the tank. Is this true? Looking at the fish, it does not very good color and I don't mind keeping it at all. However, I paid for a yellow belly price premium and I think it's just a regular Indo regal. What you guys think.

 

[themoraykeeper]

Man, I think I just got ripped. Just received my so called yellow belly regal from on an online vendor.
It looks to be a blue/white/grey belly regal to me out of the bag. I notified the vendor immediately and he told me that the yellow will come in after the fish settle in the tank. Is this true? Looking at the fish, it does not very good color and I don't mind keeping it at all. However, I paid for a yellow belly price premium and I think it's just a regular Indo regal. What you guys think.

Really nice fish, but is definitely a grey bellied regal. Check out live aquarias page for a reference.

Here's the link - http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/detailed_image.cfm?pCatId=422

Have also had this happen at a LFS near me, and thought it may have been stressed as it was new, but is just it's normal coloration

 

[this is me]

I'm very bummed out. This may be the last time I order something online. The yellow belly is really what I yearn for and thought was worth the lack of polyps in my sps. Not sure if I even want to put it in the display tank now.

 

[phk36]

Looks Grey hope you were under 2 on the price.
Has a misbar kinda cool nice fish

 

[themoraykeeper]

Looks Grey hope you were under 2 on the price.
Has a misbar kinda cool nice fish

Oh yeah just saw that too, real nice! To be fair the retailer should refund or ask for the fish back if they are any good, but if it were me I would think of deffo keeping this beauty

 

[this is me]

No, I paid almost 3. Not sure how I will get my money back. This is Petesfishplace.com btw. I read some negative reviews but it was from 2011 and 2012. Thought they would be better and after talking on the phone with him, I put the risk. Like I said, I was yearning for a YBR and after several weeks of waiting from my lfs, I was getting desperate and this is the only place that I found has it in stock.
The sad thing is, I'm not a fan of misbar. I always look for the most perfect stripes on clownfish.

 

[themoraykeeper]

No, I paid almost 3. Not sure how I will get my money back. This is Petesfishplace.com btw. I read some negative reviews but it was from 2011 and 2012. Thought they would be better and after talking on the phone with him, I put the risk. Like I said, I was yearning for a YBR and after several weeks of waiting from my lfs, I was getting desperate and this is the only place that I found has it in stock.
The sad thing is, I'm not a fan of misbar. I always look for the most perfect stripes on clownfish.

Oh man, sorry to hear mate! I'm in the same situation, literally just found a Red Sea specimen from a LFS a fair distance away, so travelling there to pick it up. Don't really know why it's so hard to get them at the moment but the yellow bellies seem to be real scarce. Hope it all goes well for you mate in the end. Would just give them a call, hopefully they will give you your money back

 

[monkiboy]

I'm very bummed out. This may be the last time I order something online. The yellow belly is really what I yearn for and thought was worth the lack of polyps in my sps. Not sure if I even want to put it in the display tank now.

there are tons of honest and WYSIWYG fish places to buy online. what vendor was this purchase made from?

 

[this is me]

Oh man, sorry to hear mate! I'm in the same situation, literally just found a Red Sea specimen from a LFS a fair distance away, so travelling there to pick it up. Don't really know why it's so hard to get them at the moment but the yellow bellies seem to be real scarce. Hope it all goes well for you mate in the end. Would just give them a call, hopefully they will give you your money back

I did. And the guy told me that the yellow will come in after the fish is settled. It was stressed from the shipping.
But looking at the fish, I'm doubting that.

 

[this is me]

there are tons of honest and WYSIWYG fish places to buy online. what vendor was this purchase made from?

Petesfishplace.com
I couldn't find one with YBR in stock. You have any lead?

 

[themoraykeeper]

I did. And the guy told me that the yellow will come in after the fish is settled. It was stressed from the shipping.
But looking at the fish, I'm doubting that.

Definitely not mate IMO, but might need to confirm that with some one else on here. Have worked in LFS and seen both yellow and grey bellies, and the yellow belly never has disappeared, even on stressed specimens that have just arrived.

 

[phk36]

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