Regal Angel Primer

[ThRoewer]

Red Sea fish also come from Oman. You don't see many Red Sea fish because of the international embargo on freight from Yemen and Oman with the unrest over there. Eqypt stopped collection all together I believe

Oman can't collect Red Sea fish as they are on the other side of the Arabian peninsula. All they can be is a transfer hub for Sudan and Eritrea.

As for NYAquatics - either the fish they get are coming from a rather bad source or they holding system is badly contaminated with all kinds of nasty diseases. In any case, after reading about all the losses with fish from them I would be extremely hesitant to order anything from them.

 

[rmcgookey]

It's Aquatic Collection in Hayward. Their prices are pretty decent: small Philippine Regal $45, small Indian Ocean Regals $120, Red Sea Regals $150-$180. I got the last actually at a good discount (I bought almost half the regals they got lately )

According to them they see really no significant difference in appearance between Red Sea and Indian Ocean Regals. The biggest difference seems to be the acceptance of food - in their experience the Red Sea eat better right out of the bag - I can't confirm that as I didn't have any eating issues with the Indian Ocean specimen and the only Red Sea regal I ever had (from DD no less) never took a bite.

The issue with Red Sea supplies these days is that the only country that collects and exports them is Sudan (at least that's the info I got). Egypt and Jemen stopped their exports (political unrest, civil war).
The issue with Sudan is that it can't directly ship to the US (rouge )nation status) so all their shipments into the US go over relay hubs (Sri Lanka) or European wholesalers. That adds to the transport time (and cost)

As for the color difference - I feel in pictures Red Sea specimen have a more solid orange tail fin while Indian Ocean specimen are more yellowish with a hint towards green in their tail fin.
Though side-by-side in the same tank I couldn't see a difference at all.

Pacific regals have besides the grey-blue chest a more greenish tail fin and are overall more bluish-gray.
I feel this actually goes beyond a simple color difference. I'm coming more and more to the conclusion that the Indian Ocean (of which the Red Sea is a subset) and Pacific Regals are actually two distinct species. There is a clear separation line and no area of overlap I would know of. Also the behavior of yellow and grey-blue regals is quite a bit different.

Agree 100%. This species of fish has given me a newfound fascination with researching collection location and methods. However, I have not found any legit online resources to confirm collection location and Red Sea export counties in 2016. Also, I think most retailers in the states aren't certain because they are buying through a distributor. (Us based or in SE Asia) I'm very curious about the best overseas sources for regals and how we can find the best US retailers to obtain them. Please chime in.

 

[rmcgookey]

Oman can't collect Red Sea fish as they are on the other side of the Arabian peninsula. All they can be is a transfer hub for Sudan and Eritrea.

As for NYAquatics - either the fish they get are coming from a rather bad source or they holding system is badly contaminated with all kinds of nasty diseases. In any case, after reading about all the losses with fish from them I would be extremely hesitant to order anything from them.

Jury still out on the regals but I have great specimens of fish from NYA. A super healthy baby Red Sea purple tang, 2 tiny bangais, and 2 Picasso clown babies. All are tip top. Had to hospital the clowns with lymph for 4 weeks but fully recovered.

I just want to get this second regal from NYA to eat! His behavior is excellent but only nibbles on rock. Approaching day 4.

 

[ThRoewer]

Agree 100%. This species of fish has given me a newfound fascination with researching collection location and methods. However, I have not found any legit online resources to confirm collection location and Red Sea export counties in 2016. Also, I think most retailers in the states aren't certain because they are buying through a distributor. (Us based or in SE Asia) I'm very curious about the best overseas sources for regals and how we can find the best US retailers to obtain them. Please chime in.

I'm not sure - all the true Red Sea regals I've seen here at stores were around 6 inch and according to one of the owners of AC that's how they always come in - hardly ever smaller than that.

All the small ones come from Indonesia (Sumatra via Bali)

Even back in the 90s in Europe I've only seen one single Red Sea Regal and that was a roughly 4 inch one that was in the display of a store for years.
Even at DeJong Marinelife I've only seen Maldives Regals. Those are actually really nice and were supposedly the easiest to get to eat - and I have to say that I never had issues - they were eating right out of the bag.

Back then Red Sea was still coming from Egypt, but even when DeJong was bursting with fridmani, asfurs and other endemic Red Sea fish, I never saw a single Red Sea Regal there. I assume Maldives was just a lot cheaper and better quality.

So I'm not entirely sure where all those supposedly tiny Red Sea Regals come from and if they are truly from the Red Sea...

 

[Dmorty217]

Oman can't collect Red Sea fish as they are on the other side of the Arabian peninsula. All they can be is a transfer hub for Sudan and Eritrea.

As for NYAquatics - either the fish they get are coming from a rather bad source or they holding system is badly contaminated with all kinds of nasty diseases. In any case, after reading about all the losses with fish from them I would be extremely hesitant to order anything from them.

The Oman quote came from someone who has lots of purchasing power as far as marine fish go... NYA is what it is, buy at your own risk just like all others out there

 

[ThRoewer]

Purchasing power does not necessarily translate into knowledge and especially not into geographic knowledge.

 

[ThRoewer]

DD just listed a 4.75" True Red Sea Regal: http://www.liveaquaria.com/DiversDen/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+3&ddid=299916

True Red Sea Regal Angelfish. Conditioned since early February and eating enriched frozen mysis and brine shrimp as well as clam on the 1/2 shell.

I would say it looks precisely like the ones that come from the Maldives...

 

[OrionN]

My newest regal from Alton. Not as fat as I like just yet but he will get there. Eating fairly well in my refugium

 

[carrots]

Minh he's a beauty. Best of luck with it.

 

[ThRoewer]

My newest regal from Alton. Not as fat as I like just yet but he will get there. Eating fairly well in my refugium

What's his size?

 

[OrionN]

He is about 3 inches

 

[OrionN]

Here are some better pictures. So where do you guys think he is from?

 

[albano]

Here are some better pictures. So where do you guys think he is from?

Coastal Texas?

 

[SDguy]

I would say it looks precisely like the ones that come from the Maldives...

Doesn't look like a Red Sea specimen to me... Maldives, or African instead.

 

[OrionN]

He ended up in Costal Texas but did not came from the Gulf of Mexico. I have to drove 1/2 way to San Antonio to get him. ��

 

[ThRoewer]

He is about 3 inches

Hmm, I think you need to measure again - he must be larger. At 3 inch the eye spot is just disappearing and the gill thorn is usually much smaller.
On his development I would estimate him at 3.5 to 4 inch

Doesn't look like a Red Sea specimen to me... Maldives, or African instead.

I've never seen a regal from Kenya or Madagascar, but the Maldives ones looked precisely like the one DD has listed.

Minh's looks more like Red Sea (wider orange "stripes") in the last two pictures, but that may just be the light. True Red Sea hardly ever come that small.

 

[OrionN]

Red Sea or not he looks beautiful to me. My grey chest also very nice. I hope to pair them and they will be different. I guess I won't have to worry about deformed babies from inbreeding when I raised them����

 

[OrionN]

Hmm, I think you need to measure again - he must be larger. At 3 inch the eye spot is just disappearing and the gill thorn is usually much smaller.
On his development I would estimate him at 3.5 to 4 inch
........

Minh's looks more like Red Sea (wider orange "stripes") in the last two pictures, but that may just be the light. True Red Sea hardly ever come that small.

You are right on. I used more objective measurement, , He just over the size of the credit card which put him right at 3.5 inches.
I texted Alton, and he said that the fish is a Red Sea Regal Angel, originally form Eritrea.

 

[ThRoewer]

You are right on. I used more objective measurement, , He just over the size of the credit card which put him right at 3.5 inches.
I texted Alton, and he said that the fish is a Red Sea Regal Angel, originally form Eritrea.

Which seller did Alton get him from?

 

[Giovanni]

Here are some better pictures. So where do you guys think he is from?

Very nice. Looks very much like my Maldives RA.