RonsterNYC
New member
did you get your new regal yet?
Regal Angel Primer
- Thread starter DJPB
- Start date
nosferatu51
New member
I've got a gray bellied Solomon Island Regal coming from Live Aquaria's Diver's Den tomorrow. I've done a bunch of research and read through a good portion of this thread. Any last minute tips on how to help my newcomer get comfortable ASAP would be appreciated though.
Here's his pic from the Diver's Den:
Actually, my biggest question is about quarantine. I know that the sooner you can get a delicate fish like this into your tank the better, but that a QT is always good to make sure they are eating and healthy. Since he is coming from the Diver's Den and they have their 2+ week QT there and are supposedly in great health before they ship, would it be in my angel's best interest to acclimate him and put him into the reef?
My current acclimation plan includes a 20g tub (figured I would use it as an excuse to do a bit of a water change) of tank water. Should I leave him in there for a couple days to ensure he is eating or just give him enough time to acclimate and move him over?
Here's his pic from the Diver's Den:
Actually, my biggest question is about quarantine. I know that the sooner you can get a delicate fish like this into your tank the better, but that a QT is always good to make sure they are eating and healthy. Since he is coming from the Diver's Den and they have their 2+ week QT there and are supposedly in great health before they ship, would it be in my angel's best interest to acclimate him and put him into the reef?
My current acclimation plan includes a 20g tub (figured I would use it as an excuse to do a bit of a water change) of tank water. Should I leave him in there for a couple days to ensure he is eating or just give him enough time to acclimate and move him over?
Last edited:
kwl1763
Premium Member
Other tankmates?
If he is going to have to compete with other aggresives i would strongly recommend setting up a quarantine complete with LR etc. so he feels comfortable and get him eating there, then add, if your tank mates or all docile I might add hi directly but I qt everything and I mean everything more a month! I saved mine by doing that because i had to treat him!
If he is going to have to compete with other aggresives i would strongly recommend setting up a quarantine complete with LR etc. so he feels comfortable and get him eating there, then add, if your tank mates or all docile I might add hi directly but I qt everything and I mean everything more a month! I saved mine by doing that because i had to treat him!
nosferatu51
New member
I have a 20L that could be used as a QT if need be, but I figured that wouldn't really be big enough (fish is 5").
The only aggressive tankmate would be a purple tang, but that purple tang was one of the 1st fish in the tank and he has NEVER shown any aggression towards another fish that was added for what that's worth. He once disliked his own reflection for about a day, but that was it.
The only aggressive tankmate would be a purple tang, but that purple tang was one of the 1st fish in the tank and he has NEVER shown any aggression towards another fish that was added for what that's worth. He once disliked his own reflection for about a day, but that was it.
RonsterNYC
New member
not sure I expect good things from a name like Nosferatu (just kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
nosferatu51
New member
Fish don't have enough blood, but they do attract the ladies and they've got plenty
nosferatu51
New member
I think I will do something similar Kirk. I'll acclimate it in the 20g tank with actual tank water. Then I'll see how he's eating for a day or 2. If he's eating over those 2 days then I'll put him in the main tank, if not I'll work on him in the smaller tank first.
kwl1763
Premium Member
Well like I say I am way biased on the subject as I qt everythign for a month period! I think your plan is OK though. My only concern would be if he comes down with something catching him won't be easy but again I have no real issues with the theory.
Given that he is coming from the Diver's den though which I have only ever heard great things about I'm not as "ranty" as usual about qt in this case.
Given that he is coming from the Diver's den though which I have only ever heard great things about I'm not as "ranty" as usual about qt in this case.
nosferatu51
New member
Just unpacked him, I'm acclimating him now. He's beautiful in person. Much prettier than even I expected.
Mirror Pond
Premium Member
Just thought that I would post my experience with this fish. I picked up a gray bellied regal about 6 weeks ago from a LFS on the day that it arrived still in its' shipping bag. I took it home and drip acclimated for about 3 hours and then released it into my display tank without quarantining it. I left the light out on the tank for the remainder of the day.
It remained in the rock for most of the first day with the lights on but did occasionally come out and explore the tank. By the second day, it was out from behind the rocks for at least 50% of the time and then even more the days after that. For the first 5 days I did not see it eat anything that I fed the tank including mysis, flake, pellets, arctic pods and frozen angel formula. On the sixth day I added a small clam on the half shell from a local grocery store and it immediately tore into it. It still would not eat any other foods for the next couple of days. I continued to feed it a clam every other day over the next week to keep it's weight up.
Since it would not eat out of the water column, I tried rubber banding some nori and silversides to an empty clamshell and to my surprise, the regal tore into that also. I then started wedging different foods into rock crevices and it seemed to eat everything that I introduced. It will now eat everything that I put in the water column including all of the foods mentioned above.
I know it's still very early, but so far she (at least that's what I think she is) is doing well. Here are a couple of really bad pics of her.
Flash on:
Flash off:
It remained in the rock for most of the first day with the lights on but did occasionally come out and explore the tank. By the second day, it was out from behind the rocks for at least 50% of the time and then even more the days after that. For the first 5 days I did not see it eat anything that I fed the tank including mysis, flake, pellets, arctic pods and frozen angel formula. On the sixth day I added a small clam on the half shell from a local grocery store and it immediately tore into it. It still would not eat any other foods for the next couple of days. I continued to feed it a clam every other day over the next week to keep it's weight up.
Since it would not eat out of the water column, I tried rubber banding some nori and silversides to an empty clamshell and to my surprise, the regal tore into that also. I then started wedging different foods into rock crevices and it seemed to eat everything that I introduced. It will now eat everything that I put in the water column including all of the foods mentioned above.
I know it's still very early, but so far she (at least that's what I think she is) is doing well. Here are a couple of really bad pics of her.
Flash on:
Flash off:
nosferatu51
New member
He is swimming around the surface of the QT tank poking his head out of the water. Anything to be concerned about?
Actually, upon more watching he keeps going to the surface and spitting a jet of water up. Is he just bored?
Actually, upon more watching he keeps going to the surface and spitting a jet of water up. Is he just bored?
Last edited:
nosferatu51
New member
Ok, he's decided to stop doing it. I guess he was just being playful in his new "home". He seems perfectly healthy... YAY!
nosferatu51
New member
He was eating mysis well, is nice and fat, and seems healthy so I added him to the main tank. He is currently exploring the nooks and crannies, even diving between the branches of the SPS. What a beautiful fish.
The purple tang is paying him no notice... I wonder if this has to do with the fact that the angel is twice his size!
The purple tang is paying him no notice... I wonder if this has to do with the fact that the angel is twice his size!
rickkott13
New member
heres mine on 15gal nano
Last edited by a moderator:
