Regal angel slow growth rate

Outerbank

New member
My regal angel will be 2 years old next week. The fish was less than three inches when purchased. It is only about 4 inches now. It eats fairly well but not like a pig. It prefers NLS pellets, a variety of flakes, and PE mysis. I think I remember reading in the very long RA thread (it is too long and cumbersome now to easily search through) that others have had some slow growth rates. I am checking to see how fast RAs have grown in other tanks.

Thanks,
Scott
 
regal angels are not fast growers, along with majestic angels. they both don't really get that big in captivity, maybe 7-8" tops. it'll also take quite long for them to hit that size. i'd say 5-6 years or so.

my majestic hasn't grown a bit since i got her, but my french grew 2" in three months.
 
I've had my Regal for over 4 years now and maybe grown 1" and a half in that time. My juvenile blueline is already larger.

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Ok. Interesting. Thanks everyone. It would be interesting to study this fish in more detail. I wish at times I majored in ichthyology and could devote more time to researh in this hobby. If growth rates are so slow, then the "young adults" may be much older than we think, and thus more established in their dietary preferences. This might help some in explaining the difficult acclimation seen with these fish.

Beautiful fish Bradleyj!
 
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I've had my Regal Angelfish for over 5 years, and I honestly have not noticed much growth at all (if any). She was about 4-5 inches when I got her. Maybe she's grown an inch more at the most. I have her in a 140 gallon FOWLR.
 
I've had my Regal for over 4 years now and maybe grown 1" and a half in that time.

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What is the origin of your Regal? I keep seeing yours and thinking that it looks better than almost every other regal angel I have seen.
 
What is the origin of your Regal? I keep seeing yours and thinking that it looks better than almost every other regal angel I have seen.
I couldn't say for certain. I bought him from an LFS. They wouldn't have known either.
But he is a Keeper.;)
 
Not to get off topic but skullv's Regal is beautiful. I had my Regal for about 6 months (ate like a pig). Had to give him up because he started dining on my favorite Corals. It was a difficult decision because they're my favorite fish, but too much invested in Corals !
Given time and a stress free enviroment, Regals should start eating within a few days of introduction. Otherwise its a tough battle as the days pass.
 
Hey guys- I'm bringing up an old thread here but, if my Red Sea regal is eating like a total pig does that mean it might grow quicker than most?

Are most regals with slow growth rates less aggressive eaters? Are these guys just gonna be slow growers no matter how much food they get?
 
Ted would be the best person to ask... if any regal is going to show growth, it's his baby one.
 
Scott,
Have not see you here for a long time.
I also got one for the last 4 months. He did not grow very much either. He is so slow grow and I am looking at him everyday. It seem like all the other fish grow and leave him behind.
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Great looking fish Minh. My juvenile that I received from NYA two years ago has lost his spot on the tail but has only grown maybe an inch? My male that I have had for longer than that has only grown maybe an inch and he is king of the tank so he gets plenty of food. Both are very fat.
 
Not very good pictures but you can get an idea, the first one is recent of the larger one and the second is from two years ago. Same with the juvy
 

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I actually wonder if his old blueline had some other species mixed in. The stripes are VERY thin for a blueline, and there are many spots and dashes.
 
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