Regal Angel?

[Moorish_Idol]

I've heard that regal angels can be hard....I've recently set up a 90 gallon and want to know if it will be ok in a 90. I will also be keeping a moorish idol and since they both need practically the same needs I thought I could keep a regal also.

I really want my new 90 to pop with color and a regal would definitly do the job! I would really appreciate any advice on these beautiful fish and how you guys have kept one.

I won't be adding the regal or the idol until my tank is matured so about a year to a year and a half from now. I do know how hard these fish are to keep, especially the idol. I have done TONS of research on these fish so I'm not just jumping in this.

Thanks!

 

[eizzle]

A 90 is way to small for a regal. You would probably need upwards of a 200+ gallon tank to keep it.

 

[Daniel Reef]

a 90 is way to small for a regal. You would probably need upwards of a 200+ gallon tank to keep it.

+1

 

[flfireman1]

A 90 is way to small for a regal. You would probably need upwards of a 200+ gallon tank to keep it.

I completely disagree, you could do a small regal more so than you could do the idol in that size tank. Keep in mind that the regal will soon outgrow your 90 gallon tank. I have kept a small regal in a 92 corner aquarium and later moved him into a 150 when he got larger.

 

[Charley Diesing]

+1 Tangs aren't the only fish that like to swim

 

[Triton_Z]

A 90 gallon will be too small for a long-term home for a regal angelfish and moorish idol. I would suggest some smaller fish for your 90. Dwarf angelfish in the Centropyge genus would be more appropriate, like a coral beauty, or lemonpeel.

 

[Squidmotron]

According to my heralded fish expertise gleaned from literally *days* spent reading Liveaquaria fish profiles, Regal Angelfish require a 125 gallon tank and grow to 10 inches in size. This item is currently out of stock.

 

[Moorish_Idol]

I can argue a little bit saying that regals don't really grow up to 10" in a captive environment, unless in a pretty large tank. Principle applies to most fish that grow more than 5-6" in length in the wild. My friend had a yellow tang in a 700 gallon tank for 14 years and it only grew 5".

So a 90 is even to small for tangs?

Thanks for the replies! I really appreciate the advice!

 

[maukings]

the main issue with regals is that most of them won't eat. I had a beautiful baby one and i tired all kinds of foods and it just wouldn't eat. In my opinion these kind of angels belong in the sea only.

 

[Squidmotron]

the main issue with regals is that most of them won't eat. I had a beautiful baby one and i tired all kinds of foods and it just wouldn't eat. In my opinion these kind of angels belong in the sea only.

If he doesn't eat, than I'd say that tank is definitely large enough.

(kidding)

 

[Daniel Reef]

I can argue a little bit saying that regals don't really grow up to 10" in a captive environment, unless in a pretty large tank. Principle applies to most fish that grow more than 5-6" in length in the wild. My friend had a yellow tang in a 700 gallon tank for 14 years and it only grew 5".

So a 90 is even to small for tangs?

Thanks for the replies! I really appreciate the advice!

This is interesting. Can you post a link to the research that you mentioned you had done in an earlier post that corroborates this? I would love to read it. TIA.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

There is quite a bit of experience on RC to the effect that regal angels don't grow very much or very fast in captivity. Look as some of the threads on them.

Mine eats a lot of different foods (standard frozen foods, most flakes and pellets, etc.). It came from DD, so that was a good start as they get their fish eating before shipping them.

 

[rpjaws74]

I had a regal angel for 6 yrs that would eat anything. Then my system crashed and I lost him. Thinking of getting another one. But I agree I wouldnt put A regal angel in a 90glln.

 

[Moorish_Idol]

This is interesting. Can you post a link to the research that you mentioned you had done in an earlier post that corroborates this? I would love to read it. TIA.

There really hasn't been any research on fish growth that I have done. I have learned about this fish growth through experience and friends who have kept fish. A lot of fish growth rates and max size has to do with genetics and probably feeding. But like I've said fish will more than likely not reach their full growth rates in captivity unless in a huge tank.

I'm sure you can find articles out there talking about fish growth

 

[sandwi54]

Keep in mind that the listed adult sizes on reputable websites are the maximum observed size in the wild. Each fish will grow to a different size dictated by genetics, environment, and diet. It's just like some people grow to 6'5" while others only grow to 5'4".

Nevertheless, most fish attain at least two-thirds of their wild sizes if properly kept (large tank, good diet, minimal stress, etc.). However, basic tank size requirement for a particular species applies to every member of that species, be it 5" or 7" or 9". They all need the same room to swim no matter how small they are.

To maximize the welfare of a regal angel, an already hard-to-acclimate fish, a 6-foot tank is recommended. That means the standard 125g or 180g.

 

[Moorish_Idol]

I completely disagree, you could do a small regal more so than you could do the idol in that size tank. Keep in mind that the regal will soon outgrow your 90 gallon tank. I have kept a small regal in a 92 corner aquarium and later moved him into a 150 when he got larger.

I agree with this....I think I'm going to get the regal at a small size, and later down the road I definitly will be getting 180 or 210 gallon tank. My friend who has a 700 gallon tank, which has room, could take him also.

I usually don't like to do this sort of thing....but I'm in love with this fish. I've kept a yellow tang in a 29, which is a big no no to some people, but he thrived and was happy. I'm sure he'll be even happier in the 90!!! :strooper:

 

[MrTuskfish]

I can't imagine either of these fish in a 4' tank. My Idols are in an 8' tank and cover that distance with one flip of a fin. Even LA, usually on the small side for tank size recommendations (IMO) suggests 125 gal as min for either.

 

[gobolts23]

make sure that you purchase a regal that is eating. the red sea yellow bellies generally do the best. i would qt him for a month and treat with prazi- pro a couple of times to de-worm him. most large angels come with worms.

 

[agreeive?fish]

here is how my grey belly regal experience went
day 1
seen at lfs(watched him eat nori sheet from nori clip)

day 2
made lfs feed frozen/flake food (seen him eat)

bought him

drove him home 2.5 hours drive(was visiting family)

put him in qt tank(no lights)

day 3
after lights on feed frozen/flake(he ate)

treated with prazi pro

put in nori (ate it all by lights out)

day 4 - day 7
feed at lights on and just before lights out plus nori

day 8 second round of nori..fed 2x plus nori

day 9-30

fed after lights on and before lights out plus nori

day1-30 water changes as needed

day 31 moved to 75g colt/leather reef.
continued feeding 2 x day plus nori for the next 9 months or so

9 months or so to present
moved to 200g(7ft) fowlr
continue to feed 2x a day plus nori

time from day 1 to present is approx 16 months and counting

food consist of various commercial frozen foods including the angel/bf formula which in my opinion is 110% required

various types of flakes and pellets

various fresh and or frozen seafood chopped/minced

nori

observations..
75g was fine to get him accustom to captive life and as a temp home but would be to small of a tank long term

shy fish that becomes more bold as he adjust to surroundings

hearty eater who attacks any food i feed but loves nori and fresh seafood's

slow grower

i was lucky because i found a healthy and eating specimen that ate for me from 1st feeding attempt

 

[reefergeorge]

If he doesn't eat, than I'd say that tank is definitely large enough.

(kidding)

Could be true. I had a coral beauty that never are the food I fed, but lived for six years. He just grazed on the rocks all day.
I realize A large angel probably couldn't get away with that.