Dmorty217
Saltwater Addict
If your going to treat use TTM, if you use meds it for sure a goner especially since it's not eating. I would try and get her eating before TTM if possible
Tricks to get a Regal eating
- Thread starter RxMike
- Start date
If your going to treat use TTM, if you use meds it for sure a goner especially since it's not eating. I would try and get her eating before TTM if possible
alton
Well-known member
How long have you had the fish? I have seen Regals take three weeks before eating, I had a juvenile Chrysurus that took three weeks before taking food. Just make sure it has plenty of hiding spots, if it is a glass tank covering 3 of the 4 sides with card board will help also. I like using a 100 gallon Rubbermaid tub filled half full because of the black sides. The attached Regal is in QT right now, it took less than a week to try food and finally this weekend started eating fairly well.
Update after keeping the regal in a separate tank for a few weeks I introduced her into the DT using an acclimation box. I kept her in acclimation box and introduced foods to her. It took some time but with patience she began to eat out of the water column. It was an interesting experiment with this species. The acclimation box was key. I had to train her to eat. She became confident with eating frozen foods out of water column. She does not eat any pellets only Larry reef frenzy. Won't even eat mysis. Picks on rocks and sponges.
ReefMaverick
New member
Hummmi have to give a try to that Larry Reef Frenzy stuff.
ThRoewer
New member
I would be careful to ever again allow a fish going completely without food for that long. It is one thing if they are not eating frozen food but still pick on the rocks and algae. But a fish that is not eating at all likely has a problem that needs intervention.
My best experiences with regals are in tanks with lots of live rock.
Also, in my experience, the less time a regal spends in the supply chain the better. I also feel that transitional juveniles and immature adults do better than mature adults, though if handled correctly during collection and transport even larger adults should eat right away.
All my current 3 to 4 inch regals were eating from day one. The last Indian Ocean regal I got had arrived only a few hours before I took it home and it was eating clams the next morning.
I tried to give that stuff to my well acclimated regals and they just spat it out and looked confused at me. They prefer Mysis and clams. They also like brine shrimp but I don't feed that very often as it isn't good food.
alton
Well-known member
The regal in my Avatar took three weeks to eat and the picture was taken in September of 2012. This what he looks like today
He gets a mixture of LRS with algae, PE Mysis, Spiralina Brine, and Mysis.
Anytime you can create a QT tank that has plenty of Liverock, it makes for less stress on the fish, something for them to graze on, and that is a good thing.
He gets a mixture of LRS with algae, PE Mysis, Spiralina Brine, and Mysis.
Anytime you can create a QT tank that has plenty of Liverock, it makes for less stress on the fish, something for them to graze on, and that is a good thing.
alton
Well-known member
yes he is, as far as cryptic I have a pair of goldens in my office tank and they never come out to eat. Sometimes they will come out grab a piece and fly back into the liverock. Mostly they wait till the food flows through the liverock.
ThRoewer
New member
Eat at all or eat food you gave him?
I've had a regal before who also took a long time to go for frozen food or even clams, but it was searching and picking on the rocks and otherwise interested.
If a regal doesn't show any interest in eating for weeks, something is wrong and an intervention may be needed
That's a really nice one, Red Sea?... and the picture was taken in September of 2012. This what he looks like today
He gets a mixture of LRS with algae, PE Mysis, Spiralina Brine, and Mysis.
Anytime you can create a QT tank that has plenty of Liverock, it makes for less stress on the fish, something for them to graze on, and that is a good thing.
Looks like he got a lot more yellow between those pictures.
How much has he grown in that time and what is his size?
Do you keep him alone?
Which kind of regal do you have Minh?
I noticed quite big differences in behavior and physiology between Pacific Blue Belly and Indian Ocean (incl. Red Sea) Yellow Belly regal angels. It's definitely more than just a color difference.
The Pacific Regals are much more reclusive than the Indian Ocean Regals. It also makes a difference if you keep them as singles or in pairs - pairs seem to be more confident. My Sumatra YB pair is not very shy at all - if they are hungry they sit next to each other on the front, begging for food. My two Philippine BBs are quite skittish and only come out into the open for feedings.
There are also conflicting reports about the social behavior of Pacific Regals and Indian Ocean Regals. Observations at Pacific locations report them to live in harem groups, while the Indian Ocean Regals are generally observed in pairs.
alton
Well-known member
That's a really nice one, Red Sea? Yes
Looks like he got a lot more yellow between those pictures. I have an IPhone Getting correct color is a hit and miss. In real life he just as good as when I got him
How much has he grown in that time and what is his size? 1 1/2" maybe very slow grower as compared to my Imp which went from 2.5" juv. to 6" sub-adult in a year
Do you keep him alone? Nope, pictures of tank mates attached
Looks like he got a lot more yellow between those pictures. I have an IPhone Getting correct color is a hit and miss. In real life he just as good as when I got him
How much has he grown in that time and what is his size? 1 1/2" maybe very slow grower as compared to my Imp which went from 2.5" juv. to 6" sub-adult in a year
Do you keep him alone? Nope, pictures of tank mates attached
Attachments
ThRoewer
New member
Yeah, I noticed in the past that they are slow growers - unlike the marine bettas in my regal QT. Those two grew about an inch each the last two months due to the optimal food supply when I tried getting the Red Sea regal to eat or while fattening up the Sumatra pair.
So are your two spawning already?
So are your two spawning already?
alton
Well-known member
They get along but still after years have not paired up, not like my Flames, my first pair took a couple months, adding the second female took 5 minutes. I tried adding a third regal and that did not turn out very well. Even the smaller one went after the last one added and it was an inch bigger than her.
ThRoewer
New member
My two Sumatra seem to have paired up right away, at least they hang out together a lot and get especially along well during feedings when all my other regals usually started fighting.
When I tried to add my latest Indian Ocean YBR he got into a fight with the larger Sumatra - they were too close in size and the addition order was wrong. That was when the Red Sea was still in the tank with them all.
In general I think only two adult YBR will work out together long term as they seem to form pairs. Pacific regals may be different.
When I tried to add my latest Indian Ocean YBR he got into a fight with the larger Sumatra - they were too close in size and the addition order was wrong. That was when the Red Sea was still in the tank with them all.
In general I think only two adult YBR will work out together long term as they seem to form pairs. Pacific regals may be different.
OrionN
Moved on
I have a Pacific blue chest Regal. Small only about 2 inches. I got her when still have a very prominant eye spot.
I read about the reclusiveness of small Regal and those of Pacific origin. I hope because she is small she is much more reclusive which should improve as she get older
I read about the reclusiveness of small Regal and those of Pacific origin. I hope because she is small she is much more reclusive which should improve as she get older
ThRoewer
New member
You should try to find another, slightly larger one. I think about an inch difference is ideal. Two together are less shy in my experience.
I plan to put my two Philippine regal back together as soon as I redo the sump tank - let's see how that works out.
They were both 3" when I got them. At first - when they were both paper thin - they got somewhat along, but as soon as the dominant gained strength, it went beyond chasing and turned into mean attacks. I had to separate them when the submissive got his fins all torn up. I put the dominant in a 40 gallon tank and the submissive in my 18" cube, hoping one would grow more than the other. Both are really fat now, but still have distinctly different personality. The dominant one is still a good deal bolder during feeding times and also more out in the open in general.
BTW, do you know where yours is from precisely?
I plan to put my two Philippine regal back together as soon as I redo the sump tank - let's see how that works out.
They were both 3" when I got them. At first - when they were both paper thin - they got somewhat along, but as soon as the dominant gained strength, it went beyond chasing and turned into mean attacks. I had to separate them when the submissive got his fins all torn up. I put the dominant in a 40 gallon tank and the submissive in my 18" cube, hoping one would grow more than the other. Both are really fat now, but still have distinctly different personality. The dominant one is still a good deal bolder during feeding times and also more out in the open in general.
BTW, do you know where yours is from precisely?
OrionN
Moved on
I don't know where mine is from for sure. I think he was from the Philippine. I will get a 4 inches healthy Red Sea Regal from Alton is a few weeks. I will try to have a Mixed pair. Will see. It is really difficult for me to get nice fish here in Corpus Christi. I tried mail order but so are came up empty handed. I was really lucky to get my small Regal from one of the LFS here in Corpus Christi.
