Regal Angel

[SierraReefer]

I am looking for some input on my chances of keeping a Regal Angel in a reef aquarium. I have heard they nip at corals and clam mantles but I have also heard of them being model citizens. I currently have a flame angel that is a very bad boy but he isn't able to cause any serious problems due to the amount of corals I have in my tank. I have some softies and lots of sps. It wouldn't bother me much if he went after the softies but if he picked on the sps, that would be a problem. So what are my chances 50/50?

 

[csababubbles]

50/50 chances that he will nip at corals
1/1,000 that he will live past a month or two (just a guess of course)

sorry those are the sad facts. it really is terrible having one in your tank and being all excited with how beautiful it is and start getting attached to it and then have it slowly starve right in front of you. but you may be lucky and not have to witness his starving because he might instead just die suddenly. either way its a sad thing. Very very few people get lucky and have one survive in their tank. I would whole-heartily suggest you save your money and a heartache.

 

[Dr. Dee]

There are two types of reagl specimens,from the Red Sea/Indian Ocean and the best one i ever had luck with was the red sea and it lived for about three year in a reef just stonies.If you can get one to eat of the back it maybe the one for you.

 

[csababubbles]

Dr. Dee, how many regals died in your care? Just curious because it sounds like you had more then one when you said that you had the best luck with a red sea one. Also, can you tell us how you were able to keep the red sea one alive for three yrs? Did you do anything out of the ordinary with that one's care? I mean don't get me wrong, 3 yrs is less then 20% of their actual lifespan but it is pretty good compared to most people's specimens.

 

[DonW]

My buddy has a 100g reef but only has one regal no other fish. He has babied this fish for as long as I can remember at least 10 years. It can be done but it takes work and will limit what other fish you can have.

Don

 

[csababubbles]

From my research, I have found that people are generally more successful with them when they are the first fish introduced with very limited future introductions of new tankmates. I believe the same goes for Moorish Idols in that it is really tough on them when they have been living in a tank for a year or two and then you introduce a new fish. They really don't respond well to that.

There are quite a few threads on Regal Angels on other boards. I find it off-putting that people get all excited when someone posts that their fish is eating and doing well after only a few weeks. Then a whole round of new people get one too. But you never hear back from the original poster that their fish is still alive a few months out. Then you get one or two people posting that theirs is alive for a couple of years and it starts the whole pattern again.

Look at me rambling. Its a free country so get one if you wish, but please remember that it takes quite a bit of dedication (and a whole lot of luck) to keep one successfully. And a whole lot of time to research what people have done to be successful with them. Sadly this is not one of those fish you can just plop in your tank.

 

[Dr. Dee]

Diet & Feeding individual specimens will vary in their interest in the aquarium.
I did Feed 2 to 3 times per day and it ate brine,myisis shrimp,sea weed selcet and even flakes.And oh yeah i have had at least seven of them that did die on me.

 

[NC2WA]

SierraReefer,

Before you purchase a Regal angel, I highly, highly recommend you read the Regal angel thread on RC. It has some good information. Bottom line, if you have over $100 you can throw away, then try this fish (but be prepared to pamper it), otherwise save your money for something that has half a chance living.

I followed this thread for 3 yrs before making a decision NOT to purchase this fish. Think carefully before you purchase this fish. Personally, this fish should be viewed on a reef in the ocean.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=389107&highlight=justrarefish

Kirk