69-ls1 October 20, 2006 October 20, 2006 I would really like to get a regal angelfish. Are they reef safe? Does anybody have experience with one of these in their own reef tank? I heard that they may nip at some corals. Does anybody know what corals they may nip at? My thank is mostly sps with a few soft corals. Are there any fish that is not compatible with them? Thanks, Jody.
xabo October 20, 2006 October 20, 2006 This guy seems to have have no problem with them. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/totm/index.php
squiddly October 20, 2006 October 20, 2006 This guy seems to have have no problem with them. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/totm/index.php That article also said: --- Regal Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) - This fish is truly my pride and joy, and is the centerpiece fish of this system. Every time these fish would come in directly from the Red Sea to the local retailer/wholesaler I would attempt to feed them, with most showing little or no interest in prepared foods. This notable specimen fed like no other I'd seen, and was a beauty among beauties in the group he was shipped with. I had already prepared this system by moving all of my zoanthids to a separate tank. While each individual angelfish has its own tendencies, regal angels are particularly known for their love of zoanthids. Sure enough, within hours of adding this beauty to the tank he had hunted down every remaining zoanthid, yet to this day continues to leave everything else in the tank alone. I've had him now for over six months and, knock on wood, he's staying plump and happy, eating straight from a turkey baster like the spoiled baby that he is. With this said, this species should without a doubt be left to only those aquarists who can satisfy its needs. ---- I'd be a bit leary of them in a new system, or if I had any zoos :-)
Gatortailale October 20, 2006 October 20, 2006 You will get various opinions. Some people say yes, some say no. They are one of the more dificult angels to keep in my opinion. Even if you can get them to eat at a store, some will not eat once home, especially if you have aggressive or lots of other fish. Copps, linked totm, told me that as soon as he added his, it went right after some zo's. He has success in large part because he has worked at LFS growing up, and has done a lot of personal studies on care of angels so to just try to mimic him and add the fish, it probably will not work. IMO, copps is far above average in his husbandry skills than most. Don't mean to sound negative, but you best do a lot of research before you put your money down.
squiddly October 20, 2006 October 20, 2006 That's what I was trying to say. I'd also LOVE to have a Regal, but I've seen too many reports on how they are so hard to keep, and it would break my heart to lose one.
69-ls1 October 20, 2006 Author October 20, 2006 That article also said: --- Regal Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) - This fish is truly my pride and joy, and is the centerpiece fish of this system. Every time these fish would come in directly from the Red Sea to the local retailer/wholesaler I would attempt to feed them, with most showing little or no interest in prepared foods. This notable specimen fed like no other I'd seen, and was a beauty among beauties in the group he was shipped with. I had already prepared this system by moving all of my zoanthids to a separate tank. While each individual angelfish has its own tendencies, regal angels are particularly known for their love of zoanthids. Sure enough, within hours of adding this beauty to the tank he had hunted down every remaining zoanthid, yet to this day continues to leave everything else in the tank alone. I've had him now for over six months and, knock on wood, he's staying plump and happy, eating straight from a turkey baster like the spoiled baby that he is. With this said, this species should without a doubt be left to only those aquarists who can satisfy its needs. ---- I'd be a bit leary of them in a new system, or if I had any zoos :-) So what kind of food do you feed you regal?
squiddly October 20, 2006 October 20, 2006 So what kind of food do you feed you regal? I don't have one. I'd love to have one, but I'm too new to the hobby and my tank is too young to justify putting its life at risk. The guy in the article said he fed spectrum pellets he soaks in water for 10 minutes prior, and he feeds gel based frozen cubes, mysis, plankton, and he said that the regal loves squid. Maybe someday I'll have one. Perhaps in a year or so.
Leishman October 20, 2006 October 20, 2006 Copps has 3 in his 180 that have been in there over 12 months.......... Read the Regal ANgel thread here John's pics are on page 8. -Rik
69-ls1 October 20, 2006 Author October 20, 2006 (edited) Copps has 3 in his 180 that have been in there over 12 months.......... Read the Regal ANgel thread here John's pics are on page 8. -Rik Thanks for the link. I will be up all night reading that link. Edited October 20, 2006 by 69-ls1
Gatortailale October 20, 2006 October 20, 2006 Here is a good resource that copps turned me on to: http://www.amazon.com/Marine-Angelfishes-J...TF8&s=books Best book on angels that I have ever read.
69-ls1 October 21, 2006 Author October 21, 2006 I would also like to add an Achilles tang one day. Would it be better to get the regal first? Would there be any combatibility problems? The only other fish i have right now is a pair of black clowns and a diamond goby in a 120g. Thanks again, Jody.
fab October 21, 2006 October 21, 2006 (edited) Gatortailale, Thanks for your recommendation the link to the Marine Angelfishes book. It is now in my library. fab Edited October 21, 2006 by fab
copps October 31, 2006 October 31, 2006 Excellent information discussed above regarding my regal trio (I'm Copps at RC)... Thanks Rik and Craig. This is a picky species that should be left to those with experience. Many people are keeping them nowadays with success. I've loved this fish since I got my first saltwater tank in middle school over 15 years ago and regals were considered "unkeepable". My original guy can be seen at the top of the WAMAS page in this graphic I just returned from my fourth trip to Guam in Micronesia where regals are found in abundance. Here's a shot of one of the beautiful males I photographed... Also for those interested in regals here is a shot of a xanthic color form collected in the Maldives that usually goes to Japan for big bucks... A friend in Florida that I met at last year's MACNA has a spawning pair with video on his site here... http://www.minireef.esmartweb.com/loveinreef.htm For another excellent MUST have angelfish book, look into Scott Michael's Volume three of Reef Fishes, with an entire section dedicated to regals. Jody, regarding your interest in an achilles tang for your 120 I'd recommend against it, as tangs of the genus Acanthurus (like the achilles) require much more swimming room than others. For 4 foot tanks look into the Zebrasoma (like yellow and purple tangs) or Ctenochaetus genus (like tominis and koles). Achilles tangs in particular have a poorer record than other similarly related Acanthurus species, possibly due to their need for highly oxygenated water on top of requiring room.
69-ls1 October 31, 2006 Author October 31, 2006 Excellent information discussed above regarding my regal trio (I'm Copps at RC)... Thanks Rik and Craig. This is a picky species that should be left to those with experience. Many people are keeping them nowadays with success. I've loved this fish since I got my first saltwater tank in middle school over 15 years ago and regals were considered "unkeepable". My original guy can be seen at the top of the WAMAS page in this graphic I just returned from my fourth trip to Guam in Micronesia where regals are found in abundance. Here's a shot of one of the beautiful males I photographed... Also for those interested in regals here is a shot of a xanthic color form collected in the Maldives that usually goes to Japan for big bucks... A friend in Florida that I met at last year's MACNA has a spawning pair with video on his site here... http://www.minireef.esmartweb.com/loveinreef.htm For another excellent MUST have angelfish book, look into Scott Michael's Volume three of Reef Fishes, with an entire section dedicated to regals. Jody, regarding your interest in an achilles tang for your 120 I'd recommend against it, as tangs of the genus Acanthurus (like the achilles) require much more swimming room than others. For 4 foot tanks look into the Zebrasoma (like yellow and purple tangs) or Ctenochaetus genus (like tominis and koles). Achilles tangs in particular have a poorer record than other similarly related Acanthurus species, possibly due to their need for highly oxygenated water on top of requiring room. John, Thanks for the info. And by the way, i am jealous of you tank and regals. Thanks, Jody.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now