Qting Regal Angel.

[Biglurr54]

Well the day arrived. I drive down to Nyaquatics today and picked up a Red Sea Regal Angel. Bill was there and he was very nice and knowledgeable. I watched the Regals for a bit then had Bill feed the tank. The one I had my eye on was eating mysis right out of the water column with gusto. We bagged him up and I started my 2 1/2 HR journey home. Bill told me they keep the salinity around 1.018.

I got home and checked my qt and I was up around 1.020 and wanted to do a quick water change as the qt had been set up for a week with Dr. Tim's.

I changed out the water and brought the salinity down to 1.019 and brought the copper up to 1.00 with the hanna. I figured the salinity was close enough. I let the tank come back up to temp and then floated the bag. I opened the bag and tested the water. It was 1.011!

I dumped a ton of water out and poured a ton of fresh rodi in. I put the Regal back in the cooler and thew a few heaters in. I got the tank down to 1.012 and it is at 62 degrees. I have 700w of heater in a 20g tank.

Now I have to dose the copper back up again.

 

[Big G]

Not cool. :mad: I'd call that guy and "chat" a bit.

But, you've got this. Best of luck with the new angel ;)

 

[Biglurr54]

Such pretty fish.

 

[Biglurr54]

I think I will bring him up to 1.018 over the next 24 hours. Then hold him there through the copper treatment.

 

[Big G]

That's exactly what I do. I leave the copper at 1.018 ish throughout the entire copper treatment. IMO the fish do better at the lower salinity in copper.

 

[ngoodermuth]

I’m honestly not surprised... I’ve ordered multiple fish from NY and had salinity levels anywhere from 1.009 - 1.020. I’ve also had sizes that didn’t match the description... notably a 3-4” regal arrived as a 5-6” monster that would only eat live clams [emoji15]. Customer service is a bit lax as well. But, the prices are pretty good and the fish are generally in good shape... just have to be prepared to maybe be a little surprised...

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

That's a beautiful regal! Best of luck with it

 

[jsvand5]

Great looking fish. Getting them to eat out of the water column is the toughest part with these so I’m sure you’ll do fine with this one. Make sure you treat for flukes just in case.
How did the rest look? I’m considering buying one to try to pair up with the one I already have. Were they all eating mysis well?

 

[Biglurr54]

They were all eating mysis. Some off the ground. Some had fin damage and a few had marks on their bodies. They are also big. Like 5" or so. He says he feels dips them when he received them. Then they go into qt with copper, prazi, and formaldihide.

I wouldn't have bought the fish if I had doubts. They're we're a few I would pass on and a few I would buy. He's really good to work with and will take pics of the fish for you.

I decide to get one because a buddy just got one from nyaquatics. He has had his for a few weeks now and it's doing well and eating pellets.

 

[lagatbezan]

I always ask them to put some of the water from the same tank into another bag for me. This way when you get home you open that bag up and test salinity and adjust your qt accordingly while temp acclimating the fish bag. Makes it much easier and less stressful.
Beautiful fish. Good luck.

 

[jsvand5]

Too big for me but it’s good to hear he has some nice ones. Large ones like that are usually tough so congrats on getting a good one.

 

[Biglurr54]

I always ask them to put some of the water from the same tank into another bag for me. This way when you get home you open that bag up and test salinity and adjust your qt accordingly while temp acclimating the fish bag. Makes it much easier and less stressful.
Beautiful fish. Good luck.

I like that idea. I that that thought when I got home... I'm going to start doing that from now on. Any luck with LA doing that?

 

[Biglurr54]

Too big for me but it’s good to hear he has some nice ones. Large ones like that are usually tough so congrats on getting a good one.

I got the smallest one. I wanted a juvi but no luck. I was lucky that the smallest one was the best looking one as well.

 

[Devaji]

nice! I am thinking about getting one my self. I'll fallow along your QT experience.
unfortunately no LFS around to LA and fishy biz for me...booo would love to see it eat in person.

 

[Biglurr54]

Nyaquatics ships. They are known for good quality eating Regals. It's not exactly local for me. But worth the drive to see the place and pick out a fish.

Most of my lfs have very limited selection and terrible health. Today I went out to pick up some biospira and found that my favorite fish store had revamped the system. It was beautiful. No over crowding. Not a single sick fish. Everything looks amazing and prices had dropped drastically. That had two systems under treatment. It was great to see.

It restored my faith in lfses

 

[jsvand5]

Nyaquatics ships. They are known for good quality eating Regals. It's not exactly local for me. But worth the drive to see the place and pick out a fish.

Most of my lfs have very limited selection and terrible health. Today I went out to pick up some biospira and found that my favorite fish store had revamped the system. It was beautiful. No over crowding. Not a single sick fish. Everything looks amazing and prices had dropped drastically. That had two systems under treatment. It was great to see.

It restored my faith in lfses

I’ve gotten pretty good fish from NYAquatics in the past. Their shipping prices make it tough to buy much from them for me though. The last couple times I put a few fish in my cart the shipping was going to be close to $100.

 

[Devaji]

I’ve gotten pretty good fish from NYAquatics in the past. Their shipping prices make it tough to buy much from them for me though. The last couple times I put a few fish in my cart the shipping was going to be close to $100.

yeah shipping always sucks no LFS around so everything I have to pay for shipping. one reason I decited not to do a reef after my coral QT crashed in the up grade lost alot of $$ there plus tons just in shipping...

i will check out NYaquatics for sure tho. I would love to have a regal Angel but with shipping and the coast of the fish its prob. going to be a 300+ investment.

 

[Biglurr54]

Update on the regal. We are at 1.018 and eating mysis. He got 3 feedings today and ate all three times. I'm slowly building up the copper. I'm at 1.65 and will finish tonight out at 1.70. Then drag the last .05 out over 2 more doses tomorrow.

He ignored live black worms but sucks down mysis. I may try some nori on a piece of paper and tomorrow.

I'm continuing with 20% daily water changes. The ammonia isn't coming up yet but with time and increased feedings I'm worried it will read it's ugly halead so I will just do daily changes to keep it at Bay.

 

[jsvand5]

Sounds good. Try some pellets too. They usually like pellets and it’s easier to keep the water clean with pellets than it is with mysis.

 

[Biglurr54]

So my regal didn't eat this afternoon. He's been eating great the whole time. He was out begging for food.

Saturday we went out of town so he ate in the am. And then didn't eat again until Sunday pm. I was feeding 3x a day.

He ate Sunday night like a pig 2xs. Monday (this morning) he came out and ate but seemed more shy. Tonight I fed him and he didn't come out of his PVC. He may have eaten pieces that came into the PVC but he didn't come out.

My ammonia badge looked like it could have shifted to the green but it's hard to tell. If it did it is very slight. I did a 50% change immediately when I got home Sunday and another 50% today.

Salinity had been stable at 1.018 and the copper has held perfectly at 1.70.

I'm wondering if the stress of the 50% water change out him back into hiding? Or is this a beginning sign of infection. He has no wounds or any visible issues. Breathing is normal.