Regal Angel Reef Safe?

[brycenelson]

Hey guys I have been thinking about adding a Regal angel to my tank. Ik that every angel is a risk when it comes to eating coral but I was wondering who has expierence with regals. Also I'm not sure how big a tank they need.
Current tank 55 gal 4ft
Tank mates
2 clowns
coral beauty angel
royal gramma
white tail bristle tooth
small scopas tang
flame hawk fish
melanarus wrasse
This would be the last fish in my tank.

 

[dedragon]

they will unfortunately get too big for your tank. They should be in at least 125 gallons

 

[dedragon]

I would suggest 2 smaller fish like azure damsels or springeri damselfish if your big load allows it. There are also other small-medium fish that are bottom dwellers like mandarin gobies or ones that form relationships like shrimp-goby pair. Just a few options to look at, but you will be limited because you already have 2 tangs and a dwarf angelfish in only a 55gallon tank

 

[Tamberav]

A 55g is not big enough for a regal

 

[brycenelson]

I would suggest 2 smaller fish like azure damsels or springeri damselfish if your big load allows it. There are also other small-medium fish that are bottom dwellers like mandarin gobies or ones that form relationships like shrimp-goby pair. Just a few options to look at, but you will be limited because you already have 2 tangs and a dwarf angelfish in only a 55gallon tank

yea ig my regal angel will have to wait til my next upgrade I thought I was already pretty full but just needed some more reassurance. Thank you

 

[brycenelson]

A 55g is not big enough for a regal

ok what is their recommended tank size?

 

[i cant think]

ok what is their recommended tank size?

A 4’x2’x18” tank would be the minimum a regal would fit into. I wouldn’t go any smaller than that though.

 

[brycenelson]

A 4’x2’x18” tank would be the minimum a regal would fit into. I wouldn’t go any smaller than that though.

that is exactly what I have but I don't think my bioload can take it so I think I am going to look into a mandarin or pair

 

[dedragon]

55 gallon is 4'x 13" x 20" and i think they meant 24" wide. Would be good for a smaller one for years but they can get pretty large so 6' is probably better

 

[i cant think]

55 gallon is 4'x 13" x 20" and i think they meant 24" wide. Would be good for a smaller one for years but they can get pretty large so 6' is probably better

Regals generally get to 5” then stop growing, these are an excruciatingly slow growing species that can take a years to double in size IME.
Here’s mine, she’s about 3 inches, possibly 3.5 but not much bigger. She’s in my 4’x2’x2’ tank (LxWxH) and love the room she has.

 

[Boreas_SA]

Agree with that, they are super slow growers, had one for 7 years that went from around 2 inches to around 3.5 inches in that time, lost her due to a heater failure in winter last year. Also not completely reef safe, she loved nipping zoas especially, but each fish is different.

 

[OrionN]

55 gal is not very large for sure. Regal should not be put in there. The Scopas Tang will also outgrow it very quickly too.

 

[o2manyfish]

I have kept several in the last 10 years. I have had 3 and not one has done any damage to heavily stocked reef tanks with every kind of coral.

I think a 55g is too small. I kept mine in a 400g and now a 750. The pair I had in my 400g, the first fish I had for about 4 years and in that time I saw it eat food I put in the tank only a handful of times. It was a shy fish and spent it's time hunting for food in the caves and darkness under the rock work. In the 4 year that fish barely grew .5".

I added a second yellow belly about 1/2 the size of the first and they hung out, I don't know if I would call them a bonded pair, but they definitely were always in the same area. The smaller one was a little more interested in eating the food added to the tank, but was kind of indifferent to it.

Those 2 fish did really well and looked great, but there was no noticeable growth when at about the 9 year make we lost them in a tank issue.

When we setup our new 750g last fall one of the first fish put in was a small Regal -3.5". It loves the food I put in the tank and eats everything. Perhaps that's because the 750 was no where near a mature reef when the regal came to live with us. It still hunts and pecks constantly, but also is right up there with the tangs going after the foods I add.

Dave B

 

[Peter Houde]

Regals generally get to 5” then stop growing, these are an excruciatingly slow growing species that can take a years to double in size IME.
Here’s mine, she’s about 3 inches, possibly 3.5 but not much bigger. She’s in my 4’x2’x2’ tank (LxWxH) and love the room she has.

That is not a regal tang

 

[littlefoxx]

ok what is their recommended tank size?

My regal is in a six foot 125. Would not go any smaller. Im upgrading to a 300 to give her and my other fish more room if that tells you anything

 

[littlefoxx]

That is not a regal tang

Yeah obviously, OP was asking about the regal angel. Thats the same fish @i cant think was talking about and showing. Not sure where youre getting a regal rang from as that wasnt even being discussed?

 

[OrionN]

I QT mine in a 40 gal breeder but would rec no smaller than 120 gal tank for Regal Angelfish