Enticing a regal angel to feed

[vincegoh]

Can I know how you guy entice a regal angel to start feeding? What is the common food here that you use?

Thanks.

[Asfur]

If you bought a grey belly regal, than it is mostly impossible to eat in captive. If you bought yellow belly and consider it is healthy and drug free capture fish and no other fish are bullying the regal, than in most cases it will eat in one to few days after introducing to the tank. It will eat on mysis shrimp, artemia, pellets, frozen foods, etc.

[AlfaRomeo]

We can also hang red algae/nori on clips or tie it around a small piece of LR and the regal will come around and eat it in a few days time. Especially so if there are other feeding fishes which the regal can 'learn' from. HTH

[vincegoh]

Well, it is a yellow belly regal.

However, it has not been eating mysis or nori for the past 3 weeks. Although it is pecking at the rocks with some algae, I don't think that will last. Anything else this guy love?

Thanks.

[Travy]

Can try clams or mussels on half shells. Most angels liked it.

[vincegoh]

Can try clams or mussels on half shells. Most angels liked it.

Thanks.

Are you refering to live or dead but fresh mussels and clams? Where can I get them?

[damien]

if possible, rear it at a QT first to start feeding.

[vincegoh]

if possible, rear it at a QT first to start feeding.

No such luxury to have a QT lah.

[Travy]

Yeah i agree the best idea is a QT. Try to get one abt 2ft la. Mine runs only with a air pump operated corner filter. HAHA! Weekly water change...

-new water into my main tank...

-'old water' from my main tank INTO my QT.

So the fishes can get used to it first ma and can medicate and feed till its almost brusting at the seams.... Had kept my Powder blue like that for 2 mths b4 finally transfering it into my main tank last weekend.

The clams or mussels can get from market la. Use those fresh ones we eat lo.But remember to wash well under the tap b4 putting it into yur tank ah.

[AlfaRomeo]

Good luck if you try to QT such a sensitive and shy fish in a bare QT tank.

IMHO, it would further stress the poor fish and will not help with its appetite at all. The regal needs mature LR for it to start nipping on and also bolt to safety. Its a very skittish fish and will bolt at the slightest movement outside of the tank. This usually happens in the first few weeks before the fish gets comfy in the tank and will be bolder.

QT is not the best practise when in comes to this fish. A matured tank with ample LR and hiding holes makes the safest bet in my opinion.

[Travy]

Ic ic... But what i did was i left a few pieces of 4" wide PVC sections into the tank as well. Knew new fishes tends to hide.

[thecoralscove]

maybe use lots of garlic on its food?

[vincegoh]

My sentiment same as Alfa. Almost most fish will be stressed when 1st introduce. Usually, I do a medicated dip with my existing tank water into the plastic bag and allow about 2 hours of "soaking" and acclimatisation. Once introduce, usually they will hide in my LR.

The said regal angel only 3 days in my tank is swimming side by side with my naso ######. It is not disturb even if I change my water last saturday, it just swimming around the pipe as if checking it out. It seems that it wanted to try the nori and mysis but it just stop short.

I will try the mussels and clams method but I am worry that my six line wrasse will get to that 1st - greedy fellow.

I am still open to any suggestion.

Thanks for all your reply so far.

Cheers.

[happy]

Get a rock with zoo, coat it with pellet and frozen food. Put it back in his favourite swimming spot.

This is to hope that when it peck on the zoo, it'll eat some of the food and start to recognize them as food.

Most regal cannot resist zoo and will eat the zoo, thus tasting the pellet and frozen food too.

[AlfaRomeo]

Thats a very good trick Happy. Thanks for sharing.

[akahoshi]

Yeah man.. regal angels.. the ultimate zoos killer. lol.. good suggestion here bro!

[vincegoh]

Get a rock with zoo, coat it with pellet and frozen food. Put it back in his favourite swimming spot.

This is to hope that when it peck on the zoo, it'll eat some of the food and start to recognize them as food.

Most regal cannot resist zoo and will eat the zoo, thus tasting the pellet and frozen food too.

Thanks, bro. Seem like a pretty sensible way.