Angelfishes for  Marine Aquariums Diversity, Selection & Care New eBook on Amazon: Available here New Print Book on Create Space: Available here by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Regal Angel Question, then lg. Angel sel.  – 09/24/12
To whom it may concern,
<Ok>
I have read your article below about Regal Angels. I am still interested in trying one. I have a 240 gallon tank with several hundred pounds of live rock and several tangs along with 5 clownfish. I have a dealer in Michigan Tropicorium that has two nice Regals that are feeding well. Unfortunately both are from the Philippines region. If they are eating well should I consider buying one or simply walk away till one from the Red Sea comes in?
<Up to you>
If you get them feeding on Spectrum and provide meaty and green foods should I expect to get a long life span out of one of these fish?
<Possibly>
Your article seems to say almost all die.
<Most from the Indo-Pacific do have much shortened captive life spans; but as the years have gone by, a larger percentage (still under 10%), live a year or more. Bob Fenner>
http://wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/angels/pygoplites/index.htm
Christopher Faiola
Re: Regal Angel Question – 09/24/12
Thank you for the response. Wow a year is not a very long time to live.
<All is relative, but I agree>
They shouldn't catch them if that is all they live for in captivity.
<There are several notable species used in the trade that on average (or any measure of central tendency) more than half are dead w/in a week of capture... Hence my and others ongoing efforts to offer useful data...>
 I am interested in getting a large angel. Only corals I have in my tank are some leathers. I have lots of live rock and some snails and crabs. Is there an angel fish in particular you would recommend to me that you think would do really well but yet is still pretty looking? Look forward to your reply.
<My fave is a mid-size... the Koran. Please see WWM re Pomacanthid Selection (FAQs). BobF>
Christopher
Re: Regal Angel Question – 09/24/12
Thank you for the response. A Koran Angel wont bother my leathers I take it?
Christopher
<Not likely... please... read. B>
Re: Regal Angel Question – 09/24/12
Thank you for the reply. I will check it out.
<Ah, welcome>
Koran – 09/24/12
I have read thru the article on Koran Angels like you have asked me to.
Very nice pictures of them. Now in your article it does mention Adult Korans do eat corals in the wild. What kinds do they typically eat? I like my few leathers a lot in my aquarium. I have a toadstool and a few devils hands. Would they touch those? Look forward to your reply.
Christopher
<A mix, some times... not often.>
Re: Koran – 09/24/12
Thanks for the reply. How about a Queen Angel or Imperator or French?
Would these species eat my leathers or would you think they would leave them alone? I really am attracted to the colors on the queens. Magnificent colors.
Christopher /> <... Take a guess: Keep reading! B>

Stocking An Angel, Koran    8/15/07 A stocking question for you... I have a 200 gallon system that is 68x26x26" with about 200lbs of Tonga Liverock and a 3" fine sand bottom. The live rock is structured as a long island in the center with swimming lanes completely around the tank with many pass-throughs and caves. I also have a 'tacky' bell... a resin ornament that is about 7" high with holes in it for shelter. I keep my temp around 25/26oc, salinity at 1.023, <I'd raise this...> and my water parameters are all in-check with the exception of Nitrates at around 15ppm. For a fish only system I have read that this is acceptable but I am still working on lowering this hopefully right to zero. I currently have: 1 x 20" Snowflake Moray 2 x Bannerfish 1 x Harlequin Tuskfish 1 Banded Serpent Star I definitely do not want to overstock this system as I realize it would challenge me further with my nitrate issues, etc... My wish list includes: 1 Foxface 1 Regal Tang 1 Picasso Trigger 1 Angelfish (Koran?? Pygmy Flame??) And if room would allow, a Longnose Hawkfish. So my question to you... let's say I proceed and stock with a Foxface and then a Regal Tang... I'd definitely add the Trigger last. What to do for an Angel??? I would prefer a decent size angel but would be happy going with a smaller species if I was getting too crowded. Given my top 3 on the wish list, would you recommend perhaps a Koran Angel?? <Is one of my fave Pomacanthids... would likely fit here> Or, am I pushing the capacity and perhaps should lean towards the Flame Angel?? Would I be overcrowding if I introduce the Hawkfish prior to the Regal Tang given my other stocking wishes? <Your stocking order is ideal... obviously you have been reading, thinking...> I realize I should remove the banded star prior to introducing the Trigger... David Brynlund <This will "top off" this system, but should be a very nice mix indeed. BobF>

Koran angelfish I'm really interested in purchasing a Koran angelfish, Pomacanthus semicirculatus. I've been doing my reading on the angelfish and realize that they get really large and require a large tank with good water conditions. They are grazers in the wild and eat corals and sponges too. I'm willing to provide it with seaweed for it to graze on, and have some live Caulerpa for it to feed on. I will also provide sponge in it's diet.  When doing my reading I learned that they are probably one of the least difficult of all full sized angels. I would like a Imperator (Pomacanthus imperator), but I've read that they are very sensitive to water conditions. Now I must admit at times I don't do my regular water changes. I've never had nitrates above 25 ppm. I don't think i would have a problem taking care of a Koran angelfish. Now my questions are:  1. Are there any insights that you have on this fish as to care or special requirements? 2. I've read that it's rare to see this animal's adult coloration in it's adult stage, why? Should I be worried? Is there anything I could do to get it to change or aid it in changing? I actually like it's adult coloring.  3. I've also heard that these fish are susceptible to HITH and HLLE, other then nutrition how to I prevent it? Does grounding work? How do I ground a tank then? Thanks for your help.  David.  >> The Koran is one of my favorite large marine angelfish species (too)... 1) The Koran has no real special care requirements... you have listed some of the general caveats... varied, veggie-containing diet, good water quality...  2) I think the lack of adults, coloration and otherwise is a matter of economics and mistakes. The dollar part of the equation has to do with people importing juveniles (freight is much less), and the mistake part refers to aquarists bumping them off before they reach adult/color proportions. 3) The semicirculatus angel is susceptible to HLLE more than most fishes... the best approach is twin-pronged: optimized nutrition (even supplementing the foods with vitamin and iodine prep.s), and consistent/high water quality... I discount the "stray electrical potential" hypothesis. Bob Fenner, who has a piece that never ran in the hobby mag.s on the species posted at www.wetwebmedia.com and will put up the images there if there is a call for same.

Koran angels Greetings again Robert, I'll cut to the chase, i can't keep Korans for toffee, I've bought three young adults in the last two years all healthy and feeding when purchased but all dying in less than six weeks . <Time to look for a new source... or your system for something wrong. Pomacanthus semicirculatus is one of the toughest angel species> I've noticed they do seem susceptible to a cylindrical eye and body parasite that is only killed by a fresh water bath but then so are most of the Angels i keep' I currently own, Queen, Blue Queen, French ,Black, Blueface, Majestic, Six-Bar, Chrysurus, Asfur, Passer, Maculosus and Cortez Angels and apart from the two Cortez's and one of the Six-Bars I've owned them all for six months and more ,in fact some for nearly three years so why can't i keep Korans ? <Look into buying them from Marine Center... someplace else than where you've been getting them> could it be that it is one of the industry standards like Powder Blues that despite being common in the hobby really do not do that well or knowing that they are hardy am i subconsciously not keeping them as well as i should ,anyway i hope you could shed some light on my plight...Thanks Graham.H <Read and heed: http://wetwebmedia.com/korana.htm Bob Fenner>

Tangs And Angels Hi Scott How are u? <Hi there! Getting over a lingering flu, but raring to go today!> I am thinking of purchasing a Yellow Tang in the near future what is the best food to feed this guy. <Well, these fishes are renowned for their vegetarian preferences. The ultimate food, IMO, would be some fresh Gracilaria macroalgae> I had a look at your site and everybody has their own opinions. Can you tell me what you think would be the best way to go. <A varied diet, with a heavy emphasis on vegetable matter (of marine origin- NOT lettuce or terrestrial greens)> Also how big does one's tank need to be to house a Semicircular Angel. and how difficult are these guys to keep? <If you are referring to Pomacanthus semicirculatus, you'd need a very large tank, IMO. Like hundreds of gallons, and at least 8 feet in length. These guys can easily attain an adult size of 12-15 inches or more, and range over a wide range in nature. Quite honestly, I don't like to encourage people to keep large angels like this species in captivity. They are gorgeous, and reasonable hardy, but trying to keep a fish like this in a typical sized tank would be like condemning yourself to a life in your living room! It may be okay at first, but in the long run, it would become a miserable and agonizing experience for the fish. I would rather encourage you to investigate many of the gorgeous, small Centropyge angelfish species. These "smaller models" are usually much better suited for captive care, IMO> Thanks Again Ziad <Always a pleasure! Regards, Scott F> Regards
Ziad Limbada

Angelfishes for  Marine Aquariums Diversity, Selection & Care New eBook on Amazon: Available here New Print Book on Create Space: Available here by Robert (Bob) Fenner