Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Regal Angelfish Care

The regal angelfish is considered by various enthusiasts for being one of the most wonderful big angelfish in the markets. It can be also one of the most difficult to rear in captivity.

The scientific title given to this beauty is Pygoplites Diacanthus. It is the solitary part of the genus Pygoplites. The regal angel has a full vivid yellow main body as well as vertical white streaks that are outlined by blue.

Comparable to all members of the larger angelfish group, young specimens sport a plainly different color pattern than adults. Young specimens do not possess blue colors and are mainly seen with yellow in addition to white with a distinctive spot close to the tail.

These fish have been renowned to exceed a foot in length in the wild. In the aquarium however, these fish commonly attain a maximum length of roughly 12 inches.

They are generally found across the Indo-Pacific, Fiji and a few locations in Africa. Angels found from the Phillipines and Indonesia tend not to do very well in the aquarium and usually have a high mortality percentage. Such a case might have something to do with collection methods.

In their natural habitats these fish are grazers that eat solely on tunicates in addition to sponges. This is the prime reason why Regal Angelfish do badly in the aquarium. They are tricky feeders that usually starve to death over a time frame. They must be offered a top mixture of seafood, marine algae and especially sponges every day if possible.

Always quarantine new fishes to ensure they are disease and parasite free. Every so often you may stumble upon 2 inch juveniles for sale at the marine store. Resist the urge to purchase them if you do not possess a big enough saltwater aquarium. The regal angelfish is the most beautiful and highly regarded larger angelfish by enthusiasts. Sadly, their high death rate in captivity does put off a lot of hobbyists.

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