Making a case as to why NOT to bring home a Regal angel

[naesco]

Yes we have all lost fish by:
1. impulse buying and then trying to find out what it eats and its other needs.
2. buying a fish before we see it eating in the lfs.
3. buying a fish that is not 100% healthy because it was there was only one left in the lfs and we liked it or justifying the purchase cause we would `cure it` (after all our tank is healthier than the lfs` `we are going to `save that fish`)
4. buying a fish that deep down we know it is a difficult fish to keep but we believe that one or two posters `who have had them for months and it is healthy and eating`. Again, a justification.
5. buying too many fish at the same time. (only a newbie mistake)
6. buying a fish that requires a large tank `tangs`, a mature tank `mandarin gobies`

There are many good books like Robert Fenner`s The Conscientious Aquarist, websites like www.wetwebmedia.com and there are many experts on this forum on certain fish and `seasoned` reefers who have already been through it all.

There is a learning curve but we should not be trying to reinvent the wheel or challenging what we already know.

We are all learning!

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by TJSlayer

Guys Calm down....

1) Yes they have prepaid fish that they think they will want so that no one else buys them - NOTHING worng with that AND they have not brought them home yet as they want to hopefully make sure the problem is rectified first.

2) I have counted dozens of posts from half of the people on here saying I know I should't of but.... or I think I made a mistake.... EVERYONE in this hobbies changes directions from time to time with what they think they want and MANY people try things that they "knew better" but decidied to try anyways.....

She was asking for help and suggestion not a stoning....

I don't personally know them, but I did see the setup pictures they created and they have invested a lot of time and money in their setup so I don't think they are cutting corners, and can respect them fully for putting a fish on hold while they decide. More people probably should do that as well.

Cudos for asking the question, and please don't be discourage from asking more.

I personally have struggled with adding fish once I started going as well....AND I have also added fish that were suppose to be good natured so to speak but they have turned out the exact opposite (and Vise versa) so the norm isn't always what happens.

As far as your angel is concerned it sounds like you have already convinced yourslef not to get it and I would probably stick with your gut, you can always change your mind down the road....

Cheers
TJ

+1 Well said TJ.

I think some of you are missing the point of her thread. She was originally asking what reasons she could give her husband as why not to bring this fish home.

1. Regal angels will eat corals, probably the nicer corals and not the ugly ones.

2. They are known to be a difficult angel to keep long term.

3. Taking a chance that whatever happened to your other angels might happen to this one.

Other then that I'm not sure. Pretty sure she is aware of those reasons, the idea (I think) was to see if other people could come up with other reasons that make sense so she could share other peoples thoughts and opinions with her husband.

[my2rotties]

I have the following fish

- porcupine puffer
- picasso trigger
- cleaner wrasse
- copperband butterfly
- 2 clownfish
- naso tang
- sohal tang
- sailfin tang
- purple tang
- yellowhead sleeper goby
- banana wrasse
- coral beauty angel (still healthy & robust)
- 2 rabbitfish
- 2 chromis

I have had pitbulls and rottweilers for two decades, although you do not mean to offend, this is what causes BSL and the lack of right in ownership. It is the dog's owners and not the breed at all. I have had many dogs of these breeds over my lifetime and had no issues with them being mean or unstable. My only issues with them is they do not live long enough and die of cancer always.

MY hubby has gotten much better but he gets excited in the hobby. He still has not picked up his regal angel to take time to find out about what went wrong with our other angels and take time to research more. Sometimes he does not always listen to me, but he has been fantastic so far.

I just asked the question today because I hate answers like "they are hard to keep" with no real info on as to why they are hard to keep. The other answers usually is "they eat corals", well what corals do they eat? It was more for a learning experience rather then bringing the fish home on impulse. It has been there for two months, and I am in no rush, nor is my husband. I know if we don't take it, someone will but it before we leave the store with our credit...

I know they are hard to keep and eat corals... I( was just hoping someone that has these fish would have chimed in about what they destroyed and what issues they did have. I really did not expect the be told I **** other people off in the hobby. I take responsibility with my mistakes and try to learn from them. I also like to know how things happen, and why they happen. Don't you remember being a kid and asking your parents "WHY" you can't do something, and they say "Because i said so"...

I have not added any fish in a very long time, and yes I have a Sargassum trigger on hold at the LFS... He is not home and I do not know if I even will take him home. They are hard to come by, and I felt I would make sure I did not miss out on this fish, and take the time to ensure he is healthy and eating, and I am ready. The other wrasse I was asking about would not be delivered for another two weeks and I am researching and asking questions about him. I am making sure I can get a positive ID and learn if he can be happy with my other fish.

I have made mistakes and I am doign my best to make sure I don't make the same ones again. However I cannot promise that I will not make anymore, but I will ask ask prior to doing so I am enlightened going into it, or decide not to proceed.

I really do love my fish, they all have names and personalities. I can always account for each and everyone and know their behaviors and quirks. I research diets and do my best to give them the best of everything. I just went and spent over $40 for seafood medley and squid and mussels and such to puree in my blender with supplements for my puffer. He loves it but my other fish eat the scrapes that blow out his gills. I really do my best for these guys, and know I am responsible for them completely. If I have a problem it would be nice to know I can come here for help instead of being bashed for being dumb enough to ask in the first place...

[hipp77]

I am sorry that you have taken so much heat over asking a simple question.
There is always more than one way to get a point across. I feel that some people did not handled in a very nice way.
I hope that Diana you will not take those comments to heart. We have all made mistakes in this hobby and I feel that you are very sincere about caring for the fish and doing what is best for them.

Calvin

[Doug]

Twice I was going to post yesterday and decided to shut up.

To others reading the thread, please dont hesitate to post your problems and questions on Canreef. That would be such a shame that aquarists are scared off from posting.
Take any answers, on any board, for what they are worth. Some answer in a harsh manner, and some answers are from newer aquarists trying to help but are not always the correct answer.
Canreef was set up by Titus, to be a friendly place to dicuss our aquarium related interests and has grown to be one of the best reefing boards anywhere, but esp. in Canada.

[my2rotties]

What would be irresponsible is the buy the fish and bring it home... I did that once with my puffer and learned a big lesson from it. Never again I do research and ask questions. SO what I bought the fish and he is on hold... it does not mean I HAVE to take it. I will get a credit from the store. Call me irresponsible, at least I did not brain fart twice and bring it home before doing homework on it.

Originally Posted by nazerine

Your tank is 4 months old, and what is your stocking list currently? My opinion is it is very irresponsible to be pre-shopping and buying fish before you can get your tank under control. It sounds like you haven't chosen what you want to stock or what your goal is for your tank, but instead act on opportunity of what the LFS has.

[brizzo]

Originally Posted by my2rotties

What would be irresponsible is the buy the fish and bring it home... I did that once with my puffer and learned a big lesson from it. Never again I do research and ask questions. SO what I bought the fish and he is on hold... it does not mean I HAVE to take it. I will get a credit from the store. Call me irresponsible, at least I did not brain fart twice and bring it home before doing homework on it.

Sorry if my post seems rude; it wasn't intended that way. The fact is your tank is not very mature. You want to keep adding more and more fish. You've had several big problems since your tank started 4 months ago. You need to slow down. Let's get to the point though:

What are you currently stocking?

What is your overall plan for your tank?