Thanks to those members that never judged and made my dreams come to life.

[naesco]

I think you posted that you had been lucky enough to get a hold of a juvenile red sea regal angel. Juvenile regals from the red sea have been successfully kept but sadly they are rarely available. The PI/Indo angels which are often found in LFS are almost impossible to keep.

A few reefers have managed to keep cleaner wrasse but the survival statistics are so poor they are best left in the ocean doing the great job they do cleaning other fish.

I have kept tangs for almost 18 years. My powder brown (A. japonica lived for 11 years).
The Achilles tang does well for a while than for no apparent reasons dies often taking a few other fish along with it. I believe they need something in their diet that has yet to be determined. Having said that there are a few reefers that are successful.

Mandarins can be kept successfully if you have a tank that is aged (10 months or so), a large tank with live rock that harbours lots of pods. The problem is most of them are very difficult to 'wean to' frozen food.

Best of luck in keeping these fish.
Wayne

[fishoholic]

I go away on holidays and I miss out on commenting earlier. I have seen Diana's tank and it is beautiful. She has been a great friend to me and I am glad she has the fish she wants and the ability to take care of them. I agree that research should be done before buying a fish, needless to say I have bought fish I shouldn't have thinking I could care for them when a bit more research turned up things I didn't know about the fish which may have made me not buy it, but in the end you learn from mistakes and try to do better for future reference.

Sometimes it's good to try (within reason) because you just never know what might work that otherwise you wouldn't of thought possible.

Originally Posted by naesco

I think you posted that you had been lucky enough to get a hold of a juvenile red sea regal angel. Juvenile regals from the red sea have been successfully kept but sadly they are rarely available. The PI/Indo angels which are often found in LFS are almost impossible to keep.

FYI her regal is a indo regal angel and is basically full grown, not a juvi red sea regal.

[seanoman]

Hey Diana! Great to here that your tank is doing so good. I am glad that you have had success so far with these fish. Just curious on how your sargassum trigger is doing. I would love to see some pics of these guys in your tank.

Keep up the good work!!

[my2rotties]

Thanks Laurie, at least you saw it in person, so nobody thinks I am lying.

Seanoman, the trigger is doing awesome. He is a fat so and is a really neat fish. Very quirky personality, and fun to watch playing in the powerheads.

[BlueAbyss]

This thread is awesome, it reflects how I feel about this hobby... often people are quick to bash someone for trying something, when they have themselves killed things. Often the best thing to do is step back, take it all into perspective, and try to think of ways to help rather than just saying that someone is stupid for even wanting to try something.

Offer help when asked, or say nothing... don't pollute threads with worthless comments about how something can't be done.

[my2rotties]

Here is a link to some pictures. I only have an iPhone and it can be difficult to photograph so much movement and such a wide tank. This the best I can do.

http://dianafranks260greef.blogspot.com/

Pictures just don't do my fish and justice.

[EmilyB]

Success.

As my second fish approaches 10 years in my tanks, I think I am close, but not quite there.

She is a Chaetodon melannotus - black back butterfly. Her name is Spike. She plays at the front glass with us a lot. I buy her soft coral to eat.

And then there is Trig-No-Metric-Functions. He is approaching 12 years in my tanks. Still shy, but still comes when called....

No, my dear, you are not quite there yet, but you are a good candidate perhaps and I do wish you the best.