Enticing a Regal Angel to eat...

[swannyson7]

A few weeks ago I picked up a Regal Angel from LA. He was in QT for 2.5 weeks and was eating clams on the half shell & selcon/garlic soaked mysis. He was reluctant to feed for the first 5 days, but once started he seemed to be doing well. Two days ago I added him to the DT and he's no longer showing much interest in any prepared foods, he just picks at the LR all day long. I've tried feeding spectrum pellets, flake, nori, mysis, baby brine shrimp, fresh clam, oyster, krill, formula 1&2 frozen, cyclopeeze, and chopped up silversides. i've also tried soaking in garlic and selcon and I'm still having no luck. He's only been in the DT for a few days, but I was wondering if anyone with Regal experience has tried anything else with success? I've had one suggestion for fresh octopus, but any other feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

[james983]

Whenever I have difficult feeders I try live foods. Never had a Regal Angel but I would try live blackworms if you can find them, I know picky eaters usually go for them. Good luck.

 

[SDguy]

You are trying all the foods I would recommend. Maybe some sacrificial zoas?

On a related note... IMO the fish in that picture is quite skinny. IME regals don't show it quite the same as other fish/angels. But if you look at his breast area, you can see the angular lines from the head, to the pelvic fins, and again to the anal fin. That tells me he wasn't eating much even in the QT.

 

[soccerbag]

When mine was first put into display, she didn't eat anything prepared for 2 weeks. However, she constantly picked on the rocks so I just figured she was filling up on pods. Eventually, she started to eat prepared foods and never looked back. Rod's Food and PE Mysis seem to work for me. Hopefully yours will start to eat soon. It sounds like you have tried just about every type of food there is. Perhaps there was no pod population in the QT tank and it would prefer that over prepared foods at this point (in your display)?

 

[swannyson7]

Thanks for the advice guys and that's very reassuring, Craig.

@ Peter- He was actually eating pretty well in the QT. He was eating a clam on the half shell every other day with mysis on the opposite days. I realize that he's still a bit skinny, but he has plumped up a bit since I first got him, so I'm hopeful.