Regal Angelfish – Pygoplites diacanthus
The regal angelfish comes from the Indo-Pacific ocean region. This will grow to become a large addition to an aquarium, at over 10 inches. Without a quality diet and good water quality, the regal may lose its color.
Maximum Size: The maximum length is 10.0 inches
Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons or larger tank is appropriate
Care Level: The regal angelfish is a possibly low level (hard) fish to maintain. On a scale of 1 –10, (10 being easy) it would rate a “4”.
Tank Conditions: Temperature 77 - 79°F; Specific gravity: 1.021 – 1.024; pH: 8.1 – 8.3; nitrate should be no more than 20 ppm – being that this fish is very particular, it is best to keep the nitrate as low as possible.
Color: The regal angelfish is a rather beautiful fish. Its primary color is yellow. The body is vertically striped white with blue border over the yellow body. blue and yellow lines. Be forewarned that like other large angelfish, adult fish may not reach the full color potential. A quality food supply with vitamin supplements and high water quality are necessary for the fish to reach the color as seen in these pictures.
Temperament: The regal angel is not overly aggressive as a juvenile but as an adult can become very aggressive to other regal angelfish and similar colored fish. These fish should be housed with fish that can fend for themselves.
 Reef Compatible: No – the regal angelfish will often bite at or eat corals and clams.
Diet: Omnivore - will take a varied diet of chopped shrimp, brine shrimp, chopped squid and clams as well as flake food and plant matter such as spirulina and marine algae. They should be fed 2-3 times each day. High quality vitamin enriched foods should be fed several times each week.
Habitat: Provide with plenty of hiding places and live rock growth for grazing on and to use for shelter. Good water quality is important. Angelfish need good water quality for health and color retention.
Lighting: No special lighting requirements are necessary.
Filtration: Efficient biological filtration with protein skimmer and activated carbon are important for the regal angel’s health.
Compatibility: Regal angelfish in general can be kept with boxfish and moray eels and they should not be housed with sharks, rays and small non-aggressive fish such as firefish and cardinalfish and can be a problem if housed with many others – check with your aquarium shop if you plan on buying one of these fish.
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