The regal has been in there two years almost to the day--first week of Feb. two years ago. I QT'd him for a week with prazipro and fed him clams/oysters from the grocery along with some mysis. He wasn't taking to food to easily at first, but was otherwise healthy. I put him in the reef prematurely (1 week in QT) to get him to feed--he took to some rocks with a sponge growing on them, and then to algae clips, quickly to Rod's food, and now to pellets, flakes--hell, I think he'd eat Cheerios if I threw them in. He's a pig.
At the time I also had a coral beauty, and last summer--when the tank gets a bit less attention and runs for a week or two at a time on an auto feeder/pellets--I lost most of my zoas. I do not know if it was the coral beauty or the regal, but I have since removed the coral beauty and added the CBB. I haven't tried any zoas again, but might try some cheap ones. He does, on occasion, nip at some of the LPS/brain type corals, but he doesn't do any real damage. I am not naive to think that one day--likely over a summer--he may decide to totally feast, but for now I am not worried. I love the fish.
DyM, thank you for the offer! I may give some zoas a shot--if they're not rare, pricey types (I don't know them too well, and I'd hate to sacrifice some gems without trying some plain ones first). Cheers.
