Queen angelfish

Holacanthus ciliaris

Family : Pomacanthidae

FishMarinepoisson-ange

The queen angelfish is a stunning blue and yellow angelfish with a blue crown on the head. It is iconic on Caribbean reefs.

Queen angelfish — photo 1 sur 4 — Frank M Greco · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.01 / 4

Popularity

Advanced marine fish

large tank + demanding parameters

Availability

Specialty only

Shop availability

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Description

This angelfish has a bright blue body with yellow-edged scales, a yellow head, and a blue crown-like spot. The dorsal and anal fins are yellow with blue edges. It can reach 45 cm. Juveniles are dark blue with yellow bands. It is territorial and semi-aggressive. It feeds mainly on sponges, algae, and tunicates. In an aquarium, it needs a large volume and live rock.

Habitat

Region :

Coral reefs and rocky areas

Distribution :

Recommended parameters

Temperature24–28 °C

pH8.1–8.4

GH0–0 °dGH

KH8–12 °dKH

Salinity1.02–1.025 ‰

NO₃

≤ 20 mg/L

PO₄

≤ 0.1 mg/L

Calcium

≥ 400 ppm

Magnesium

≥ 1250 ppm

Light

Medium

Flow

Medium

Care

Difficulty

3/5

Diet

Herbivore

Min. tank

600 L

Min. group

Adult size

45 cm

Lifespan

15 years

Temperament

Semi-agressif

Propagation

Non reproduit en captivité

Care notes

Temperature 24-28°C, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.020-1.025, dKH 8-12. A minimum 600-liter tank is recommended. Provide live rock for grazing and hiding. Diet should include sponges, algae, shrimp, and mussels. Avoid keeping with other similarly sized angelfish. It can be kept in a reef tank but may nip at soft corals. Moderate water flow and strong filtration are needed. Weekly 20% water changes.

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