Queen angelfish
Holacanthus ciliaris
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.
Recommended parameters
| Parameter | Recommended range |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 24–28 |
| pH | 8.1–8.4 |
| GH | 0–0 |
| KH | 8–12 |
| Salinity | 1.02–1.025 |
| NO₃ | ≤ 20 |
| PO₄ | ≤ 0.1 |
Care
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.