French angelfish

Pomacanthus paru

FishMarine

This angelfish has a black body with yellow-edged scales, giving a reticulated appearance. The mouth is white and the pectoral fins are yellow. Juveniles are black with vertical yellow bands. It can reach 40 cm. It is territorial and semi-aggressive. It feeds mainly on sponges, algae, and bryozoans. In an aquarium, it needs a large volume and many hiding places.

Recommended parameters

ParameterRecommended range
Temperature24–28
pH8.1–8.4
GH0–0
KH8–12
Salinity1.02–1.025
NO₃≤ 20
PO₄≤ 0.1

Care

Difficulty3/5
Dietherbivore
Min. tank600 L
Min. group1
Adult size40 cm
Lifespan15 ans
TemperamentSemi-agressif

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. 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.