Queen Angelfish

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Moderate   • Temperament: Semi-aggressive   • Maximum Size: 18"
• Minimum Tank Size: 125 gallons   • Water Conditions: 72-78° F; dKH 8-12, sg 1.020-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4
• Diet: Omnivore   • Origin: Caribbean, Western Atlantic
• Family: Pomacanthidae   • Species: Angels (Large)   • Aquarium Type: Reef Compatible

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The Queen Angelfish truly lives up to its name as it is one of the most striking of all angelfish. With vibrant yellow and electric sapphire-blue highlights give the Queen Angelfish an almost iridescent appearance. It has a dark spot on the forehead surrounded by bright blue, with the dorsal and pelvic fins are elongated.

Unlike many marine fish species that go by a myriad of names, the Queen Angelfish is known universally by a single name. The Queen Angelfish should only be kept by intermediate to advanced marine aquarium hobbyists, as it requires a large aquarium and excellent water conditions. As an adult the Queen Angelfish can be kept in large community aquariums; as well as, in aquariums with predatory fish species Queen Angelfish make impressive show piece fish for hobbyist with large community or predatory fish species aquariums.

Like many larger angelfish, the coloration of the Queen Angelfish varies greatly between its juvenile and adult forms. As a juvenile the Queen Angelfish displays blue stripes that while distinct when young fade as it matures. The juvenile also has darker blue areas that cover the front and rear of the fish. Adult Queen Angelfish displays bright blue, green and yellow areas on the front and rear portions of the fish, with a blue and yellowish-green mixed in throughout its midsection. The tail and dorsal fins are a bright yellow, with the majority of the body outlined in a vibrant blue color.

While the Queen Angelfish is a truly impressive looking species, it is not for the beginning marine aquarist. This species can obtain an impressive 18 inches in the aquarium environment, thus it requires a large aquarium to be properly housed. The Queen Angelfish also requires excellent and stable water conditions and a balanced diet containing meaty, marine algae and sponge material.

While Queen Angelfish require a lot of open water for swimming, they also need many large caves and crevices in which to retreat when they feel threatened. Large amount of live rock are ideal for this species as they will provide both hiding places and large areas for grazing, as the Queen Angelfish can feed on marine algae growing on the rock.

The Queen Angelfish is not a good species for the average reef aquarium, as it is prone to nip at stony and soft corals (sessile invertebrates) and clam mantles. It also can be aggressive towards smaller more reserved fish species that are commonly found in reef aquariums. Queen Angelfish do make excellent additions to aquariums with other large fish species or community aquariums with other hardy fish species.

The Queen Angelfish is an omnivore and requires meaty, vegetable and sponge material in its diet. It is important to include spirulina, marine algae and sponge material in order to promote good health and to maintain a strong immune system. Quality frozen and freeze-dried angelfish preparations along with mysid shrimp and flake foods will provide the Queen Angelfish with the nutrition it needs. Queen Angelfish eat many times per day in the wild, thus they should be fed at least three times daily in amount that they can consume within a few minutes.