Queen Angelfish

The Queen Angelfish is found on the coral reefs of the Western Atlantic Ocean. They are usually found alone or sometimes as a pair. They can get quite large, up to 18 inches (45 cm) and are not recommended for the saltwater beginner simply because most folks don't have a large enough tank to keep them in. You would need at least a 200 gallon tank to adequately care for them!

The coloration and markings on the Queen Angelfish as a juvenile are very different from the adults. Juveniles have a darker body with white vertical bars towards the back of the body. They lose these bars as adults and develop a sort of "crown" on top of the head, which is probably why they have the common name "Queen Angelfish". The dorsal and anal fins will grow past the tail fin (caudal fin).

They can be relatively hardy once acclimated into a well established, large tank that is 6 months or older. Since this fish is quite expensive (approximately $80 - $200 USD) you don't want to add them to a new tank going through the nitrogen cycle or one without sufficient amounts of live rock. Live rock may provide grazing opportunities for them in between meals as well as hiding places to help make them feel more secure. Don't plan on keeping multiple Queens in the same tank or territorial aggression may ensue. They may also pick fights with other saltwater angelfish species, but that may be less likely. Be prepared to separate them if necessary.

The biggest issue you'll most likely encounter is feeding them. In the wild they mostly eat sponges. This can be near impossible to reproduce in the home aquarium, but fortunately we can buy frozen marine foods containing sponges. In fact, there are frozen cube packs now made especially for saltwater angelfish and butterfly fish. Try to supplement their diet with dried marine algae and/or vitamin enriched herbivorous fish foods.

This fish is usually the show piece or prized specimen for hobbyists with the right tank setup and they are truly an awesome fish.

Picture

Queen Angelfish
Photo Credit: Stan Shebs

Photo Credit: Chris Huss, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

We are looking for a juvenile photo of this fish to show the differences in coloration from adults. If you have one that we can use for this profile and it is copyright free, please send it in! Include your name in the correspondence so we can credit you!

Saltwater Fish Species Profile and Care Information

Scientific Name : Holacanthus ciliaris

Common Names : Blue Angelfish or Yellow Angelfish

Queen Angelfish Care Level : Moderate to Difficult, need a large tank and they can sometimes be difficult to feed.

Size : Up to 18 inches (45 cm)

Life span : 15 - 20 years, possibly longer

pH : 8.1 - 8.4

Temperature : 72°F - 76°F (22°C - 24°C)

Specific Gravity : 1.020 - 1.025

Carbonate Hardness (dKH) : 8 - 12°

Origin / Habitat : Western Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean to Brazil, South America

Temperament / Behavior : They can be aggressive with other angelfish, especially other queen angelfish.

Breeding / Mating / Reproduction : Very difficult to breed in captivity. Egg scatterer.

Tank Size : 200 gallon (757 liters) minimum

Compatible Tank Mates : Obviously, given the large potential size of this fish as an adult you'll want to avoid keeping it with smaller species. Avoid other Saltwater Angelfish species. The vast majority of hobbyists don't have the proper setup to house more than one of these.

Fish Disease : Saltwater Fish Disease - Diagnose, Symptoms and Treatment. They don't seem to get afflicted with the usual saltwater fish diseases, but you still should quarantine any new arrivals.

Diet / Fish Food : In the wild this fish primarily eats sponges and sometimes marine algae, spirulina and dried marine algae needs to be fed to them. Look for angelfish foods with sponge matter included. Sanfrancisco Bay Brand has frozen cube packs made especially for Angel fish and Butterfly fish. A tank with live rock will be much better for your angelfish than one without it.

Tank Region : All over, but mostly middle to bottom

Gender : It can be hard to tell the difference between adult male and female specimens. Males may grow to be larger.

Similar Species : Large Saltwater Angel fish - Emperor Angelfish, French Angelfish

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Queen Angelfish Tips

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