Saltwater Angelfish are truly an aquarist's inspiration, few fish rival their beauty and majesty!

 

Marine Angelfish are remarkable creatures and some of the most alluring of all fish. They have an elegant form, graceful movement, and often display beautiful vibrant colors. Their bodies are compressed laterally, a flat disc-like form that allows them to slip between rocky outcroppings and reef crevices. They come in all shapes and sizes, and although they can be very showy, their coloration actually helps them blend with the patterns and shadows of the reef.

 

Saltwater angelfish vary considerably in their care requirements, and with wild caught specimens, acclimating them to the aquarium can be a challenge. Yet once established they are relatively hardy, making these exquisite specimens highly desirable. Angelfish do tend to become very territorial as they mature, so it is generally recommended to keep only a single specimen.

 

Many feed only on sponge and tunicate, and adult specimens may become destructive to a reef. There are prepared angel formulas containing sponge, but it can often be difficult to get an angel to accept new foods. However once an angelfish is feeding it can live for many years. An example is the aquarium in Nancy, France, which has successfully kept several specimens of saltwater angelfish for over 20 years.

 

The list of saltwater angelfish below include many aquarium fish species. Each fish guide has in-depth angelfish information about their places of origin, habitats and behaviors as well as the fish care needed for successfully keeping angelfish aquariums. Angelfish pictures are also provided within each fish guide to help with saltwater fish identification, and aid in choosing pet fish.

 

About Saltwater Angelfish: 

 

Saltwater Angelfish are found on shallow reefs in the tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Western Pacific Oceans. The majority of the angelfish species are found in the Western Pacific, only nine species are found in the Atlantic and as few as four in the Eastern Pacific/Indian Ocean areas. The family Pomacanthidae, angelfishes, consists of 9 genera containing approximately 87 species of saltwater angelfish. They are distinguished from the similarly shaped butterflyfish by strong preopercle spines found on each of the lower gill covers of the angelfish.

 

For the most part, marine angelfish dwell among shallow reefs. They are diurnal, moving about and feeding during the daytime, and at night seeking refuge among crevices in the reef and rocky outcroppings. Many are solitary, but some are found in pairs, or living in small groups or harems consisting of a dominant male and several females. These fish are pelagic spawners. They release many tiny eggs into the planktonic water column where they float with the currents until they hatch.

 

Saltwater angelfish are very colorful and come in many sizes. As juveniles they can have a different coloration than they do as adults. These fishes are also protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning they begin their life cycle as females with dominant specimens turning male. Males can also revert back to female if the social status changes. Many of the adult angelfish become territorial as they grow older and it is thought that perhaps the different coloration among the younger fish keep them from being the target of the older fish's aggression. Another interesting tidbit, some angels are also known to perform cleaner fish duties as juveniles.

 

Size wise, angelfish range from about 4 inches (10 cm) to 24 inches (60 cm) in the wild. The smallest species, those known as the Dwarf Angel or Pygmy Angel, only reach up to about 6" (15 cm). Other species are medium sized to quite large, with the largest angelfish reaching about 24" (60 cm). Marine angels all have small mouths and tail fins that are crescent-shaped, or lunate. Many angels have decorative streamers that extend from the outer tips of the tail fin and the dorsal fin.

 

Saltwater angelfish are very similar to the equally showy butterflyfishes. But angels are distinguished by their strong preopercle spines found on each of the lower gill covers, which are lacking on the butterflyfish. They are members of the Pomacanthidae family, a descriptive name for these preopercle-spine fish derived from the Greeks, with "Poma" meaning cover and "akantha" meaning thorn.

 

Saltwater Angelfish Species : 

 

Angelfish are members of the Perciformes Order, the perch-like, Ray-finned or Bony Fishes. This order of fishes originated more than 65 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period, also a time of the dinosaurs. Perciformes are comprised of more than 7000 species of fish with about 155 families. The Saltwater Angelfish belong under the Pomacanthidae Family, which consists of 9 genera containing approximately 87 saltwater angelfish species.