Animal-World > Marine Fish > Marine Angelfish > Red Sea Angelfish

Red Sea Angelfish

Yellowbar Angelfish ~ Yellow-Band Angelfish
Yellowbar Angelfish ~ Half Moon Angelfish ~ Map Angelfish Family: Pomacanthidae Pomacanthus maculosus Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy Greg Rothschild

   The Red Sea Angelfish or Yellowbar Angelfish is very curious and will often approach divers to within a meter! For this reason it is a great specimen for underwater photographers.

  The Red Sea Angelfish or Yellowbar Angelfish is one of the largest species of angelfish reaching almost 20 inches (50 cm), though most available specimens are less than 12 inches (30 cm). In some of localities of the Arabian Peninsula large adults are sold at fish markets and are considered good-eating. The picture above shows the adult coloration. The characteristic "yellow band" is clearly visible and will become somewhat more prominent as the fish ages.

   It is hardy and easy to care for once it has acclimated, an excellent pet for large fish only aquariums. It can do well with other Pomacanthid members and also with other larger and rather aggressive species. However sometimes it is aggressive toward other larger angelfish, especially of the same genus. Provide an environment with lots of open space for swimming as well as rockwork with some large crevices for retreat.

For more Information on keeping marine fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Marine Aquarium

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Status:
   These fish are not listed on the IUCN Red List.

Description:
   The adult Red Sea Angelfish or Yellowbar Angelfish has an overall blue to dark blue body with a large yellow blotch centrally on the side and the forehead has smaller black vertical dots. The dorsal and anal fins are sharply pointed posteriorly, forming a filament on each fin. The caudal fin is whitish to yellowish with numerous yellowish fine dots and the margin of the fin is white. The pelvic fins are dark blue.

   They are very similar in appearance to the Arabian Angelfish P. asfur also occurring in the Red Sea area. Their yellow blotch varies depending on the individual adult, and will become larger with age.
   Juveniles differ greatly, they are patterned in a coloration of deep blue with narrow vertical white lines on the side like those of other Pomacanthus members. Juveniles species of the Koran Angelfish P.semicirculatus and the Emperor angelfish P. imperator also have a blue body with white stripes. Changes in their color pattern depends on age, not on size.

  They will hybridize with the Koran Angelfish P.semicirculatus, the Arabian Angelfish P. Asfur, and also the Ear-Spot Angelfish P. chrysurus, all of which are also inhabitants of the Red Sea.

Length/Diameter of fish:
   Adult can reach 19.7 inches (50 cm), but most individuals are less than 13.8 inches (35 cm)

Maintenance difficulty:
  The Red Sea Angelfish is easy to keep in captivity once it has been successfully acclimated. The offspring raise in captivity from Taiwan are noted for being extremely hardy and are highly recommended. Wild caught specimens can be finicky eaters, though young specimens under 8 inches (20 cm) seem to adapt better to aquarium life than the adults.They require large show tanks and the availability of a large variety of foods.
   Most of Pomacanthus members are very hardy but on occasion they suffer from “ich” (white spot disease) and other infectious diseases. They may be treated successfully with medical care or copper drugs.
   In the wild a cleaner wrasse (Labroides sp.) will help them by taking parasites from their bodies, however these wrasses are extremely difficult to sustain in captivity. Alternative fish such as Neon Gobies (Gobiosoma spp.) can help them by providing this cleaning service in the home aquarium.

  Diseases that marine angelfish are susceptible to:
Marine Ich (white spot disease), Marine Velvet, and Lymphocystis (a viral infection).

Foods:
   The Red Sea Angelfish or Yellowbar Angelfish are omnivores, in the wild it is believed they eat mostly sponges, tunicates, and algae. No special food is needed in the aquarium, they will readily accept a wide variety of foods. Provide a varied diet that includes substantial sponge foods, either commercially prepared mixtures containing sponge or by providing live sponge. Offer Meaty foods, dried flakes, shrimps, and tablets are favorites but also offer frozen shrimps, prepared diets for sponge and algae eaters, vegetables, and Japanese Nori. As this fish may nip the polyps of some stony and soft coral species, it is not recommended for reef-type aquariums. Feed them at least twice a day.

Maintenance:
   No special care or technique is needed to maintain this fish in the aquarium. It will usually swim actively in the open space and move in and out of crevices. It will venture to the surface for foods when it is well acclimated.

Aquarium Parameters:
   The tank should have a lot of open swimming space and be well decorated with rocks/ corals creating some large crevices for retreat. No need for a sand bed.
Minimum Tank Length/Size:
   A minimum 70 gallon (265 liters) for juveniles, and 125 gallons (473 liters) or larger for adults. They can be housed with other species of angelfish as long as the tank is quite large, 180 gallons (680 liters) or more.
Light: Recommended light levels
   It is best kept under normal lighting, but can also be kept in sunlight conditions and in a dimly lit tank.
Temperature:
   This species dwells in tropical areas. Temperatures between 75 -79° F (24 - 26° C) will serve them well, but temperatures higher than 86° F (30° C) or below 72 ° F (22° C) would not be good.
Water Movement: Weak, Moderate, Strong
   No special requirements, it can tolerate a rather stronger flow or still water.
Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom
   They are open swimmers but tend to stay in the middle or bottom area of the aquarium, and will spend time in crevices as well.

Social Behaviors:
  The Red Sea Angelfish is aggressive and very territorial in nature, always patrolling the reef. It is generally a solitary fish and usually inhabits crevices in the reef foraging for food. It is not a reef safe fish as it will pick at live corals. It will do well in a fish community tank, but do not select similar-sized angelfish or other angels of the same species as tank mates as it can be very aggressive towards them. Smaller Centropyge, Apolemichthys, Genicanthus, Chaetodontoplus and Pygoplites can be good choices. Also smaller and non-aggressive cardinalfish, gobies, tilefish, damselfish, butterflyfish, fairy basslets, wrasses, etc. can be good candidates.

Sex: Sexual differences:
   No sexual difference is noted.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   This species is now regularly raised in Taiwan and the offspring are extremely hardy. In the wild, the type of mating system employed by Pomacanthus is dependent on the density of the population at a particular location. In one area they may form permanent pairs while in other areas, where the species is more common, they may form harems. Each harem consists of a male defending several females in a small area. In all systems however, these fish spawn in pairs.
   Pairs congregate at the edge of the reef at sunset. They often engage in a courtship display where the male and female swim in a brisk head to tail circling motion. Each pair will spawn and ascend into the water column. Swimming together in an arc up to about 7 - 10 feet (2 - 3 meters) above the substrate, they expel pelagic eggs at the summit.
   For more information see, Marine Fish Breeding. 

Buy Red Sea Angelfish From LiveAquaria.com

Availability:
   The Red Sea Angelfish or Yellowbar Angelfish is regularly available at retailers. Young specimens of about 2 - 3 inches (5 - 7cm) will often be available, but tiny juveniles are seldom obtainable. Adults command a fairly high price of around $200.00 USD, while tank-raised young specimens are sold at the lower cost of about $30.00 USD.

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Author: Hiroyuki Tanaka
Additional Information: Clarice Brough, CFS