Description
The Juvenile Emperor Angelfish is one of the most iconic and beautiful marine fish, featuring deep blue coloration with striking white circular swirl patterns. As it matures, it undergoes a dramatic transformation into the adult form with bold blue and yellow horizontal stripes and a black mask. A true showpiece species prized by marine hobbyists.
Native:
Indo-Pacific region including the Red Sea, Maldives, Indonesia, and surrounding reef systems.
Lighting:
Moderate to high marine lighting.
Placement:
Mid to upper tank swimmer. Requires plenty of rockwork for hiding along with open swimming space. Minimum tank size: 125–180 gallons (475–680 liters).
Temperature:
24–28°C (75–82°F)
Salinity:
1.020–1.025 SG
pH:
8.1–8.4
Alkalinity:
8–12 dKH
Diet:
Omnivore. Requires a varied diet including sponge-based angelfish preparations, marine algae, spirulina, mysis shrimp, and high-quality pellets.
Adult Size:
Up to 40 cm (15–16 inches)
Care Level:
Moderate to Advanced
Compatibility:
Semi-aggressive. Suitable with tangs, larger wrasses, and other angelfish in large systems.
Not reef-safe — may nip at corals, clams, and invertebrates.
