French Angelfish saltwater fish care guide

Pomacanthus paru is a large, deep-bodied angelfish of the tropical Atlantic, reaching roughly 16 inches. Adults are black to very dark overall, with each body scale rimmed in bright golden-yellow, a pale white mouth and chin, yellow around the eyes, orange-yellow at the pectoral-fin base, and a trailing yellow dorsal filament. Juveniles look nothing like the adults: they are dark with bold vertical yellow bands, and they operate cleaning stations where they remove parasites from other reef fishes. The species ranges across Atlantic coral reefs from Florida and the Bahamas through the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean to Brazil, with additional eastern Atlantic records at Ascension Island and St. Paul's Rocks.

Adult housing should be generous. A 250-gallon aquarium is the practical long-term minimum, and larger is better for a fish of this bulk and swimming habit. Build the aquascape around extensive rockwork with caves, cracks and crevices that provide secure retreats and grazing surfaces, while leaving substantial open water for cruising. The system should be well established before the fish is introduced, since mature rock supplies the incidental grazing material this angelfish constantly investigates.

On the reef, adults feed heavily on sponges and round out their intake with algae, tunicates, bryozoans, zoantharians, gorgonians and corals. Juveniles take algae and detritus in addition to the parasites they pick from client fishes. That sponge-dominated natural diet is the key to long-term success in captivity, and it should shape every meal offered.

Build the captive diet around angelfish preparations containing sponge matter, then supplement with marine algae or Spirulina, Nori or macroalgae, and frozen foods such as mysis and fortified brine shrimp. Offer numerous small feedings when the fish is first introduced to encourage it to settle in and begin eating, then continue with at least several feedings each day. Variety matters as much as frequency for an omnivore of this size.

Sponge-Based Angelfish Preparations Marine Algae Spirulina Nori Macroalgae Mysis Shrimp Fortified Brine Shrimp
Wild adults typically occur as territorial pairs, and breeding pairs actively defend their area against neighboring pairs. Newly introduced specimens, whether juvenile or adult, often retreat into caves and crevices for a period before becoming more outgoing and claiming a territory of their own. This is a semi-aggressive fish that can come to dominate a mixed community, so it should be added after more docile tankmates have established themselves.

Avoid housing it with another angelfish from the same genus, and steer clear of similarly colored species that may trigger a territorial response. Success with tankmates depends heavily on aquarium volume, consistent feeding and an abundance of hiding places. Adults are not reef safe: soft corals, large- and small-polyped stony corals, clam mantles and tubeworms are all documented targets. Juveniles may be less destructive, but that early restraint should never be treated as a guarantee of adult behavior.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

About the French Angelfish

  • How large an aquarium should I plan for?
    Plan conservatively on at least 250 gallons for long-term adult housing. Published aquarium minimums for this species vary, with some references listing a smaller volume, but the larger figure better suits a 16-inch angelfish.
  • Can a French Angelfish be kept in a reef aquarium?
    No. Adults nip or consume soft corals, large- and small-polyped stony corals, clam mantles and tubeworms, and juveniles that behave themselves early on offer no assurance of adult reef compatibility.
  • How does the juvenile differ from the adult?
    Juveniles are dark with conspicuous vertical yellow bands and run cleaning stations for other reef fishes. Adults lose the bands and develop golden-yellow scale edging, a pale mouth and chin, and a trailing yellow dorsal filament.