Holacanthus ciliaris
| Common Names: | Queen Angelfish |
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| Family: | Pomacanthidae |
| Category: | Pomacanthidae |
| Distribution: | Atlantic - West; Caribbean Ocean and Western Atlantic – southern Florida, various islands in the West Indies, Gulf of Mexico. |
| Main Ecosystem: | Reef; Inhabits mature reef systems comprised of stony reef building corals such as Acropora, particularly reefs that contain abundant populations of Porifera (sponges). |
| Temperament: | Active; Like all large Angelfishes, the Queen Angelfish will exhibit territorial behaviour towards others of its own species (with the exception of a mated pair), and is likely to exhibit territorial behaviour toward other large Angelfishes in addition. May coexist with some Dwarf Angelfishes (Centropyge species) though such integration should be considered experimental and best left to the advanced aquarist. Likely to exhibit a peaceful disposition toward non-Angelfish species, but its large adult size means that choice of aquarium companions requires some care: smaller fishes should be capable of competing adequately with the Queen Angelfish for food. |
| Diet: | Ominvore; A feeder upon live sponges in the wild, will also feed upon small crustaceans, graze upon filamentous algae, and is capable of feeding upon numerous groups of sessile invertebrates, particularly tunicates and bryozoans (these animal groups have been identified in stomach contents by scientists). Because of this, the Queen Angelfish should be regarded as NOT REEF SAFE – especially in an aquarium containing live sponges! Likely to consider such other desirable reef inhabitants as feather duster worms as food items. Specimens vary considerably with respect to their willingness to attack different sessile invertebrates – occasional well-behaved specimens contrast with, at the other extreme, pathologically destructive ones that will depopulate a reef aquarium’s sessile invertebrates with relish! In the aquarium, may prove recalcitrant at first with respect to feeding (again, individuals are variable in this respect), but once a specimen IS persuaded to feed, it usually competes actively for food and may out-compete some more delicate fishes. In the aquarium, the Queen Angelfish should be fed specialist sponge-ba |
| Care: | Like all Angelfishes, should be housed in an established aquarium with an excellent quality filtration system, with scrupulous attention paid to maintaining low nitrate levels – the Queen Angelfish in particular becomes susceptible to a range of diseases if exposed to nitrate levels above 20 parts per million. Efforts should be made to keep nitrates at 10 ppm or lower in an aquarium containing this beautiful and expensive fish. Aquarium should be furnished with live rock and coral skeletons allowing the fish to seek shelter and cover – paradoxically, if given a secure home, the Queen Angelfish becomes a bold, extrovert swimmer in the aquarium, its stately, majestic progress through the water and brilliant colouration justifying the name “Queen Angelfish”. Companions should be chosen with care – active fishes that will compete adequately with the Queen Angelfish for food, yet remain relatively peaceful (Butterfly Fishes for example) are the fishes of choice. The large adult size of this fish makes a 200 gallon aquarium a MINIMUM setup for this species – larger again if kept with similarly sized companions. Because of the need to maintain tight control over nitrate levels, and provide pristine water conditions for good health, the Queen Angelfish should be considered a challenging species for the experienced (and wealthy!) aquarist: the fish is NOT suitable for novice marine fishkeepers. |
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| Potential Size: | Male: 45cm (17.7") Female: 45cm (17.7") |
| Water Region: | Middle; In the wild, patrols a territory close to assorted coral landmarks, constantly on the lookout for food items of interest, usually categorised thus as a mid-level fish. In a sensitively designed and well maintained aquarium, becomes a bold swimmer in all water regions. |
| Activity: | Diurnal; A Queen Angelfish in good health is ceaselessly active, perusing its surroundings with openly manifest curiosity, and displaying itself to its owner in a showy fashion. Large adults can assume a pet-like mantle, and may even learn to take food from the owner’s fingers. |
| Gender: | No obvious colour or morphological differences documented between male and female. |
| Breeding: | No details reported currently about this species, though like certain other Angelfish species, the Queen Angelfish may be a protogynous hermaphrodite. As breeding behaviour in the wild is currently undocumented, likewise captive breeding is unknown at present, and in any case would require an aquarium of prodigious size to house two adults safely, given their territorial requirements. The related King Angelfish, Holacanthus passer, is reported to be an open water egg scatterer. |
| Variants: | The Queen Angelfish is part of a complex of Holacanthus species that includes the closely related Blue Angelfish, Holacanthus bermudensis, and the taxonomic situation with respect to these fishes is not resolved to universal satisfaction at this time – some consider the two species to be subspecies of Holacanthus ciliaris, while others maintain that they are separate species. The Queen Angelfish differs in adult colouration from the Blue Angelfish in lacking stripes upon the flanks. Allied to these two is the very similar Holacanthus isabelita, this name having been used in the past for the Queen Angelfish also, but now recognised as a separate species. Expect the taxonomic status of these fishes to be revised yet again at some future date! |
| Comments: | Even as a juvenile, the Queen Angelfish is impressive-looking, but upon attaining full adult colouration, the species becomes truly magnificent in appearance. However, as befits such a glorious (and expensive) fish, its quarters need to be constructed on a royal scale! The combination of large adult size (it is one of the largest of all the Angelfishes), variable willingness to begin feeding in the aquarium, and severe intolerance to even modest nitrate levels in the aquarium make this a fish for the experienced and dedicated keeper. Novice aquarists will be dissuaded in any case from buying this fish by its intimidating price tag – even juveniles can command large sums, while adults can best be described as ‘hideously expensive’! |
| Main Colours: | Yellow, Blue, Red |
| Markings: | No Markings |
| Mouth: | Normal |
| Tail: | Convex |
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| Image Credit: | © FishProfiles.com |
| Submitted By: | Calilasseia |
| Contributors: | Calilasseia |
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