Tips on Caring for Emperor Angelfish

The emperor angelfish, Pomacanthus imperator, is a member of the Pomacanthidae family. The family Pomacanthidae encompasses all marine angelfish. There are seven cataloged genera and 86 species collectively referred to as angelfish. Neither of these species is a freshwater fish. Angelfish populate shallow-water reef formations in tropical ocean regions. The emperor is a native of the Indian and Pacific oceans. Its habitat extends from the Red Sea to the coasts of Hawaii and from southern Japan to the Great Barrier Reef.

The Emperor is named after his majestic color palette consisting of electric blue, royal blue, and bright yellow. The coloration of this species is clearly different between adults and juveniles. When young, this species has a deep blue body and tail fin color. Contrasting dramatically with the dark body are concentric circles of black and white rings that expand much like ripples in still water when disturbed by a falling object. These circles start in the tail region and work their way up to the head of the fish. At approximately four years of age, the fish will experience a morphological color change as part of its transition to adulthood. Adults have blue and yellow horizontal stripes along their body, a black, blue-rimmed mask around the eyes and yellow in place of dark blue tail fins. Juveniles that are bred in captivity generally do not have as vivid colors as their native counterparts. This may be due to a nutritional deficiency in captivity that has yet to be determined.

These are one of the most expensive saltwater species. You can expect to pay anywhere from $ 80 to over $ 300 for one of these fish, depending on its size and level of maturity. These fish are also marketed as Imperator (a commander of the Roman legions) or Imperial Angelfish.

This species is not recommended for the aquarist hobbyist. They are intolerant of anything other than the pristine conditions of the water. They grow to an adult length of 15 inches. They require a minimum tank size of 100 gallons. They are also prone to parasite infestation. If you have a quarantine tank, it is advisable to isolate them for a minimum of two weeks before introducing them to your other fish. If you buy one from a local retailer, they may agree to quarantine you as part of the purchase agreement.

These are moderately aggressive animals. They tend to intimidate smaller fish and are very likely to be eaten. They should only be housed with larger species of a similar nature. Emperor fish are extremely territorial with members of their own species in the confines of captivity. You should not try to add more than one to your aquarium.

Although native to tropical reefs, this species is not a suitable candidate for a marine reef aquarium. These fish will become very large omnivores. They will easily devour the smallest crustaceans in your reef tank. And they’ll see your collection of soft, stony coral as a delicacy to savor.

Remember that this species is known to have an as yet unidentified nutritional deficiency when bred in captivity. They should be fed a diverse diet that simulates their eating habits in nature as closely as possible. They will eat frozen seafood, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, and seaweed. Your diet should be supplemented with fresh chopped seafood from your grocery store regularly. Shrimp, mollusks, squid and octopus are recommended as main dishes. You can buy seafood specially developed for angelfish. They will include a percentage of sponge cake in the ingredients. The sponge is a primary source of nutrients for these fish in nature. It is strongly recommended that you research the dietary requirements of this species thoroughly before deciding to spend such a large expense.