Blueface Angelfish

The blueface angelfish has one of the most striking faces among the large angelfish (Pomacanthus): the head is bright blue and the area around the eyes is covered by a yellow mask. The scales on the body are yellowish with blue edges and look like a net from a distance; there is a black eyespot on the rear part of the dorsal fin, and yellow on the pectoral fins and tail. Juveniles, like other Pomacanthus juveniles, carry white and blue vertical lines on a dark navy background and gradually change to adult colors as they grow.

All individuals are collected from the wild. It is more delicate than the Koran and annularis angelfish; it may refuse food after shipping. A medium-sized (10–15 cm) fish that you have seen eating in the store is the safest choice.

It lives in coral-rich lagoons, channels and on outer reef slopes, usually near caves. Juveniles settle in very shallow, algae-covered coastal caves. It is mostly seen alone; in the wild it feeds on sponges, encrusting organisms and tunicates.

• Volume: at least 1000 liters and 200 cm in length for an adult.
• Water: salinity 1.023–1.026 specific gravity, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C. Low nitrate and stable water; a strong protein skimmer.
• Maturity: an aquarium at least 6 months old with plenty of live rock; the sponges and organisms on the rocks ease the acclimation period.
• Decor: a rock layout with caves and plenty of open water.
• Reef compatibility: not reef safe. It eats LPS and soft corals, zoanthids, tridacna clams and sponges.

Omnivorous. Offer angelfish foods containing sponge, frozen mysis, chopped mussels and shrimp, dried seaweed and spirulina. It should be fed 2–3 times a day. For a fish that arrives without appetite, fresh mussels split in half and grazing on live rock stimulate its appetite.

Once settled, it is calm and curious, but aggressive toward its own species and other large angelfish. It may be timid in the first weeks; very aggressive tankmates make acclimation harder.

Good companions: in a large aquarium: tangs, foxface, Heniochus, large wrasses, calm triggerfish (e.g. Xanthichthys).

Avoid: other large angelfish, reefs with corals and tridacna clams, aggressive species that chase constantly.

Kept as a single individual in the aquarium.

It releases pelagic eggs. It does not breed in home aquariums.

• Acclimation period: loss of appetite and shipping stress are the biggest risks.
• Head and lateral line erosion (HLLE): a varied diet and good water quality prevent it.
• Marine white spot and velvet: quarantine is essential; appetite should be monitored during copper treatment.

The sexes cannot be reliably told apart externally.