Queen Angelfish juvenile (Holacanthus ciliaris)

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Queen Angelfish juvenile
Holacanthus ciliaris
Queen Angelfish juvenile (Holacanthus ciliaris)
Name Queen Angelfish juvenile
Name Lat. Holacanthus ciliaris
Family Angelfishes
Family lat. Pomacanthidae
Order Surgeonfishes
Order lat. Acanthuriformes
Origin Western Atlantic
Habitat Coral reefs
Diet Omnivore
pH 8.1-8.4
Hardness 8-10 °KH
Behavior Semi-aggressive
Keeping Individual, pair
Reef Compatible With caution
Care Level Difficult
Life Span 10-15 years
Protection No
Metric Units
Size 45 cm
Temperature 22-28 °C
Salinity 33-36 ‰
Aquarium ~ 1.250 l
US Units
Size 18"
Temperature 72-82 °F
Salinity 1.020-1.025 sg
Aquarium ~ 330 gal

Distribution and habitat

The range of the swimming Holacanthus ciliaris extends from Florida through the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean to Brazil, where they mostly live on inner and outer reefs with rich sponge and coral growth down to 70 m depth.

Maintenance

They require a well-structured aquarium with plenty of swimming space and a reef structure (hiding, resting and retreat possibilities) with living stones which they can graze on and which act like a biological filter. Only lime-rich, heavy metal-free sands, gravels, stones or sea sand of various grain sizes may be used as substrate

Filters, skimmers and heaters are necessary to ensure water quality, as well as pumps to simulate tides, swells and bottom currents. Lighting must correspond to the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals

Salinity: 33-36 ‰ pH value: 8.1-8.4
Carbonate hardness: 8-10 °KH Nitrate content: 2-8 mg/l
phosphate content: 0.01-0.1 mg/l nitrite content: 0.0-0.05 mg/l

For salinity, an average value should be aimed for, which may only vary slightly by +/- 0.5 ‰. Ammonia and ammonium must not be measurable. Special attention must be paid to constantly good water quality.

Diet

They are permanent eaters, feeding on small crustaceans and algae as well as sponges. The change of feed does not always succeed without problems. The food supply should consist of a commercially available, vitamin-enriched frozen special food mix for angelfish or a combination of algae (e.g. spirulina, nori), chopped shrimp, crab and mussel meat with live and frozen food such as mysis, krill, bosmids and artemia as well as live cyclops, which also serve to keep them busy. High-quality granulated or flake food is also usually accepted after a period of acclimation

It is recommended to feed small portions several times a day (3-5 times). Regular and varied feeding promotes health and increases resistance.

Behaviour and compatibility

It is recommended to keep them in pairs. To avoid ranking fights, two different sized or two juvenile animals should be placed in the aquarium at the same time. The dominant, larger animal always develops into the male. They are territorial and can be aggressive towards other angelfish. Towards other fish they usually behave peacefully.

Sex dimorphism

They are protogynous hermaphrodites, i.e. most males develop from functional females. External sexual characteristics are not known.

Reproduction and breeding

There are no known reports of successful breeding in the aquarium.

Important

Juveniles have 2-3 years of juvenile plumage that is distinctly different from adult coloration

As reef dwellers they should not be kept in a fish-only aquarium. If kept in pairs and fed frequently as well as variedly, they can be maintained in challenging coral tanks without serious attacks on the corals. In case of boredom due to poorly structured swimming space (few living stones, low reef surface) they often develop stereotypies.

If different species are kept together, care must be taken that the fish match each other in terms of water quality and temperature requirements and social behavior, and that the setup meets the needs of all species kept together. New fish to be introduced must be acclimated slowly to the water in the aquarium

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Werner Winter; Image: petdata 

Source: KUITER, DEBELIUS (2007): Atlas der Meeresfische: Die Fische an den Küsten der Weltmeere, Kosmos Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch

  • Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF