Queensland Yellowtail Angelfish (Chaetodontoplus meredithi)

Queensland Yellowtail Angelfish Chaetodontoplus meredithi
Name	Queensland Yellowtail Angelfish
Name Lat.	Chaetodontoplus meredithi
Family	Angelfishes
Family lat.	Pomacanthidae
Order	Surgeonfishes
Order lat.	Acanthuriformes
Origin	Western Pacific
Habitat	Lagoons, 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	N/A
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	25 cm
Temperature	21-26 °C
Salinity	33-36 ‰
Aquarium	~ 750 l
US Units
Size	10"
Temperature	70-79 °F
Salinity	1.020-1.025 sg
Aquarium	~ 200 gal

Distribution and habitat

The range of the swimming Chaetodontoplus meredithi is the western Pacific, from the east coast of Australia to the Lord Howe Islands, where they live mostly in open water near reefs with sponge, algae and coral growth. They can be easily confused with Chaetodontoplus personifer, which as adults have a black band on the caudal fin.

Maintenance

They need a well-structured aquarium with a reef structure that offers hiding, resting and covering possibilities (crevices, caves), with living stones that they can graze on and that act like a biological filter as well as sufficient swimming space. Only lime-rich, heavy metal-free substrates 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 match 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

In nature they feed mainly on algae, crustaceans and 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. Dry food (granules, flakes) can be offered in addition. 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, which means that most males develop from functional females. Males have a slightly more elongated body.

Reproduction and breeding

There are isolated reports of successful breeding in the aquarium.

Important

As reef dwellers they should not be kept in a fish-only aquarium. If kept in pairs, with sufficient activity (live stones, corals, large reef surface) and frequent as well as varied feeding, they can be maintained even in demanding coral tanks without serious attacks on the corals.

If different species are kept together, care should be taken that the fish match each other in terms of water quality and temperature requirements as well as their 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: Franz Lowak

Source: KUITER, DEBELIUS (2007): Atlas der Meeresfische: Die Fische an den Küsten der Weltmeere, Kosmos Verlag; PATZNER & MOOSLEITNER (1999): Meerwasser Atlas Bd. 6, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF