Care Level: Moderate
Behavior: Semi-aggressive
Reef Compatible: With Caution
Max Size: Up to 1'3"
Diet: Omnivore
Emperor Angelfish Juvenile (Pomacanthus imperator)
The Emperor Angelfish, otherwise known as the Imperator Angelfish, is black with curved white and blue stripes that start from the tail and move towards the mouth. The Emperor Angelfish is native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans dwelling at depths of as much as 100 meters. As juvenile emperor angelfish age, their coloring changes.
The adult Emperor Angelfish has a blue body covered with bright, horizontal yellow stripes that extend to the yellow-orange caudal fin. Their mouths are white and their eyes are masked by a stunning blue-black, highlighted by a sapphire-blue band. A similar blue-black coloring marks their pectoral region, two thirds of the way up their body.
For best conditions, the Emperor Angelfish requires a 220 gallon or larger tank with live rock for grazing and hiding. It is also necessary to provide extensive rockwork and deep caves to offer a sense of security. It will nip at stony and soft corals (sessile invertebrates) and clam mantles, but it may be kept with small-polyped stony corals and noxious soft corals.
The diet of an Emperor Angelfish should include: spirulina, marine algae, high-quality angelfish preparations, finely shaved mysis or frozen shrimp, or other meaty items. Sponges with a good mix of algae based foods like dried seaweed and spirilina is essential to ensure its vitality.
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