Pomacanthus, Holacanthus And Other Large Angelfish

Beyond the Centropyge genus of angelfish, we have the larger angelfish. They are categorized into six groups of angelfish. They are the genus Holacanthus, Pomacanthus, Pygoplites, Apolemichthys, Chaetodontoplus, Genicanthus.

These large angels are some of the most stunningly colored marine fish in the marine aquarium industry. Like the genus centropyge, the rarer species are sold for extremely high prices on the market.

Most rarer angelfish species usually end up where there is buying power and high demand. Which is to say they usually end up in Hong Kong, Japan and America.

Most larger angelfish are usually found singly or in pairs in the wild. They can range anywhere from a foot to one and a half feet in length. However, it should be noted that in captivity such specimens rarely reach such lengths are their wild counterparts.

The vast majority of them have different coloration as juveniles such as the queen angelfish, emperor angelfish and the French angelfish. Some of them even perform the services of a cleaner fish during this period.

But if there is one thing they all share in common, it is the fact that they are not reef safe. They will usually attempt to consume your corals. Of course, there are always exception to this rule as we have seen from time to time.

Because they are not reef safe, they are normally kept in large fish only aquariums with a variety of large fish. Unfortunately, the vast majority of hobbyists that have fish-only aquarium attempt to stuff their tanks to the brim with a wide variety of tangs and angels. And it works only because aggression is spread out among the fishes instead of a few fish. But it isn't necessarily healthy or humane for that matter as the aggression present is constant.