Emperor Angelfish

Pomacanthus imperator

Pinstriped in electric blue and gold with a bandit mask. Juveniles look totally different – rings of white on navy.

A semi-aggressive saltwater fish that grows to 38 cm, lives in the middle of the tank and needs 24–27 °C, pH 8.0–8.4 and an aquarium of at least 500 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Saltwater

Temperature

24–27 °C (75–81 °F)

pH

8.0–8.4

Adult size

38 cm (15 in)

Aquarium

500 L or bigger (132 US gal)

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Middle

Diet

Omnivore

Wild home

Indo-Pacific reefs

Good to know

• Coral nipper. Picks at corals, so it is no friend of a reef tank.

Tank mates

Good company: Blue-Leg Hermit Crab, Copperband Butterflyfish, Firefish Goby, Foxface Rabbitfish, Mandarin Dragonet, Moorish Idol, Neon Goby, Regal Angelfish, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Snowflake Moray.

Attacked by: Clown Triggerfish.

Eats the newborn fry of: Banggai Cardinalfish, Green Chromis, Harlequin Shrimp, Neon Goby, Ocellaris Clownfish, Royal Gramma, Yellowtail Damselfish.

Colours

• Classic epic

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.