Regal Angelfish

Pygoplites diacanthus

Tangerine with white bars outlined in navy, like a piece of stained glass. Picky about food and water, but nothing on the reef looks finer.

A peaceful saltwater fish that grows to 25 cm, lives in the middle of the tank and needs 24–27 °C, pH 8.0–8.4 and an aquarium of at least 400 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Saltwater

Temperature

24–27 °C (75–81 °F)

pH

8.0–8.4

Adult size

25 cm (10 in)

Aquarium

400 L or bigger (106 US gal)

Temperament

Peaceful

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Middle

Diet

Omnivore

Wild home

Coral-rich reefs of the Indo-Pacific

Good to know

• Delicate. Sensitive to poor water quality.
• Coral nipper. Picks at corals, so it is no friend of a reef tank.

Tank mates

Good company: Blue-Leg Hermit Crab, Copperband Butterflyfish, Coral Beauty, Firefish Goby, Flame Hawkfish, Golden Dwarf Moray, Green Chromis, Mandarin Dragonet, Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Snowflake Moray.

Attacked by: Clown Triggerfish.

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

Colours

• Classic epic
• Red Sea 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.