Fish atlas

This species is native to the Western Indian Ocean. Its range extends along the East African coast from Kenya and Tanzania to northern South Africa, including Madagascar, the Comoro Islands, and the Seychelles. It inhabits coral-rich reefs and coastal rocky reefs exposed to strong currents at depths ranging from 1 to 30 meters, showing a strong preference for areas with overhangs, crevices, and sheltered caves.

Belonging to the family Pomacanthidae, Pomacanthus chrysurus features a deep, oval, laterally compressed body. It has a small mouth equipped with brush-like teeth designed to feed on sponges. Adults can grow to a maximum total length of 33 centimeters. Like all members of the genus, it possesses a prominent, sharp spine on the lower margin of the preoperculum used for defense.

It is a solitary and highly territorial species, particularly toward conspecifics and other large angelfish. It is a diurnal swimmer, continuously patrolling the reef structure in search of food. In captivity, it requires significant space and hiding places to reduce territorial stress and prevent aggressive encounters with tankmates.

Adult coloration is striking: the body is dark brown to blackish, marked by thin, curved, vertical white-to-blue lines, a distinctive orange ringed spot behind the eye (known as the 'earspot'), and a bright gold-yellow caudal fin. Juveniles are dark blue with light blue and white stripes. No visible external sexual dimorphism is present.

Requires a mature marine aquarium of at least 600-700 liters to house a single adult specimen. The aquascape must feature a massive and stable live rock structure that creates large caves, tunnels, and overhangs where the fish can hide and rest. Efficient protein skimming and robust water flow are essential to maintain water quality.

An omnivore specializing in sponges and tunicates. In the aquarium, it must be fed a specialized angelfish diet containing sponge matter, supplemented with frozen foods like mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, krill, and chopped seafood. Offer regular vegetable-based foods such as spirulina and dried nori to support color retention.

Demands pristine and stable marine parameters: temperature between 24°C and 26°C, pH range from 8.1 to 8.4, specific gravity (SG) between 1.020 and 1.025, and carbonate hardness (KH) of 8 to 12 dKH. Ammonia and nitrite must be kept at absolute zero, with nitrates maintained below 15 ppm through water changes.

Not considered reef safe as it will nip at large polyp stony (LPS) corals, soft corals, zoanthids, and clam mantles. It coexists well with other active marine fish such as tangs, wrasses, and clownfish. Do not house with other large angelfish, especially from the genus Pomacanthus, unless the tank is exceptionally large.

Captive breeding in home aquariums is undocumented and considered impossible. They are pelagic broadcast spawners, forming pairs to release gametes in open water. The eggs float and drift, and rearing the complex larval stage requires specialized microscopic live foods that are extremely difficult to culture in closed systems.

Highly susceptible to marine ectoparasites like Cryptocaryon irritans (marine ich) and Oodinium (velvet) when stressed. It is also prone to Head and Lateral Line Erosion (HLLE) if its diet lacks essential vitamins or if water quality is poor. A strict quarantine period is highly recommended before introduction.