Cortez Angelfish

The Cortez Angelfish is a large and impressive species native to the eastern Pacific, most commonly associated with the Sea of Cortez in Mexico from which it takes its name. Adults display a striking pattern of dark gray to brown coloration with bright yellow vertical bars and a yellow caudal fin. A distinctive yellow band curves along the body behind the pectoral fin, and the face features blue accents around the eyes and gill covers. The overall effect is both bold and handsome, making this one of the most attractive eastern Pacific angelfish.

In the wild, Cortez Angelfish inhabit rocky reefs and boulder-strewn areas along the Pacific coast from the Sea of Cortez south to Peru. They are commonly found at moderate depths around rocky overhangs and crevices, where they feed on sponges, tunicates, and algae. Juveniles exhibit the typical Pomacanthus juvenile pattern of dark blue to black with vertical yellow and blue bars, undergoing a gradual transformation to adult coloration as they mature.

Reaching up to 18 inches in the wild, the Cortez Angelfish requires a very large aquarium of at least 200 gallons. It is not considered reef-safe and is best housed in a fish-only or fish-only-with-live-rock system. This species adapts fairly well to captive conditions and will accept a variety of prepared foods. It can be semi-aggressive toward other large angelfish but generally coexists peacefully with other robust community fish in sufficiently large systems.