Queen Angelfish

The Queen Angelfish is widely regarded as one of the most magnificent marine fish in the Western Atlantic, displaying a regal combination of electric blue and vibrant yellow-gold that fully justifies its royal name. Adults feature a brilliant blue body edged and accented with bright yellow on the pectoral fins, dorsal and anal fin margins, and tail. The most distinguishing feature is the dark blue-ringed ocellus or "crown" on the forehead, which resembles a royal diadem and gives the species its common name. It is a breathtaking sight both on Caribbean reefs and in large home aquariums.

In the wild, Queen Angelfish are found throughout the Western Atlantic, from Bermuda and Florida through the Caribbean to Brazil, inhabiting coral reefs at depths of 1 to 70 meters. They are typically encountered as solitary individuals or in pairs, feeding primarily on sponges, which make up the bulk of their natural diet, along with tunicates, jellyfish, corals, plankton, and algae. Juveniles serve as cleaner fish, setting up cleaning stations where they remove parasites from larger fish species.

Due to its large adult size of up to 18 inches, the Queen Angelfish requires a very large aquarium of at least 220 gallons. It is not considered reef-safe, as it will readily consume sponges, soft corals, stony coral polyps, and clam mantles. This species is best housed in a fish-only or fish-only-with-live-rock system. The Queen Angelfish is considered an advanced-level species due to its dietary requirements, large space needs, and sensitivity to water quality. A well-maintained specimen, however, will reward the dedicated aquarist with decades of incomparable beauty.