General information - The French Angelfish is one of the marine fish

that changes colors as it matures. Some say that this ability is its need

to hide from predators and the need to be assimilated in the

environment.When they are young the French Angelfish will be black in

color with five vertical yellow bars. When French Angelfish mature they

will lose those vertical stripes.Face is black save for the grayish mouth

and yellow ring around eye.French Angelfish have tall, narrow bodies.

Because they are so thin, they can maneuver down into narrow cracks

between the corals to hunt their prey. They mainly feed on invertebrates

but will eat small fish with pleasure. French Angelfish is common in

shallow reef environments, typically in the upper 40 meters / 130 feet

of the water column.  

Common Name - French Angelfish, Black Angelfish 

Scientific Name - Pomacanthus paru (French Angelfish) 

Family - Pomacanthidae 

Origin - Caribbean 

Size – Up to 38cm (about 15 inches)  

First discovered - (Bloch, 1787) 

                                                                                     Photo by: Itay Sade

Nutrition – In nature, the French angelfish feeds on sponges, algae, gorgonians, and tunicates.

Provide your French Angelfish with an omnivorous diet similar to what it would eat in nature in the aquarium.

Commercial food on a meaty basis along with frozen food will be ideal for the French Angelfish. The French

Angelfish will appreciate marine algae spirulina and from time to time live food.   

Behavior - Semi-aggressive to aggressive  

Maintenance and care – The French Angelfish should be kept in 100 gallon (568 liters) minimum.

The French Angelfish is a hardy species and it will usually adapt well to a life inAquarium, it is also

recommended to keep the French Angelfish in pairs. The tank should contain plenty of live rock to

create a lot of suitable hiding spots. Use caution when selecting tank mates. French angelfish will eat

smaller fish and crustaceans. These fish are not considered reef safe. 

Water Parameters – Temperature: 72F - 80F (22°C - 27°C), PH: 8.1-8.4, Specific Gravity: 1.020-1.026,

DKH: 8-12 

Breeding – In nature the French Angelfish or Black Angelfish are known to be monogamous

breeding pairs. During the spawning cycle, these pairs are highly territorial. The French Angelfish has

been successfully bred in captivity but it is a hard task.