Black-velvet angelfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-velvet angelfish |
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Holacanthus melanosoma Bleeker, 1853 |
The black-velvet angelfish (also known as the brown angelfish or phantom angelfish) is a type of marine angelfish. Its scientific name is Chaetodontoplus melanosoma. This beautiful fish belongs to the Pomacanthidae family. It lives in the western Pacific Ocean.
What Does It Look Like?
The black-velvet angelfish has a body that is mostly black or brown. Its face is a yellowish-brown color, called ochre. You might also see yellowish-orange spots on its forehead.
Its fins have bright yellow edges. These include the dorsal fin (on its back), the anal fin (on its belly), and the caudal fin (its tail).
The dorsal fin has 13 stiff spines and 17 to 19 soft rays. The anal fin has 3 spines and 17 or 18 soft rays. This angelfish can grow up to 20 centimetres (7.9 in) long.
Where Does It Live?
The black-velvet angelfish is found in the western Pacific Ocean. It lives around central Indonesia. You can find it near islands like western Java, Bali, Komodo, Flores, and Sulawesi. It also lives in northeastern Kalimantan.
This fish is also found in Sabah, Malaysia. In the Philippines, it lives in the Sulu Archipelago, Cebu, and southern Luzon.
Its Home and Habits
This angelfish lives in rocky areas or coastal reefs. It prefers depths from about 5 to 30 meters (about 16 to 98 feet). You often find it in places with strong water currents. It also likes areas where cooler water comes up from below.
The black-velvet angelfish eats tunicates and sponges. You might see them swimming alone or in pairs. These fish are hermaphrodites, meaning they have both male and female reproductive parts.
Keeping Them in Aquariums
The black-velvet angelfish is a popular fish for home aquariums. If you keep one, the water should be between 72 to 78 °F (22 to 26 °C). The water's pH level should be 8.1 to 8.4.
The water's hardness should be 8 to 12 dKH, and its salinity should be 1.020 to 1.025 sg. These fish can grow up to 8 inches (20 cm) in an aquarium. They eat many different things (omnivorous). They might even eat some invertebrates like coral in a tank. They rarely breed in aquariums.
