Blue-girdled angelfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blue-girdled angelfish |
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The blue-girdled angelfish (Pomacanthus navarchus), also called the majestic angelfish, is a beautiful marine angelfish. It lives in the warm waters of the Indo-Pacific region. Sometimes, you might see these fish in home aquariums.
This angelfish is one of the smaller kinds of large angelfish. It can grow up to about 28 centimeters (11 inches) long. It can also live for a long time, sometimes up to 21 years! Young fish like to stay in shallow waters. But older fish can be found deeper, up to about 36 meters (120 feet) down. Majestic angelfish mostly eat sponges and small sea creatures called tunicates. Young angelfish are mostly blue with white stripes. As they get older, they turn yellow on their sides, top fin, and tail.
What Does It Look Like?
This fish has a body that is flattened from side to side. Adult fish have three main colored parts. The front part, near its eyes, is bright yellow. The middle part is shaped like a funnel and is deep blue. The back part has a mix of bright yellow and blue patterns.
These colored parts are separated by light blue bands with black edges. The fish's mouth and lips are blue. The rays of its bottom and side fins are also blue. Its top fin and tail are yellow, with light blue edges. It has a long spine on its gill cover, which it uses to protect itself. Young angelfish are dark blue with slightly curved white stripes on their sides. They change from their young colors to adult colors quite quickly. There isn't much in-between coloring.
Where Does It Live?
The Pomacanthus navarchus lives in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. Its home stretches from Indonesia and the Philippines to northern and eastern Australia and Micronesia. You can find it in places with lots of coral. It lives on the outer slopes of reefs, in channels, and in lagoons. It can be found at depths down to about 40 meters (130 feet).
Life and Habits
The blue-girdled angelfish likes to have its own space. It is usually found alone. But sometimes, you might see them in pairs or small groups. They live near the bottom of the ocean. They eat sponges, algae, tunicates, tiny floating animals called zooplankton, and small invertebrates.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
This fish is a special kind of hermaphrodite. This means it can change its sex during its life. It starts out as a female. Later, it can change and become a male.
