Royal angelfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Royal angelfish |
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Pygoplites
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| Species: |
diacanthus
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The royal angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) is also known as the regal angelfish. This beautiful fish lives in the ocean. It is a type of marine angelfish and belongs to the family called Pomacanthidae.
The royal angelfish is the only species in its group, which is called Pygoplites. You can find these fish in the warm, tropical parts of the Indo-Pacific oceans. They can grow up to 25 centimeters (about 10 inches) long.
Contents
What Does the Royal Angelfish Look Like?
The royal angelfish has a body that is a bit long and very flat. It has a small mouth that can stick out. Its eyes are also quite small.
This fish has 14 spines on its back fin and 17 to 19 soft rays. Its bottom fin has 3 spines and 17 to 19 soft rays. It also has 16 to 17 rays on its side fins. The tail fin is rounded.
Colors and Patterns
The exact colors of the royal angelfish can be a little different depending on where they live. Fish from the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, and South Pacific Ocean might look slightly unique.
However, they all usually have thin blue-white and orange stripes. These stripes angle backward on their body. The back part of their top fin is black or blue with many small blue dots. The back part of their bottom fin has yellow and blue stripes that run side-by-side. Their tail fin is bright yellow.
Young royal angelfish have a large dark spot on the soft part of their top fin. These fish have been known to live for up to 15 years. Scientists have also found that there might be two slightly different types of royal angelfish. They might even mix together in places like Christmas Island.
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(Indian Ocean)
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(Red Sea)
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(Indo-Pacific)
Where Do Royal Angelfish Live?
The royal angelfish lives in many places across the Indo-Pacific region. You can find them in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. They live around East Africa and the Maldives.
Their home stretches all the way to the Tuamoto Islands, New Caledonia, and the Great Barrier Reef. In the north, they can be found in the southern East China Sea. This includes areas around Taiwan, the Ryukyu Islands, and the Ogasawara Islands in Japan.
How Royal Angelfish Live
Royal angelfish live in water that is from 0 to 80 meters (about 0 to 260 feet) deep. They prefer areas with lots of coral. You can often find them in lagoons, on reefs, and near underwater caves.
What They Eat
These fish are carnivores, meaning they eat other animals. They mostly eat sponges and tunicates. These are small sea creatures found on reefs and inside underwater caves.
Royal angelfish do not travel far from their homes. They can be found alone, in pairs, or in small groups. Young royal angelfish often hide in small cracks and holes to stay safe.
Human Interaction
People consider the royal angelfish to be harmless. They are sometimes caught for the aquarium trade. Many fish tank owners like them because they are one of the few angelfish that won't eat corals. This makes them "reef safe" for home aquariums.
In the Aquarium
Keeping a royal angelfish in a home aquarium can be tricky. A healthy fish needs the right environment to thrive. They usually start eating within a few days if given a variety of foods. These foods can include live, frozen, or dried options.
It's important to keep them in a peaceful tank. Some large or aggressive fish should be avoided. This includes big angelfish, triggerfish, puffers, and some very aggressive clownfish or surgeonfish. A calm environment helps the royal angelfish get used to its new home and start eating well.
Reproduction
Royal angelfish reproduce by spawning. This usually happens around sunset or at night. The male and female fish perform a spiraling dance together. During this dance, they release their eggs and sperm into the water. The eggs then float upwards in the water column.
Images for kids
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A print from the University of Amsterdam showing a royal angelfish.
