Marine angelfish, or saltwater angelfish, are perciform fish of the family Pomacanthidae. Found on shallow reefs in the tropical Atlantic, Indian, and western Pacific oceans, these fish are among the most eye-catching reef dwellers with their vividly coloured, laterally compressed disc-like bodies.
Freshwater vs saltwater
The term angelfish may have some people mistake them for their distant cousins, the freshwater angelfish.
Freshwater angelfish (or Pterophyllum) are members of the cichlid family which originates from the Amazon Basin and various rivers in South America. They have an angular body with elongated, vertical dorsal and anal fins, whereas the dorsal and anal fins of the saltwater angelfish are slanted backwards. Their colours and patterns, while striking, are also not as vibrant and dramatic as those of the saltwater angelfish.
They’re no angels
Angelfish tend to be territorial and can be pretty nasty and inflict wounds on other fish.
They sex change
Angelfish are hermaphrodites. They begin life as females and switch sex when required. Such as when the dominant male of the community dies, the dominant female will turn into a male. Or if the community becomes too large, one female will switch sex and the harem will split into two or more.
Here at S.E.A. Aquarium, we have over 20 species of marine angelfish. Here are some of our most gorgeous members.
Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator)
Queen Angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris)
Scribbled Angelfish (Chaetodontoplus duboulayi)
Yellow Bar Angelfish (Pomacanthus maculosus)
Conspicuous Angelfish (Chaetodontoplus conspicillatus)
Blue Angelfish (Holacanthus bermudensis)
Come meet our angelfishes at the Coral Garden Habitat beside the touchpool, and also the Hard Coral Habitat and Soft Coral Habitat. Be sure to catch the feeding session at Coral Garden Habitat at 11am daily.