| Emperor angelfish, Pomacanthus imperator, are | | | | pristine water conditions. They grow to an adult |
| members of the family Pomacanthidae. The family | | | | length of 15 inches. They require a minimum tank size |
| Pomacanthidae encompasses all marine angelfish. | | | | of 100 gallons. They are also prone to parasite |
| There are seven cataloged genera and 86 species | | | | infestation. If you have a quarantine tank it is |
| collectively referred to as angelfish. None of these | | | | advisable to isolate them for a minimum of two |
| species are freshwater fish. Angelfish populate the | | | | weeks before introducing them to your other fish. If |
| shallow water reef formations in the tropical regions | | | | you buy one from a local retailer they may agree to |
| of the ocean. The emperor is indigenous to both the | | | | quarantine it for you as part of the purchase |
| Indian and Pacific Oceans. Its habitat ranges from the | | | | arrangement. |
| Red Sea all the way to the shores of Hawaii and | | | | These are moderately aggressive animals. They tend |
| from Japan south to the Great Barrier Reef. | | | | to bully smaller fish and may very possible eat them. |
| The Emperor is named for it regal color palette | | | | They should only be housed with similarly natured |
| consisting of an electric, royal blue and bright yellow. | | | | larger species. Emperor fish are extremely territorial |
| The coloration of this species is distinctively different | | | | toward members of their own species in the confines |
| between adults and juveniles. When young, this | | | | of captivity. You should not attempt to add more |
| species has a deep blue body color and tail fin. | | | | than one to your aquarium. |
| Contrasting dramatically against the dark body are | | | | Even though they are native to tropical reefs, this |
| concentric circles of black and white rings that | | | | species is not a suitable candidate for a marine reef |
| expand very much like the ripples in still water when | | | | aquarium. These fish will grow to be very large |
| disturbed by a falling object. These circles begin it the | | | | omnivores. They will readily devour the smaller |
| tail region and work their way forward all the way to | | | | crustaceans in your reef tank. And they will see both |
| the fish's head. At approximately four years of age | | | | your soft and stony coral collection as a delicacy to |
| the fish will undergo a morphological color change as | | | | be savored. |
| part of its transition into adulthood. Adults have blue | | | | Remember this species is known to have a yet |
| and yellow horizontal stripes across the length of | | | | unidentified nutritional deficiency when raised in |
| their bodies, a black mask, rimmed in blue around | | | | captivity. They should be fed a diverse diet simulating |
| their eyes and yellow as opposed to dark blue tail | | | | their dietary habits in nature as closely as possible. |
| fins. Juveniles that are raised in captivity are generally | | | | They will eat frozen marine foods, vitamin enriched |
| not as vividly colored as their native counterparts. | | | | brine shrimp, and marine algae. Their diet should be |
| This may be due to a nutritional deficiency in captivity | | | | supplemented with chopped fresh seafood from your |
| that is yet to be determined. | | | | grocer regularly. Shrimp, mollusks, squid and octopus |
| These are one of the more expensive saltwater | | | | are recommended entrees. You can purchase marine |
| species. You can expect to pay anywhere from $80 | | | | foods especially developed for angelfish. They will |
| to upward of $300 dollars for one of these fish | | | | include a percentage of sponge in the ingredients. |
| depending on its size and level of maturity. These fish | | | | Sponge is a primary source of nutrient for these fish |
| are also marketed as Imperator (a commander in the | | | | in nature. It is strongly recommended that you |
| Roman Legions) or Imperial Angelfish. | | | | thoroughly research this species' dietary requirements |
| This species is not recommended for the amateur | | | | before you decide to make such a large expenditure. |
| Aquarist. They are intolerant of anything less that | | | | |