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French Angelfish

French Angel ~ Paru ~ Indian Fish Family: Pomacanthidae

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Pomacanthus paru Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy Greg Rothschild

   An attractive marine fish with a friendly disposition towards its keeper, the French Angelfish is a favorite for beginners and advanced marine enthusiasts alike!

  Juveniles specimens of the French Angelfish are quite colorful and much sought after by aquarists, but even as adults they are quite attractive. In their natural habitat they make a very nice underwater photographic target, for they usually show no fear while divers are approaching.

   This angelfish is a commonly available favorite and has some great qualities that make it so. It is relatively inexpensive, will readily accept food and adapt to its environment, and is long lived. One of the more hardy angelfish, it is tolerant of a wide range of aquarium conditions and quite disease resistant. But above all, it will become personable and 'tame' with its keeper. Another benefit is with young specimens, juveniles up to about 3 - 4 inches will perform cleaning services, removing parasites from the bodies and fins of other aquarium tank mates.

   It is not a reef-safe fish even though it will do well in a coral-rich tank with sessile inverts. Because the French Angel will eat the polyps of both hard and soft corals as well as inverts like live shrimps, it is best kept in a fish only community aquarium. This angelfish can be kept with a wide variety of tank mates.

For more Information on keeping marine fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Marine Aquarium

Habitat: Natural geographic location:
   Described by Bloch in 1787, the French Angelfish is found in the Western and Central Atlantic Ocean; Florida, Caribbean Sea, Bermudas, Brazilian coasts to south of the Rio de Janeiro, and also the Ascension Island to the west coasts of Africa. In the Bermudas the species was introduced. It was originally collected in Brazil and Jamaica as types and was first described as Chaetodon paru, but was later described as the now valid Pomacanthus paru.
  This angelfish is seen alone in its juvenile stage, while adults are usually observed in pairs. Its natural habitat is deeper coral-rich reefs among the algae and rubble areas. They are usually seen at depths between 10 - 98 feet (3 - 30 meters) though they have been recorded as deep as 328 feet (100 meters), and juveniles can also be found in very shallow areas near beaches. Juveniles have a reputation as a cleaner fish that will take off parasites from other fishes in both their natural habitat and in aquariums.

Status:
   These fish are not listed on the IUCN Red List.

Description:
   The adult French Angelfish has a disc-shaped body that is entirely black, with a vertical short yellow dot on each scale giving it a metallic appearance. There is a yellow circle around the eye, the mouth is white, and the fins are black. The dorsal fin has a yellowish thread from the anterior spinous portion and there is another black thread from the first spine of the anal fin, both reaching back to the end of caudal fin. The caudal peduncle has yellow dots and there is a yellow marking at the base of pectoral fin.
   Juveniles are jet black with four vertical yellow bands on the side with the second and third ones curving toward the rear of body. The caudal fin has a circular band and the pelvic and anal fins have a bright blue dash. The yellow bands on the side will fade away with growth without a change in number.
   Another very similar species found in the same areas is the Gray Angelfish P. arcuatus. They are readily distinguishable in the adult color pattern, with the adult Gray Angelfish being plainer and without the metallic look that the French Angelfish has. However, the juvenile of these two fish is quite similar.
   These two juveniles are distinguished primarily by the shape and color of their tail fin. As you can see in the two pictures, the French Angelfish has a dark rounded tail fin with a bold white margin, while the Gray Angelfish has a more translucent square shaped tail fin, and much less of a margin. Another difference in these two juveniles can be noted in their swimming habits. The juvenile French Angelfish will display a waving or fluttering movement, while the Gray juvenile will not.

Length/Diameter of fish:
   Adults reach 16 inches (41 cm), but most available specimens are less than 10 inches (25 cm).

Maintenance difficulty:
   The French Angelfish adult is a fairly active fish and is interested in its environment. Juveniles will swim actively and freely. Almost all specimens will be successfully acclimated and become a very hardy fish. This fish will even venture to the surface and take foods from its keepers when it is well acclimated.
   Most of the Pomacanthus members are very colorful and attractive but some are rather difficult to keep for a long period, and they may suffer from “ich” (white spot disease) and other infectious diseases. They may be treated successfully with medical care or copper drugs. While some of the species hate any drug treatment or sudden change of waters, including PH, temperature, salinity, etc., the French Angelfish is one species that is more tolerant of variations in these areas.
   In the wild a cleaner wrasse (Labroides sp.) will help them by taking parasites from their bodies, however these fish are extremely difficult to sustain in captivity. Alternative fish such as Neon Gobies (Gobiosoma spp.) can help them by providing this cleaning service in the home aquarium.

  Diseases that marine angelfish are susceptible to:
Marine Ich (white spot disease), Marine Velvet, and Lymphocystis (a viral infection).

Foods:
   The French Angelfish are omnivores, in the wild they eat large amounts of sponges and algae, as well as some bryozoans, zoantharians, gorgonians, and tunicates. Almost any food will be accepted but be sure to provide a varied diet that includes substantial vegetable foods as well as sponge foods, either commercially prepared mixtures containing sponge or by providing live sponge. Meaty foods, dried flakes, shrimps, and tablets are favorites but also offer frozen shrimps, prepared diets for sponge and algae eaters, vegetables, and Japanese Nori. As this fish may eat the polyps of some stony and soft coral species, and also living shrimps, it is not recommended for reef-type aquariums. Feed these fish at least twice a day.

Maintenance:
   No special care or technique is needed to maintain this fish in the aquarium, and it usually takes foods heartily if it is in a good condition. Juveniles need some crevices to hide in, but they also spend most of day swimming in open areas. Frequent water changes are not necessary, rather normal water changes at 10% biweekly or 20% monthly are fine, varied according to the number of fish and the tank size. Sudden massive water changes can cause trouble.
   For more information see, Marine Aquarium Basics: Maintenance

Aquarium Parameters:
  The tank should be well decorated with rocks/ corals with some hiding places especially for juveniles.
Minimum Tank Length/Size:
   A minimum 50 gallon (189 liters) for juveniles, 125 gallon (473 liters) or larger for adults. They can be housed with other angelfish as long as the tank is quite large, 125 gallons or more.
Light: Recommended light levels
   It is best kept under normal lighting, but can also be kept in sunlight conditions and in a dimly lit tank.
Temperature:
   This species dwells in tropical areas. Temperatures between 75 -79° F (24 - 26° C) will serve them well, but temperatures higher than 84° F (29° C) or below 68 ° F (20° C) would not be good.
Water Movement: Weak, Moderate, Strong
   No special requirements, it can tolerate a rather stronger flow but slow-moving water is preferable.
Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom
   They will spend time in all parts of the aquarium.

Social Behaviors:
   The French Angel is not a reef-safe fish, even though it will do well in a coral-rich tank with sessile inverts. But because it will eat the polyps of both hard and soft corals as well as inverts like live shrimps, it is best kept in a fish only community aquarium and it can be kept with some aggressive species..
  Selecting tank mates poses few problems as it can be kept with larger and rather territorial angelfishes like other Pomacanthus and Holacanthus, and also the smaller angelfish Centropyge, Apolemichthys, Genicanthus, Chaetodontoplus and Pygoplites will be good tank mates. Smaller and ‘weaker’ fish such as cardinalfish, gobies, tilefish, butterflyfish, fairy basslets, fairy and flasher wrasses, etc. can be good choices and even some of the aggressive genera wrasses can be kept with it successfully. Small but very aggressive fishes, like dottybacks, would also be okay to keep with an adult in most cases.

Sex: Sexual differences:
   No sexual differences are known, but adults are seen swimming in pairs.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   In the wild the type, of mating system employed by Pomacanthus (including the French Angelfish) is dependent on the density of the population at a particular location. In one area they may form permanent bonds, while in other areas they will form harems.
   There are records of reproductive behavior with the French Angelfish in aquariums, as well as reports of successful rearing of young developed from hormone-induced spawning. In spawning, their courtship display is less dramatic than other species. It consists of male/female pairs congregating at the edge of the reef as sunset. Each pair will spawn and ascend into the water column, swimming together in an arc up to about 7 - 10 feet (2 - 3 meters) above the substrate to expel pelagic eggs at the summit.
   For more information see, Marine Fish Breeding

Buy French Angelfish From LiveAquaria.com

Availability:
   The French Angelfish is commonly available at retailers and ranges in price from $80.00 USD for juveniles, up to $300.00 USD for fully-grown adults.

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Latest Comments
i love my french angel! he is just changing into adult colours so is quiet a size. Extremely tame, he feeds from my hand and follows you round the room. a very inter - active fish! i couldnt be without one now as he is such a character! niels 2007-02-26

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Author: Hiroyuki Tanaka
Additional Information: Clarice Brough, CFS

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