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Lamarck's AngelfishBlackstriped Angelfish, Freckletail Lyretail AngelfishFamily: Pomacanthidae Lamarck's Angelfish Genicanthus lamarck, Blackstriped Angelfish, Freckletail Lyretail AngelfishGenicanthus lamarckPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Hiroyuki TanakaLatest Reader Comment - See More This is not the most beautifully colored angelfish, but it is a beauty to watch swimming in a reef aquarium. It does not touch corals and it is very well behaved... (more) ALAICA The Lamarck's Angelfish is a pretty Swallowtail Angelfish that is reef safe and very durable!Lamarck's Angelfish Contents The Lamarck's Angelfish Genicanthus lamarck is one of the delicate looking swallowtail angels from the Genicanthus genus. These beautiful fish are almost teardrop-shaped, with long flowing filaments extending off the tail fin of the males. They are a good sized angelfish, reaching up to 9.8” (25 cm). A couple other common names they are known by are quite descriptive, like the Blackstriped Angelfish and the Freckletail Lyretail Angelfish. What they lack in vibrant colors as found on many angelfish species, they replace with the beauty of a strong black and white patterning. The Lamarck Angelfish is a pretty white color contrasted with up to six horizontal black stripes, a black dorsal fin on top, and black spotting to the rear on the fins and tail. On females, the wide uppermost black stripe makes a graceful arc across the body. It crosses down over the caudal peduncle and out along the lower part of the tail fin, complemented by another black stripe on the upper part of the tail fin. Males lack the arcing crossover stripe of the female, rather their stripes are thin and horizontal. The Lamarck's Angelfish is one of the hardier angelfish and fairly easy to keep. It is great for the beginner that can provide it with a large enough tank. They need an aquarium that is at least 75 gallons or more with lots of open areas for swimming. The Lamarck's Angelfish are somewhat shy so also provide them with plenty of caves and hiding places. The swallowtail angels from the Genicanthus group are the only angelfish that are zooplanktivores, meaning they eat tiny invertebrates that float freely in the water column. Thus they spend time during the day free swimming in open waters, hiding as needed and taking refuge in the coral reefs at night. They will also easily accept food particles in the water. They rarely feed on corals or other sessile invertebrates, so are ideal angelfish for the reef aquarium as well. When obtaining a Lamarck’s Angelfish do not select a specimen that swims head down or wedges itself between rocks instead of swimming. This indicates a swim bladder issue and they should be avoided. Also avoid if fins are tattered or there is any redness on the skin or fins. For more Information on keeping saltwater fish see: |
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Habitat: Distribution / Background
The Lamarck's Angelfish Genicanthus lamarck was first described by Lacepede in 1802. This angelfish is a member of the Pomacanthidae family of the Genicanthus genus, known as the Swallowtail or Lyretail Angelfish. It is on the IUCN Red List as Least Concerned (LC) with a stable population. The common names it is known by include Blackstriped Angelfish, Freckletail Lyretail Angelfish, Lamark Angelfish, and Black Striped Angelfish, yet the most common name is Lamarck’s Angelfish.
The Lamarck’s Angelfish is found in the Indo-West Pacific from the Indo-Malayan regions and eastward to Vanuatu, then from southern Japan south to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. They are unique in that they live in a wide variety of habitats. Habitats they are found in include coastal reefs, which at times has very turbid conditions, reef crests, and deep reefs near steep slopes.
They are found in depths from 33 to 131 feet (10 - 40 m) living alone or in small or large groups, as well as pairs in areas where there is a low population. They feed in the water column on zooplankton during the day which can consist of diatoms, tiny crustaceans, protozoans, and the eggs and larval stages of other animals.
- Scientific Name: Genicanthus lamarck
- Social Grouping: Pairs - They are found alone, in small or large groups, or as pairs in areas where there is a low population.
- IUCN Red List: LC - Least Concern - Stable population.
The Lamarck's Angelfish is very different in shape than most angelfish. They have an almost teardrop shape body with the head area being more rounded, then it tapers back nearing the tail fin. The male and female have slightly different patterning. They are both white with 3 to 6 horizontal black stripes, one black stripe running along the top of their dorsal fin, and a crescent shaped tail fin. Both males and larger females have a yellow spot on the top of the head that can either fade or become brighter during social interactions.
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Females
On females, the wide uppermost black stripe makes a graceful arc across the body. It crosses down over the caudal peduncle. Her tail fin is trimmed top and bottom in a wide, more prominent black edging. The rest of her crescent shaped tail is a whitish transparent color with black to brown speckles. The female lacks the blue spot at the pectoral fin base that is seen on the male.
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Males
Males lack the arcing crossover stripe of the female, rather their stripes are thin and horizontal. The upper and lower edges of the male’s tail fin is lined in blue, with a very thin black edging. The rest of the crescent shaped tail has a purplish transparent color and black speckling. The male has longer tail fin streamers than the female, and a blue area at the base of his pectoral fins.
They grow to a maximum length of 9.8” (25 cm). The lifespan of the Lamarck's Angelfish is not known, but the average lifespan of angelfish is 10 to 15 years.
- Maximum Size: 9.8 inches (24.89 cm)
- Lifespan: 0 years - The average lifespan of angelfish is 10 to 15 years.
These Blackstriped Angelfish are moderately hardy. They are suggested for a beginning marine aquarist that has a large aquarium to house them in. They can be easy to care for if you are careful to get a healthy individual who is alert and curious. They need to be fed several times a day. They also like strong water movement and need good water quality.
Do not purchase a Lamarck’s Angelfish that swims head down or wedges themselves between rocks instead of swimming. This would be a swim bladder issue and they should be avoided. Also avoid if fins are tattered or there is any redness on the skin or fins.
- Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately hardy
- Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner
The Lamarck's Angelfish is an omnivore, but lIke all the Swallowtail Angelfish from the Genicanthus genus, they are zooplanktivores in the wild, meaning they eat tiny critters that float freely in the water column. In captivity they will feed on meaty foods along with some diatoms and algae in the tank.
It is important that you feed angelfish a variety of good foods; all kinds of live, frozen, and prepared formula foods. Best to feed small amounts two to three times a day times a day. You can offer finely chopped fresh shrimp and fish, frozen brine shrimp and frozen foods that have spirulina. A good formula that can be made at home consists of mussels, shrimp, squid, and spinach. There are also several good commercial foods available including Formula II and Angel Formula. Live brine shrimp or black worms and mysis shrimp can be given on occasion. Higher temperatures may make feeding them several times a day necessary.
- Diet Type: Omnivore - These angelfish are zooplanktivores in the wild, feeding on tiny animals that float freely in the water column.
- Flake Food: Yes - With Spirulina added
- Tablet Pellet: Yes - With Spirulina added
- Live foods (fishes, shrimps, worms): Some of Diet - Live foods can help illicit a feeding response, and can also be offered as a treat occasionally.
- Vegetable Food: Some of Diet
- Meaty Food: Most of Diet - Provide mysis, brine shrimp, finely chopped shrimp and fish.
- Feeding Frequency: Several feedings per day - Best to feed small amounts two to three times a day times a day. Higher temperatures may make feeding them several times a day necessary.
The Lamarck's Angelfish is fairly easy to keep. They do well when provided good water conditions and are pretty hardy if that and several feedings a day are provided. Do bi-weekly water changes of 10% to 15%, or 30% monthly in the minimum sized tank.
- Water Changes: Bi-weekly - Water changes of 10% to 15% bi-weekly, or 30% monthly.
They will do well in a typical reef setting with live rock and places to hide, but also make sure there is a lot of open area for swimming. The Lamarck's Angelfish live at deeper depths in the wild, and in areas with turbid waters. Provide some overhangs for them to get relief from the light in a reef until they get a chance to adjust. Also provide areas of strong water movement in the tank during the day. Using pumps on timers that can be turned off after 8 to 10 hours is suggested. Well oxygenated water is optimal. Lids are necessary as they will jump out of open aquariums on occasion.
A minimum of 75 gallons is needed for one fish. Provide water parameters of: 72-81° F, pH 8.0-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025. They can be kept in pairs or one male to several females in tanks over 100 gallons. With 2 females, one will turn to male. Juveniles to not require any special considerations.
- Minimum Tank Size: 75 gal (284 L) - A minimum of 75 gallons is needed for one fish. They can be kept in pairs or one male to several females in tanks over 100 gallons.
- Suitable for Nano Tank: No
- Live Rock Requirement: Typical Plus Hiding Places
- Substrate Type: Any
- Lighting Needs: Any - May need time to acclimate to bright reef tank conditions, so provide shelter.
- Temperature: 72.0 - 81.0° F (22.2 - 27.2° C)
- Breeding Temperature: 70° F
- Specific gravity: 1.023-1.025 SG
- Range ph: 8.0-8.4
- Brackish: No
- Water Movement: Moderate - Add some pumps on an 8 to 10 hour timer for brisk water movement during the day.
- Water Region: Middle
The Lamarck’s Angelfish are generally peaceful angels. They can be kept singly in a 75 gallon tank, or in pairs or a small group of one male to several females in tanks over 100 gallons. Females are not aggressive toward each other, but 2 males will spar, resulting in one turning back to female.
They ignore most fish, but they will chase small docile planktivores like fairy wrasses, flasher wrasses, anthias, tilefish, Chromis damselfish, fire gobies and Creole Wrasses. This makes sense, since being a planktivore, the Lamarck’s Angelfish does not want the competition. They are fine in a reef tank, making them the perfect angel for you reef lovers.
- Venomous: No
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Same species - conspecifics: Yes - Two males will fight, but one will turn to female eventually.
- Peaceful fish (gobies, dartfish, assessors, fairy wrasses): Threat - They will chase small docile planktivores such as small fairy wrasses, anthias, etc.
- Semi-Aggressive (anthias, clownfish, dwarf angels): Threat
- Aggressive (dottybacks, 6-line & 8-line wrasse, damselfish): Safe
- Large Semi-Aggressive (tangs, large angels, large wrasses): Safe
- Large Aggressive, Predatory (lionfish, groupers, soapfish): Monitor - Safe as long as the predatory fish is not large enough to eat the Lamarck's Angelfish.
- Slow Swimmers & Eaters (seahorses, pipefish, mandarins): Threat
- Anemones: Safe
- Mushroom Anemones - Corallimorphs: Safe
- LPS corals: Safe
- SPS corals: Safe
- Gorgonians, Sea Fans: Safe
- Leather Corals: Safe
- Soft Corals (xenias, tree corals): Monitor
- Star Polyps, Organ Pipe Coral: Safe
- Zoanthids - Button Polyps, Sea Mats: Safe
- Sponges, Tunicates: Monitor
- Shrimps, Crabs, Snails: Safe
- Starfish: Safe
- Feather Dusters, Bristle Worms, Flatworms: Safe
- Clams, Scallops, Oysters: Safe
- Copepods, Amphipods, Mini Brittle Stars: Safe
The Lamarck's Angelfish is one of the few angelfish that displays sexual dimorphism. The male has long tail fin streamers and a blue spot at the base of their pectoral fin. Females have a wide arcing horizontal stripe that crosses over the caudal peduncle, while the males stripes are all thin with no crossover. The male and female have often been described as different species because of these differences.
The Lamarck's Angelfish has been bred in captivity, but only in a very large aquarium. A successful breeding was accomplished in a 1,300 gallon (5,000 l) display aquarium. Most home aquarists will not have a tank large enough to encourage spawning with this angelfish.
Angelfish are broadcast spawners, releasing eggs and sperm simultaneously at dusk. They dance then rise into the water column and release their eggs and sperm near the top of the water. Spawning starts before sunset with females extending all her fins as she swims next to the male. The male will go under the female and nuzzle her belly, then darts down about 2.3” to 3.9” (6 to 10 cm). The female then turns to her side and both release a white cloud of gametes containing sperm and eggs. Both males and females will mate with several others on the same evening. This constant courtship may be why they are so plentiful in the wild.
- Ease of Breeding: Moderate - They have been bred in captivity, but only in a extremely large display type tanks of 1300 gallons or more.
Providing an angelfish with clean water, a proper decor with places to hide, and regular feeding is the best way to prevent illness. Calm angelfish are healthy fish. If not stressed, they will have a stronger immune system to prevent infections. Still saltwater angelfish can suffer any disease that captive saltwater environments have to offer.
Lamarck's Angelfish - Female beingcleaned by a Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough
Lamarck’s Angelfish can suffer from the typical ailments, such as saltwater ich (Cryptocaryon irritans), as well as coral fish disease known as “velvet,”(Amyloodinium ocellatum), and Lymphocystis, which is a virus causing those small cauliflower shaped white growths. Also as with all angelfish, lateral line disease and fin erosion can occur. Fortunately these fish respond readily to most medications to treat these ailments. Buying a wild caught neon goby can help in clearing up the Lymphocystis as well as with Crypt.
Fish problems can be broken into one of (or a combination of) these types: parasites, bacterial disease, fungal disease, or physical ailments caused from deficiencies in diet as well as wounds and injuries. To learn all about fish problems and find specific answers, see Aquarium Fish Diseases and Treatments.
Angelfish diseases and treatments:
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Parasitic diseases
Angelfish are prone to parasites like Saltwater Ich or White Spot Disease (Crypt), which is the most common disease. Symptoms of crypt are constant scratching and flashing, culminating with numerous white dots all over the body and fins. These dots disappear for a few days, only to return with double the number. This results in the fish suffocating from these parasites blocking the gills from providing oxygen.-
Treatment of parasites
For external parasites such as Crypt, slowly increase the temperature of your tank just at least 82°F (28°C). That will prevent the parasite from completing it’s life cycle which includes the attachment to fish.
Seachem makes products called Focus and Metronidazole. This treatment can be used in a reef aquarium since the medication is bound to the food, which even if the corals eat, will not hurt them.
The Focus (bonding agent) is mixed 5 to 1 with their Metronidazole (one part Metro to 5 parts Focus) and this is mixed this with 1 tablespoon of food and feed to the fish 3 times a day for at least a week or until symptoms are gone.
The combination of the higher temperature and food and medication combo will provide timely relief, but of course
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Treatment of parasites
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Bacterial Diseases
Angelfish are also vulnerable to bacterial diseases. Vibrio bacteria, which starts as an internal infection, turns into Dropsy, Popeye, Bleeding or Red Streaks on the skin. It is a very fast acting bacteria that will kill your angelfish in days. One way it typically starts is with an innocently frayed back fin. This disease will quickly spread and kill your fish within 2 days.-
Treatment of bacterial diseases
Fresh water dips are an important step to kill anything that is on their body that may spread. PH and temperature must be the same (just use baking soda to bring up the PH if you have soft water but use a test). Start with 5 minutes and up to 15 minutes if they are not showing any signs of distress. This is really only needed if you see anything on their body or if the back fin is starting to fray. They are also prone to Brooklynella, Hexamita, Velvet Disease and Amyloodinium. Only treat in 1/2 doses any medications containing cleated copper as all angelfish are sensitive to this element in it's free form.
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Treatment of bacterial diseases
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Fungal Diseases
Angelfish are also prone to Brooklynella, Hexamita, Velvet Disease and Amyloodinium.-
Treatment of fungal diseases
Only treat in 1/2 doses any medications containing cleated copper as all angelfish are sensitive to this element in its free form.
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Treatment of fungal diseases
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Physical Ailments
Physical Ailments are often the result of the environment, either water conditions or incompatible tankmates. Poor quality water conditions can lead to fish gasping, not eating, jumping out of the tank, and more. With angelfish, HLLD/HLLE, lateral line disease and fin erosion can occur. Tank mate problems can result in nipped fins and bite wounds..-
Treatment for physical ailments
For HLLD/HLLE, increase frequent water changes and add vitamins to frozen foods.
For wounds and injuries, look for and remove bully fish. Products on the market to help include stress relievers like Melefix, Wound Treat, and Bio Bandage.
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Treatment for physical ailments
The Lamarck’s Angelfish is readily available online and in stores, and is modestly priced.
- Animal-World References: Marine and Reef
- Genicanthus lamarck Blackstriped angelfish, Fishbase
- Genicanthus lamarck, IUNC Red List, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
- Scott W. Michael, Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes: Reef Fishes Series , Microcosm Ltd, 2004
- Scott W. Michael, Marine Fishes: 500+ Essential-To-Know Aquarium Species, T.F.H Publications inc., 1999
- Mark Allen, Roger Steene and Gerald R. Allen, A Guide to Angelfishes and Butterflyfishes , Odyssey Publishing, 1998
- Roger Steene, Gerald R. Allen, Hans A. Baensch, Butterfly and Angelfishes of the World, Volume 1, John Wiley & Sons, 1980
- Lamarck’s Angelfish, Genicanthus lamarack, Aquatic Community
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