Apolemichthys xanthotis Care Guide
Apolemichthys xanthotis is a white-bodied marine angelfish of the Red Sea and northwestern Indian Ocean, feeding largely on sponges and benthic invertebrates.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Apolemichthys xanthotis is a marine angelfish with a largely white body, a black head and a yellow tail; the dorsal and anal fins are black with white margins. The species name means "yellow ear", referring to a yellow spot on the upper preoperculum. It was described as Holacanthus xanthotis by Fraser-Brunner in 1950, with a type locality at Al-Mukalla, Yemen, and reaches about 20 cm in length.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pomacanthidae
- Genus: Apolemichthys
- Scientific name: Apolemichthys xanthotis
- Original description: Holacanthus xanthotis Fraser-Brunner, 1950
Habitat
The species occurs in the northwestern Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea, Gulf of Aqaba, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf, with records off Socotra and occasional sightings off Kenya. Despite frequent labelling as a Red Sea fish, sources indicate it is not strictly endemic to the Red Sea. It is reef-associated, inhabiting coral-rich areas and rocky reefs; FishBase records depths of about 10-35 m, while Wikipedia cites 10-80 m. It is usually seen in pairs or small groups.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 400 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- GH/dKH: 8-12
- Lifespan: 10-15 years
- Water type: marine, reef setup with live rock
Diet
According to FishBase and Wikipedia, A. xanthotis probably feeds on algae, sponges and benthic invertebrates, with a trophic level of about 2.8. As with related angelfishes, a captive diet must accommodate this sponge- and invertebrate-based feeding, which can make initial acclimation to prepared foods challenging.
Compatibility
The species is typically encountered in pairs or small groups in the wild. In aquaria it is housed with robust but non-aggressive reef fish. Because it grazes sponges and other sessile invertebrates, it is not fully reef-safe and may damage corals and clams.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2009).
Apolemichthys xanthotis (Red Sea Yellowbar Angelfish): Breeding Guide
Overview
Apolemichthys xanthotis is a Pomacanthidae angelfish of the northwestern Indian Ocean, occurring in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf rather than being strictly Red Sea endemic. FishBase records a maximum length of 20 cm; depth estimates range from about 10 to 80 m. It probably feeds on algae, sponges and benthic invertebrates.
Sexing
No reliable external sexual dimorphism is documented for this species. As a member of the protogynous family Pomacanthidae, social sex determination is expected, but no species-specific sex-change study is available in the consulted sources.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Wikipedia and FishBase report it is typically encountered in pairs or small groups. Like other pomacanthids it is a pelagic spawner, with a pair releasing gametes into open water; detailed spawning observations for this species are not published.
Common Challenges
The pelagic eggs and planktonic larvae require hatchery-scale plankton culture, and the species can be difficult to feed in captivity. No captive breeding is documented, and trade stock is wild-caught.