Apolemichthys xanthurus Care Guide
Apolemichthys xanthurus is a cream-coloured Indian Ocean marine angelfish with a yellow tail, considered one of the hardier angelfishes in captivity.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Apolemichthys xanthurus, the Indian yellowtail angelfish, has a cream-coloured body marked by a network of dark lines on the scales that form a lattice pattern, with a bright yellow caudal fin and black dorsal and anal fins edged in white. It was described as Holacanthus xanthurus by Bennett in 1833, with a type locality in Sri Lanka, and the name xanthurus means "yellow tail". It reaches about 15 cm in length.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pomacanthidae
- Genus: Apolemichthys
- Scientific name: Apolemichthys xanthurus
- Original description: Holacanthus xanthurus Bennett, 1833
Habitat
The species occurs in the western Indian Ocean. FishBase gives a range from Mauritius to India and Sri Lanka, while Wikipedia lists records across the Indian Ocean including the Mascarenes, Maldives, Sri Lanka, eastern India, Myanmar and Thailand. It is reef-associated, living in coral-rich areas and rocky reefs; FishBase records depths of about 5-25 m and Wikipedia 5-85 m. It is usually solitary or found in pairs.
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 Wikipedia, A. xanthurus feeds on a variety of crustaceans, sponges and algae; FishBase reports a trophic level of about 2.7. A captive diet should be varied and include sponge- and algae-based angelfish foods to meet its grazing requirements.
Compatibility
The species is typically solitary or seen in pairs in the wild. Wikipedia notes that among marine angelfishes it is one of the hardiest and easiest to maintain in captivity. As with related Apolemichthys species, it grazes sponges and other sessile invertebrates and is therefore not fully reef-safe.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2009).
Apolemichthys xanthurus (Indian Yellowtail Angelfish): Breeding Guide
Overview
Apolemichthys xanthurus is a small Pomacanthidae angelfish of the western Indian Ocean, ranging from the Mascarenes and Maldives to Sri Lanka and the eastern coast of India. FishBase records a maximum length of 15 cm; Wikipedia gives a depth range of 5 to 85 m on coral and rocky reefs. It feeds on crustaceans, sponges and algae.
Sexing
No reliable external sexual dimorphism is documented for this species. As a marine angelfish in the protogynous family Pomacanthidae, sex is expected to be socially determined, but species-specific sex-change data are not recorded in the consulted sources.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
FishBase and Wikipedia report the species is found singly or in pairs on reefs. Like other pomacanthids it is a pelagic spawner, with a pair releasing eggs and milt into open water where the eggs drift as plankton; detailed spawning observations for this species are not published.
Common Challenges
Although Wikipedia notes it is one of the hardier angelfish to maintain, its pelagic eggs and planktonic larvae still require hatchery plankton culture. No captive breeding is documented, and trade animals are wild-caught.