Black Velvet Angelfish Care Guide
Chaetodontoplus melanosoma is an Indo-West Pacific angelfish with a dark body and yellow tail, reaching about 20 cm.
Overview
Chaetodontoplus melanosoma, the black-velvet angelfish, is a marine angelfish of the family Pomacanthidae described by Bleeker in 1853. It has an overall black or brown body with an ochre face, yellowish-orange spots across the forehead, and yellow margins on the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pomacanthidae
- Genus: Chaetodontoplus
- Scientific name: Chaetodontoplus melanosoma
Habitat
The species occurs in the Indo-West Pacific, including the Indo-Malayan region, New Guinea, and north to southern Japan. It inhabits coastal reefs and drop-offs at depths of about 5 to 30 metres, often in areas with strong tidal currents; juveniles favor deep rubble slopes with rich invertebrate growth.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 600 L (159 gal)
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 8-12
- Lifespan: 10-15 years
FishBase reports a temperature range of about 25.5-29.3 °C for the species.
Diet
The black-velvet angelfish is an omnivore. In the wild it feeds on sponges and tunicates. In the aquarium a varied diet is offered around twice daily.
Compatibility
This is a semi-aggressive, diurnal, mid-water angelfish that is solitary or found in pairs in the wild. It is reef-keepable only with caution and may nip soft corals. Other angels are best avoided; robust tankmates such as tangs, wrasses, and triggerfish suit it better.
Breeding
The species is hermaphroditic and rarely breeds in aquaria. It is an egg-layer, and captive breeding is considered expert-level.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2009).