Clipperton Angel Care Guide
Holacanthus limbaughi is a marine angelfish endemic to Clipperton Island in the Eastern Pacific, listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Holacanthus limbaughi, the Clipperton angel, is a marine angelfish of the family Pomacanthidae, described by Wayne J. Baldwin in 1963. It is known only from Clipperton Island, a French overseas territory about 2,560 km west of Costa Rica. FishBase records a maximum total length of about 25 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pomacanthidae
- Genus: Holacanthus
- Scientific name: Holacanthus limbaughi
- Described by: Baldwin, 1963
Habitat
The species is reef-associated and non-migratory, recorded at depths between roughly 6 and 100 m around Clipperton Island. Wikipedia notes that very little is known about its habitat preferences and biology. Juveniles are dark bluish-grey with blue vertical bars and white markings; adults lose the bars and develop vivid blue fin margins.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 1500 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Lifespan: 15-20 years
- Water type: marine (saltwater)
Compatibility
As a large semi-aggressive angelfish, it requires a spacious system and is not reef-safe; soft corals and sponges are at risk. Conspecifics and other large angels are generally incompatible. Robust companions such as triggers, large wrasses and tangs are more suitable in very large tanks.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Near Threatened (assessed 2009). FishBase notes a CITES Appendix III listing. Given its extremely restricted single-island range, the species is rare in the aquarium trade.
Holacanthus limbaughi (Clipperton Angelfish): Breeding Guide
Overview
Holacanthus limbaughi is a Pomacanthidae angelfish endemic to Clipperton Island in the Eastern Pacific, about 2,560 km west of Costa Rica. FishBase records a maximum length near 25 cm, while Wikipedia cites up to 30 cm and a depth range of 6 to 100 m. It is listed as IUCN Near Threatened and CITES Appendix III.
Sexing
Wikipedia states that very little is known about the species' habitat preferences and biology, and no documented sexual dimorphism or confirmed sex-change pattern is available for it specifically.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Species-specific spawning observations are not documented. As a member of Holacanthus, which are pelagic broadcast spawners that release eggs and milt into open water, the same reproductive mode is expected, but no field study confirms the details for this isolated endemic.
Common Challenges
The species is extremely scarce in the aquarium trade and commands very high prices; Wikipedia records a 2009 case of illegal collection. Its remote single-island range, scarcity and pelagic larval biology mean it is not bred in aquariums, and even basic biological data remain limited.