Yellow Bar Angel (Pomacanthus maculosus) Care Guide
Pomacanthus maculosus, the yellowbar angelfish, is a large angel of the Persian Gulf and Western Indian Ocean that can live for decades.
Overview
Pomacanthus maculosus, the yellowbar angelfish, is a large marine angel of the family Pomacanthidae. FishBase records a maximum length of about 50.0 cm standard length, with sexual maturity at around 21.6 cm and a maximum reported age of up to 36 years.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pomacanthidae
- Genus: Pomacanthus
- Scientific name: Pomacanthus maculosus
Habitat
FishBase reports a Western Indian Ocean range from the Persian Gulf to the coast of Mozambique, with additional records noted for the Mediterranean and parts of the Atlantic. It is marine, reef-associated and non-migratory, inhabiting silty reef areas more often than dense coral, at depths of about 4-60 m.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 1200 L (317 gal)
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- dKH (carbonate hardness): 8-12
- Lifespan: 15-25 years
Diet
FishBase gives the species a trophic level of about 2.8, indicating omnivorous feeding. In aquaria a varied diet including sponge-based angelfish foods, marine algae and meaty foods is appropriate, offered in frequent feedings.
Compatibility
This is a large, semi-aggressive angel that requires a spacious system. Suitable companions include tangs in large tanks, triggers and large wrasses, while small or timid fish may be intimidated.
Reef compatibility
Large Pomacanthus angels generally pick at sessile invertebrates, so this species is not considered reliably reef-safe and may damage corals, sponges and tunicates. It is best kept in fish-only systems. Maintain specific gravity around 1.024-1.026 and carbonate hardness of 8-12 dKH.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2009), as reported by FishBase.