French Angelfish (Adult)

Also known as the French Angel

The adult French Angelfish is a magnificent and commanding marine species that ranks among the most impressive large angelfish available to experienced aquarists. Adult specimens display dramatically different coloration from juveniles, featuring a striking black body covered with distinctive golden-yellow scales that create a stunning pattern resembling chain mail. Native to the Western Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico, this species grows substantially large and requires dedicated care, but rewards committed aquarists with unparalleled beauty, intelligence, and interactive personality that few marine fish can match.

Key Features

• Scientific Name: Pomacanthus paru
• Common Names: French Angelfish, French Angel
• Adult Size: 12–16 inches (can occasionally reach 18 inches in exceptional conditions)
• Lifespan: 15–20+ years with proper care (some specimens exceed 25 years)
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive to aggressive; territorial and assertive, especially as adults
• Reef Compatibility: Not reef-safe – will actively consume corals, sponges, and sessile invertebrates
• Minimum Tank Size: 250–300+ gallons strongly recommended for full-grown adults
• Experience Level: Advanced to expert

Habitat & Tank Requirements

• Tank Environment: Provide extensive live rock structures with large caves, overhangs, swim-throughs, and substantial open swimming areas. Adult French Angels are powerful, active swimmers that require significant territory and space to patrol comfortably. They appreciate complex aquascaping that offers both secure refuges and unobstructed cruising areas mimicking natural reef environments.
• Water Parameters:
  • Temperature: 72–82°F (22–28°C)
  • Salinity: 1.020–1.025
  • pH: 8.1–8.4
  • Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm
  • Nitrate: <20 ppm (lower is better)
  • dKH: 8–12
  • Calcium: 380–450 ppm
• Aquascape: Robust, extremely stable rockwork is essential for these large, powerful fish. Create multiple distinct territories with substantial caves large enough to accommodate their size. Ensure all rockwork is securely placed to prevent collapse. Strong water movement (10–15x tank volume per hour) and excellent filtration are critical given their size and waste production.
• Compatibility: Best kept as the only large angelfish unless the system substantially exceeds 300+ gallons with multiple territories. Can coexist with other large, semi-aggressive to aggressive species such as large tangs, groupers, large wrasses, triggers, and lionfish. Avoid housing with small, passive fish or other angelfish. Should be among the final additions to established community systems to minimize territorial aggression. Their size and personality make them natural tank bosses.

Diet & Feeding

Adult French Angelfish are voracious omnivores with substantial nutritional requirements:

• Meaty Foods: Large mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, chopped squid, clams, mussels, scallops, prawns, krill, shrimp, marine fish flesh, quality frozen carnivore preparations
• Plant Matter: Marine algae sheets (nori, sea lettuce, dulse), spirulina, fresh vegetables (blanched zucchini, broccoli, spinach, peas), herbivore pellets and flakes
• Specialty Foods: High-quality angelfish formulas containing natural sponge material (absolutely essential—sponges form a major component of their natural diet), color-enhancing preparations with spirulina and astaxanthin
• Live Rock Grazing: Abundant live rock with natural algae growth, biofilm, and encrusting organisms provides important dietary supplementation and behavioral enrichment
• Vitamin Supplementation: Soak foods in quality vitamin supplements (especially vitamins C, A, and E) to support immune function and maintain health
• Feeding Schedule: Feed 2–3 times daily in substantial portions. Adults have large appetites and require generous feeding to maintain optimal body condition, health, and vibrant coloration. They are enthusiastic, sometimes aggressive feeders.

Notes & Considerations

• Behavior: Adult French Angels are bold, intelligent, highly interactive, and often develop dog-like personalities. They recognize their owners, actively beg for food, follow movements outside the tank, and display distinct individual personalities. However, they are territorial dominators that establish themselves as the tank boss and may show aggression toward new additions, particularly other large fish. They defend territories vigorously and control prime feeding areas. Their intelligence and awareness make them fascinating to observe.
• Coral Compatibility: Absolutely NOT reef-safe under any circumstances. Will actively and aggressively consume soft corals, LPS, SPS, zoanthids, leather corals, and destructively attack clam mantles. They also feed extensively on sponges, tunicates, and virtually all sessile invertebrates. Strictly suited for fish-only or FOWLR (fish-only-with-live-rock) systems. Any coral or invertebrate introduction will be viewed as food.
• Dramatic Adult Coloration: Adults display spectacular appearance completely different from juveniles. Body coloration is deep black to charcoal gray with each scale edged in brilliant golden-yellow to bright yellow, creating a distinctive chain mail or lattice pattern across the entire body. The pectoral fins show bright yellow coloration. A yellow bar borders the gill cover. The eyes are ringed with bright blue to electric blue. The overall effect is regal, dramatic, and unmistakable—one of the most distinctive patterns in large angelfish.
• Color Transformation: Juveniles display completely different coloration with yellow vertical bars on black backgrounds. The transition to adult coloration begins around 6–8 inches and gradually progresses over many months. Full adult coloration typically develops by 10–12 inches. This transformation is one of the most dramatic color changes in marine angelfish.
• Sexual Dimorphism: French Angels are protogynous hermaphrodites. Visual sexing is extremely difficult with minimal external differences. Males may be marginally larger with slightly more intense yellow edging on scales, but differences are subtle and unreliable.
• Size and Growth: Wild-caught adults arrive at substantial size (10–14 inches typically). Tank-raised juveniles grow steadily with proper nutrition, reaching 8–10 inches within 3–4 years and continuing growth throughout their lives. Final size depends heavily on tank volume and diet quality.
• Water Quality Demands: Large adult specimens produce substantial waste requiring excellent filtration systems. Robust protein skimming, efficient mechanical and biological filtration, and regular substantial water changes (20–25% weekly or 40% biweekly minimum) are essential for maintaining health.
• Tank Aggression Management: Extremely territorial and may harass new additions aggressively. Rearranging rockwork when adding new fish temporarily disrupts territories. Adding only similarly sized, equally assertive fish helps prevent bullying. Small or passive fish will be intimidated or potentially injured.

Why Choose an Adult French Angelfish?

Adult specimens offer specific advantages for experienced large-system aquarists:

• Immediate Visual Impact: No waiting years for transformation—adults display full magnificent adult coloration and size immediately
• Established Personality: Adults have fully developed, interactive personalities and quickly become the star attraction and focal point of large display systems
• Feeding Reliability: Well-established adults are typically vigorous, non-finicky eaters accepting wide food varieties without hesitation
• Known Size: Complete certainty about space requirements—what you see is what you get with no surprises about eventual size
• Centerpiece Presence: Their substantial size, bold coloration, and commanding personality make them undisputed showpiece fish in any system
• Intelligence Display: Adult French Angels display remarkable intelligence, learning behaviors, recognizing individuals, and interacting meaningfully with owners

Quarantine Absolutely Essential

Quarantined adult French Angelfish provide critical benefits:

• Disease Prevention: Extended quarantine (6–8 weeks minimum) eliminates parasites (cryptocaryon, brooklynella, flukes), bacterial infections, and allows monitoring for any chronic health issues
• Feeding Confirmation: Ensures vigorous feeding on your specific food brands and verifies acceptance of varied diet including essential sponge-based foods
• Stress Recovery: Allows complete recovery from collection, handling, and shipping stress in controlled, low-competition environment
• Behavioral Assessment: Extended observation confirms normal swimming patterns, feeding behavior, social interactions, and absence of concerning symptoms
• Acclimation Success: Quarantine period permits gradual adjustment to your specific water parameters, lighting, and aquarium conditions
• Investment Protection: Given substantial cost ($200–$500+ for quality adults) and their intended role as long-term centerpiece fish, quarantine protects significant financial and emotional investment

Our adult French Angelfish are carefully cared for over 6–8 weeks. They are fed a variety of high-quality, sponge-based and color-enhancing foods, treated gently for health, and monitored closely. This process ensures they arrive healthy, parasite-free, and full of vibrant color. They are confident, bold, and ready to be the main attraction in a large marine tank. These intelligent, interactive fish will provide many years of beauty and personality, making them a stunning centerpiece and a rewarding addition for experienced aquarium keepers.