Queen Angelfish (Adult)

Also known as the Blue Angelfish or Yellow Angelfish

The adult Queen Angelfish is one of the most spectacular and iconic marine species in the aquarium hobby, featuring a brilliant blue to blue-green body with vibrant yellow highlights, distinctive crown-like marking on the forehead, and elegant flowing fins. Native to the Western Atlantic and Caribbean, this large and majestic angelfish is renowned for its stunning beauty and regal presence, making it a highly coveted centerpiece for spacious marine aquariums and a true jewel of Caribbean reef fish.

Key Features

• Scientific Name: Holacanthus ciliaris
• Common Names: Queen Angelfish, Yellow Angelfish, Golden Angelfish
• Adult Size: Up to 18 inches (can reach this size in optimal conditions, typically 12–16 inches in aquariums)
• Lifespan: 15–20+ years with proper care
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive to aggressive; territorial and dominant
• Reef Compatibility: Not reef-safe – will consume corals, anemones, clams, and sessile invertebrates
• Minimum Tank Size: 250 gallons (minimum); 300–400+ gallons preferred for full-grown adults
• Experience Level: Advanced

Habitat & Tank Requirements

• Tank Environment: Requires extensive rockwork with large caves, overhangs, and substantial open swimming areas. Queen Angels are powerful, graceful swimmers that need both secure territories and ample space to display their flowing fins and patrol actively.
• Water Parameters:
  • Temperature: 72–78°F (22–26°C)
  • Salinity: 1.023–1.025
  • pH: 8.1–8.4
  • Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm
  • Nitrate: <20 ppm
  • dKH: 8–12
• Aquascape: Substantial live rock formations are essential for grazing, shelter, and territorial establishment. Rockwork must be extremely stable and secure to accommodate this large, active fish. Ensure generous swimming space to showcase their elegant movement.
• Compatibility: Should be the only large angelfish in the system due to territorial aggression toward other angels. Can coexist with other large, robust, semi-aggressive fish such as tangs, large wrasses, groupers, snappers, and triggerfish (selected carefully). Generally less aggressive than Passer Angels or French Angels but still dominant. Avoid housing with other angels, overly passive species, or small fish. Best added as one of the last fish to reduce territorial disputes.

Diet & Feeding

Queen Angelfish are omnivores with hearty appetites requiring substantial, varied nutrition:

• Meaty Foods: Mysis shrimp, chopped clams, mussels, squid, scallops, krill, prawns, marine fish flesh, silversides, chopped shrimp
• Plant Matter: Marine algae, nori sheets, spirulina flakes and pellets, fresh blanched vegetables (zucchini, broccoli, spinach, romaine lettuce)
• Specialty Items: High-quality angelfish preparations containing sponge material (absolutely essential for long-term health, preventing HLLE, and maintaining vibrant coloration)
• Commercial Foods: Large angelfish pellets, frozen angel and butterfly formulas, herbivore foods
• Feeding Schedule: Feed 2–3 times daily in generous portions. Queen Angels have high metabolic demands and robust appetites, requiring frequent substantial feedings to maintain health, coloration, and proper body weight.

Notes & Considerations

• Behavior: Adult Queen Angels are confident, bold, and graceful, often becoming the most visually striking presence in the aquarium. They display moderate to strong territorial instincts and may show aggression toward new additions, particularly other angels or similarly shaped fish. Once established, they become highly interactive, often recognizing their keeper and actively begging for food. Their elegant swimming style and flowing fins create a mesmerizing display.
• Stunning Beauty: Widely considered one of the most beautiful marine angelfish species. The combination of electric blue body, golden-yellow highlights, distinctive “crown” marking on the forehead (which gives the species its name), and elegant yellow-trimmed fins creates an absolutely spectacular appearance. Adult coloration intensifies with proper diet and mature age.
• Juvenile vs. Adult Coloration: Juveniles display dramatically different coloration, primarily blue bodies with vertical yellow bars and curved lines. The transformation to adult coloration (blue body with yellow highlights and crown marking) occurs gradually between 4–8 inches. Both juvenile and adult forms are beautiful, but adults are truly breathtaking.
• Crown Marking: The distinctive dark blue spot ringed with electric blue on the forehead resembles a crown, the species’ signature feature and namesake. This marking becomes more prominent and defined as the fish matures.
• Coral Compatibility: Highly destructive to reef environments. Will readily consume soft corals, LPS, SPS, zoanthids, clam mantles, anemones, tube worms, and ornamental invertebrates. Suitable only for fish-only or FOWLR (Fish Only With Live Rock) systems.
• Tank Size Critical: Inadequate space leads to stunted growth, stress, aggression, and health problems. These are very large, active fish with graceful swimming patterns that require substantial room. Cramped conditions diminish their beauty and health.
• Acclimation: Generally hardy and resilient once established. Proper drip acclimation and stable water quality are important. Queen Angels typically adapt well and become bold quickly, often within days of introduction.
• Caribbean Origin: Native to the Western Atlantic and Caribbean, making them one of the premier Caribbean angelfish alongside French Angels and Gray Angels. Caribbean angels are generally hardy and adapt well to aquarium life.
• Gender: Sexual dimorphism is not externally visible. Queen Angels are protogynous hermaphrodites. Captive breeding is extremely rare and not commercially viable.
• Growth Rate: Moderate growers when well-fed. Can reach 10–12 inches within 2–3 years in optimal conditions with generous feeding and proper space.
• Disease Susceptibility: Relatively hardy but susceptible to HLLE (Head and Lateral Line Erosion) if diet lacks proper nutrition with sponge material or if water quality declines. The crown marking area can be particularly affected by HLLE. Also susceptible to marine ich and velvet under stress. Maintaining excellent water quality and a comprehensive diet prevents most health issues.
• Water Quality Demands: Appreciates excellent water quality and strong filtration due to large size, heavy feeding, and metabolic waste production. Regular water changes (15–20% weekly or biweekly) and efficient protein skimming are important for maintaining health and vibrant coloration.
• Personality: Highly intelligent and interactive. Many Queen Angels develop strong bonds with their keepers, displaying begging behaviors, following movement outside the tank, and showing excitement during feeding times. Their engaging personality and beauty make them charismatic long-term companions.
• Graceful Movement: Unlike some robust, aggressive angels, Queen Angels move with elegant, flowing grace. Their swimming style showcases their elongated fins and creates a ballet-like visual display that enhances their appeal.
• Longevity Investment: With proper care, Queen Angels can live 15–20+ years, making them true long-term companions that will be centerpiece fish for decades.
• Comparison to Blue Angelfish: Often confused with the closely related Blue Angelfish (Holacanthus bermudensis). Queens are distinguished by the crown marking, more extensive yellow coloration, and slightly different fin patterns. Hybrids between Queens and Blues occur naturally and occasionally appear in the trade (“Townsend’s Angelfish”).
• Tank Dominance: Will establish themselves as dominant fish but are generally less aggressive than some other large angels (French, Passer). Still require careful tank mate selection to prevent bullying of peaceful species.
• Show Quality: Adult Queen Angels are showpiece fish suitable for display aquariums. Their combination of size, color, grace, and personality makes them ideal centerpieces for large fish-only systems in homes, offices, or public settings.

Why Choose a Quarantined Queen Angelfish?

Our quarantined adult Queen Angelfish are thoroughly conditioned, disease-screened, and feeding vigorously on varied prepared foods before being offered for sale. This extensive quarantine period ensures you receive a robust, parasite-free specimen displaying peak coloration—including vibrant blues, brilliant yellows, and the distinctive crown marking—with established eating habits and stable health. Given this species’ large size, long lifespan, and status as a premium centerpiece fish, starting with a healthy, well-adjusted specimen is critical for long-term success. Our quarantine process maximizes your investment in this magnificent species, providing you with one of the ocean’s most beautiful angelfish, ready to become the stunning focal point of your large marine aquarium for decades to come.