Asfur angelfish
Pomacanthus asfur
Also known as Arabian Angelfish, Asfur Angel, Crescent Angelfish, Half-moon Angelfish
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 15.7 in
- 40 cm
- Minimum tank
- 135 gal
- 510 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Own kind
- One male per tank
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe with caution
- Family
- Pomacanthidae
- Origin
- Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the western Arabian Sea, on coral reefs and rubble near shelter.
Overview
Keep a single asfur in at least 510 litres with plenty of rock shelter and open swimming water at 24 to 28 C. It usually adapts well to spirulina, marine algae, mysis and angelfish preparations and is more manageable than most large angels. It has a taste for large-polyp stony and some soft corals and clam mantles, so treat it as reef safe with caution. Add it after calmer fish are settled.
In the wild
The asfur angelfish carries a bold yellow crescent and yellow tail on a deep blue body. It stays near caves and overhangs on Red Sea reefs and darts back to shelter when startled. Adults are territorial but not as bruising as some large angels. It is prized for its clean, high-contrast colors.
Good to know
Pomacanthus asfur reaches about 40 cm and is closely related to the yellowbar angelfish, from which its narrower crescent-shaped bar sets it apart. It is native to the Red Sea and Arabian region. Juveniles show the pale-barred pattern typical of the genus.
Did you know
Its crescent bar is narrower and more moon-shaped than the yellowbar angel, which is the quickest way to tell the two apart.
Common questions
What size tank does an Asfur angelfish need?
An Asfur angelfish needs at least 135 gal (510 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does an Asfur angelfish need?
An Asfur angelfish is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
How big does an Asfur angelfish get?
An adult Asfur angelfish reaches about 15.7 in (40 cm).
Related species
15.7 in (40 cm)132 gal (500 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Koran angelfish
Pomacanthus semicirculatus
15.7 in (40 cm) · 132 gal (500 L)
16.1 in (41 cm)201 gal (760 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)French angelfish
Pomacanthus paru
16.1 in (41 cm) · 201 gal (760 L)
15 in (38 cm)219 gal (830 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Blueface angelfish
Pomacanthus xanthometopon
15 in (38 cm) · 219 gal (830 L)
15 in (38 cm)185 gal (700 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Emperor angelfish
Pomacanthus imperator
15 in (38 cm) · 185 gal (700 L)
17.7 in (45 cm)219 gal (830 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Annularis angelfish
Pomacanthus annularis
17.7 in (45 cm) · 219 gal (830 L)
19.7 in (50 cm)180 gal (680 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Yellowbar angelfish
Pomacanthus maculosus
19.7 in (50 cm) · 180 gal (680 L)