Goldflake Angelfish

Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus

Also known as Gold-spangled Angelfish, Golden Spotted Angelfish

SaltwaterFish

Goldflake Angelfish (Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus) — Jim E Maragos, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Public domain

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–81°F (23–27°C)
pH: 8.1–8.4
Adult size: 9.8 in (25 cm)
Minimum tank: 125 gal (475 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Solitary
Tankmates: Tankmates with caution
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Rare
Reef safe: Reef safe with caution
Origin: Central Pacific
Family: Pomacanthidae

Overview

A steady grazer that wants a mature 475 litre or larger tank with generous rockwork and open swimming room. It is considered one of the safer large angels around corals, but some adults still learn to pick at zoanthids, fleshy LPS, and clam mantles, so watch it in a reef. Wild fish can be slow to feed at first, while captive-bred ones take pellets and frozen foods straight away.

In the wild

Native to a small slice of the central Pacific, from Micronesia and the Caroline Islands east to the Gilbert, Phoenix, Line, and northern Cook islands. It lives on outer reef slopes and lagoon patch reefs, working coral and rubble cover at moderate depths.

Good to know

Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus reaches about 25 cm and wears gold-flecked scales with blue lips and black, blue-edged fins. Juveniles carry a dark eye bar and a spot on the forehead, both of which fade as the fish matures.

Did you know

Its tiny home range kept wild exports scarce and prices high, so breeders made it an early target, and captive-bred juveniles from Bali now reach hobbyists alongside the occasional wild import.