King angelfish
Holacanthus passer
Also known as Passer Angelfish, King Passer Angelfish, King Angel
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F
- 22–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 13.8 in
- 35 cm
- Minimum tank
- 151 gal
- 570 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Own kind
- One per tank
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe with caution
- Family
- Pomacanthidae
- Origin
- Eastern Pacific from the Gulf of California to Peru, including the Galapagos, over rocky reefs.
Overview
The king angelfish is a bold, aggressive angel from the eastern Pacific for a very large saltwater tank. It suits a keeper with some experience.
Did you know
Young king angels run cleaning stations, plucking parasites from fish many times their size.
Caring for the king angelfish
Give the king angelfish at least 151 gal (570 L), with rock caves and open swimming space. Keep the water at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.
It tolerates slightly cooler water than most reef angels. It is a hardy eater that takes spirulina, marine algae, mysis and angelfish preparations.
The king angelfish is aggressive, so keep one per tank and choose robust tank mates. Adults are dominant and territorial. Add it as one of the last fish, so it cannot claim the whole tank.
It will nip stony and soft corals and clam mantles. That makes it reef safe only with caution.
Good to know
Holacanthus passer belongs to the family Pomacanthidae, and it also goes by passer angelfish and king passer angelfish. It has a blue-gray body, an orange tail and a single white bar.
In the wild
The king angelfish ranges along the eastern Pacific coast, from the Gulf of California to Peru, including the Galapagos. It patrols rocky reefs. Its home waters are cooler and more productive than those of most tropical angels.
Common questions
What size tank does a king angelfish need?
A king angelfish needs at least 151 gal (570 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a king angelfish need?
A king angelfish is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a king angelfish eat?
A king angelfish is a hardy eater. It takes spirulina, marine algae, mysis and angelfish preparations.
How big does a king angelfish get?
An adult king angelfish reaches about 13.8 in (35 cm).
Related species
17.7 in (45 cm)251 gal (950 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)African angelfish
Holacanthus africanus
17.7 in (45 cm) · 251 gal (950 L)
17.7 in (45 cm)251 gal (950 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Blue angelfish
Holacanthus bermudensis
17.7 in (45 cm) · 251 gal (950 L)
17.7 in (45 cm)251 gal (950 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Queen angelfish
Holacanthus ciliaris
17.7 in (45 cm) · 251 gal (950 L)
13.8 in (35 cm)140 gal (530 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Rock beauty angelfish
Holacanthus tricolor
13.8 in (35 cm) · 140 gal (530 L)
13.8 in (35 cm)180 gal (680 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Personifer angelfish
Chaetodontoplus personifer
13.8 in (35 cm) · 180 gal (680 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)