TankBud

Personifer angelfish

Chaetodontoplus personifer

Also known as Yellowtail Angelfish, Western Yellowtail Angelfish, Spottedface Angelfish

SaltwaterFish

Personifer angelfish (Chaetodontoplus personifer)

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
13.8 in
35 cm
Minimum tank
180 gal
680 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Very rare
Reef safe
Reef safe with caution
Family
Pomacanthidae
Origin
Northwestern Australia, Abrolhos Islands to the Arafura Sea

Overview

The personifer angelfish is a large angelfish from northwestern Australia for a very big saltwater tank. It suits a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

Western Australia exports very few aquarium fish, so the personifer angelfish rarely reaches the trade. Captive-bred juveniles from Bali Aquarich have sold for around a thousand dollars each.

Caring for the personifer angelfish

House the personifer angelfish in at least 180 gal (680 L), and larger is better for a full-grown adult. Give it sturdy rockwork and open swimming space.

Keep the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. Offer sponge-based angelfish foods, mysis, spirulina and nori several times a day.

The personifer angelfish is mostly peaceful, and it turns bold once settled. It should be the only large angelfish in the tank. Choose its other tank mates with caution.

It puts corals and clams at some risk, so treat it as reef safe only with caution. Breeding it is hard.

Good to know

Chaetodontoplus personifer belongs to the family Pomacanthidae and is one of the largest fish in its genus. It also goes by yellowtail, western yellowtail and spottedface angelfish. It has a blue-gray head peppered in yellow spots and a yellow tail crossed by a black band. That tail band separates it from the very similar Chaetodontoplus meredithi of eastern Australia, which lacks it as an adult. The two were treated as a single species until 1990.

In the wild

The personifer angelfish is endemic to northwestern Australia, from the Abrolhos Islands north and east to the Arafura Sea. It lives on inshore coastal reefs, rocky outcrops and flat sponge gardens between about 8 and 40 meters. It is usually alone or in small groups. Sponges and other sessile invertebrates make up most of its natural diet.

Common questions

What size tank does a personifer angelfish need?

A personifer angelfish needs at least 180 gal (680 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a personifer angelfish need?

A personifer angelfish is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does a personifer angelfish eat?

A personifer angelfish eats sponge-based angelfish foods, mysis, spirulina and nori. Feed it several times a day.

How big does a personifer angelfish get?

An adult personifer angelfish reaches about 13.8 in (35 cm).

Related species