Tiger angelfish
Apolemichthys kingi
Also known as Kingi Angelfish
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F
- 22–26°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 9.8 in
- 25 cm
- Minimum tank
- 151 gal
- 570 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Very rare
- Reef safe
- Not reef safe
- Family
- Pomacanthidae
- Origin
- Southwestern Indian Ocean
Overview
The tiger angelfish is a mostly peaceful marine angel for a fish-only display. It is moderately demanding to keep.
Did you know
The tiger angelfish was one of the hobby's holy grail angels for decades, because its home reefs are rough and largely protected. The first captive-bred tiger angelfish came from Poma Labs in 2023 and made news across the aquarium world.
Caring for the tiger angelfish
Give the tiger angelfish a mature tank of at least 151 gal (570 L), with caves, rockwork and steady grazing. Keep the water toward the cooler end of reef temperatures, at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C). Hold the pH at 8.1 to 8.4.
It nips sponges, clam mantles and coral polyps, so it is not reef safe. Expect a shy settling-in period. After that it becomes a bolder, mildly pushy adult, so choose its tank mates with caution. Breeding it is hard.
Good to know
The tiger angelfish, Apolemichthys kingi, is a marine angel in the family Pomacanthidae. It carries bold dark tiger bars over a pale body with a yellow crown. It was not described until 1984. It has been recorded hybridizing with the flagfin angelfish where their ranges overlap.
In the wild
The tiger angelfish is endemic to the southwestern Indian Ocean, along South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal coast, southern Mozambique and Madagascar. It keeps to rocky reefs and drop-offs roughly 10 to 45 meters down. Rough, surgy conditions there keep most divers and collectors away.
Common questions
What size tank does a tiger angelfish need?
A tiger angelfish needs at least 151 gal (570 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a tiger angelfish need?
A tiger angelfish is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
How big does a tiger angelfish get?
An adult tiger angelfish reaches about 9.8 in (25 cm).
Related species
9.8 in (25 cm)125 gal (475 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Goldflake angelfish
Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus
9.8 in (25 cm) · 125 gal (475 L)
10.2 in (26 cm)100 gal (380 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Flagfin angelfish
Apolemichthys trimaculatus
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7.9 in (20 cm)125 gal (475 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Red Sea angelfish
Apolemichthys xanthotis
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7.1 in (18 cm)90 gal (340 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)Bandit angelfish
Apolemichthys arcuatus
7.1 in (18 cm) · 90 gal (340 L)
9.8 in (25 cm)198 gal (750 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Conspicuous angelfish
Chaetodontoplus conspicillatus
9.8 in (25 cm) · 198 gal (750 L)
9.8 in (25 cm)124 gal (470 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Regal angelfish
Pygoplites diacanthus
9.8 in (25 cm) · 124 gal (470 L)