Watanabei Angelfish
Genicanthus watanabei
Also known as Watanabe's Angelfish, Blackedged Angelfish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F (22–26°C)
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 5.9 in (15 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 79 gal (300 L)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Origin
- Pacific, from Taiwan to the Tuamotu Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to New Caledonia and the Austral Islands
- Family
- Pomacanthidae
Overview
Watanabei angelfish are peaceful and, as a planktivore, leave corals and other invertebrates alone, making this one of the easier reef-safe angelfish to place in a mixed tank. They do best as a male-female pair or a small harem rather than alone. Feed enriched brine shrimp, mysis, and marine algae several times a day, since they will not graze algae off the rock the way a Pomacanthus would.
In the wild
Watanabei angelfish live on current-swept Pacific outer reef slopes and drop-offs, from about 21 to 81 meters, from Taiwan to the Tuamotu Islands. They hover in open water above the rock to feed on plankton rather than grazing the reef itself. A tank should give this fish open swimming room above the live rock, steady current, and plenty of places to retreat to on the rockwork.
Good to know
Genicanthus watanabei is the smallest Genicanthus angel in this group, reaching only about 15 cm. Males are pale blue with eight black stripes across the lower two-thirds of the body, while females are pale blue with a black bar above the eye and a scatter of spots on the forehead instead of stripes. It is a dedicated planktivore with almost none of the rock-grazing behavior seen in the large Pomacanthus angels.
Did you know
It was the second Genicanthus species anyone ever captive-bred, reared by an aquarist at a public aquarium in Hawaii not long after the very first breakthrough with its rare cousin, the masked angelfish.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- LiveAquaria Freshwater and saltwater fish, inverts and corals
- Saltwaterfish.com Marine fish, corals and inverts shipped overnight
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Watanabei Angelfish?
Track water tests, reminders and stocking fit.
Related species
Bellus Angelfish
Genicanthus bellus7.1 in (18 cm)85 gal (320 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Zebra Angelfish
Genicanthus caudovittatus7.9 in (20 cm)90 gal (340 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Lamarck's Angelfish
Genicanthus lamarck9.8 in (25 cm)124 gal (470 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Swallowtail Angelfish
Genicanthus melanospilos7.1 in (18 cm)106 gal (400 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Bicolor Angelfish
Centropyge bicolor5.9 in (15 cm)55 gal (210 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Eibli Angelfish
Centropyge eibli5.9 in (15 cm)55 gal (210 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)