Pearl-Scaled Angelfish

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Moderate   • Temperament: Semi-aggressive   • Maximum Size: 5"
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons   • Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
• Diet: Omnivore   • Origin: Indian and Western Pacific Oceans
• Family: Pomacanthidae   • Species: Angels (Dwarf)   • Aquarium Type: Reef Compatible

Help Support AquariumDomain!      

• Your support keeps AquariumDomain advertisement free, lightning fast and fully optimized for both mobile and desktop browsing.

• Visit our Patreon page to learn about the exclusive benefits our Patrons receive!

Peal-Scaled Angelfish are found in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific, from Christmas Island, throughout South-east Asia and Micronesia, north to Japan, south to Australia and east to the Marshall Islands. Pearl-Scaled Angelfish are most commonly found on rocky or rubble bottoms of offshore reef slopes and lagoons, especially those with rich algal and sponge fauna.

In the aquarium environment they require strong reef/rock work with many caves and crevices to provide this species with a place to hide when threatened; as well as, area to graze for marine algaes.

The Pearl-scaled Angelfish is brown to grey-green throughout the front and middle of the body and black around the tail section. The anal fin, caudal fin and posterior region of the dorsal fin have blue margins. The iris, pectoral fin base and area around the eyes are orange.

The Pearl-Scaled Angelfish will do best in a 30 gallon or larger aquarium with plenty of live rock to provide both algae for grazing and caves and crevices for protection. This species is considered semi-aggressive as it will fight with other dwarf angelfish, but should get along well with other community fish species. The Pearl-Scaled Angelfish is suitable for many reef aquarium environments; however, caution should be used as it will eat sponges and may pick at some coral species.

This is a hardy species if given plenty of marine algae and sponge material in its diet, which will help it maintain a strong immune system. Because of the need for sponge material in its diet, the Pearl-Scaled Angelfish is considered moderately difficult to keep in the home aquarium.

Pearl-Scaled Angelfish feed predominately on algae and sponge material in the wild, thus a similar diet is desirable for the life in the home aquarium. A quality marine herbivore preparation that includes both marine algae and sponge material should be offered. Their diet may also be supplemented with mysid shrimp, frozen & flaked foods with algal content.