|
Red Sea
Maculosus Angelfish
Identification: A good
first large angelfish, the Maculosus Angelfish is also called
the Yellowbar Angelfish, Yellow-band Angelfish, Map Angelfish,
or Blue Moon Angelfish. In its juvenile form, at 2", it
is deep blue with several white vertical bars. The body is surrounded
by a metallic blue color and it has a bright yellow tail. As
the fish matures and grows, a bright vertical bar will appear,
and the white vertical stripes will disappear. A neon blue irregular
pattern will start to show when the fish attains a length of
3-4", the center vertical stripe will turn a vivid yellow,
and the tail a transparent yellow. As an adult, the fish will
eventually turn a gorgeous blue with a large vertical yellow
bar midbody. The caudal fin is transparent yellow, which distinguishes
it from the Asfur Angel, which has a bold yellow tail and dark
purple body.
Recommended Tank Size: This species
grows up to a foot in length, so it should be kept in a 100 gallon
or larger tank with only one specimen per tank. It is not a good
candidate for a reef aquarium since it is prone to nip at stony
and soft corals (sessile invertebrates) and clam mantles.
Feeding and Diet: The diet of
the Maculosus Angelfish should include Spirulina, marine algae,
meaty items, and high-quality angelfish preparations containing
sponges. |
