French angelfish (Pomacanthus paru) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Family
Pomacanthidae (marine angelfishes)
Origin
Western Atlantic, Florida and Gulf of Mexico to Brazil, plus Ascension Island and St Paul's Rocks; coral reefs and rocky shores, mostly shallow
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
41 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.020–1.025
Minimum tank
1100 litres
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
semi_aggressive
Reef safe
no
Lifespan
Up to 27 years years

Care

Needs a very large tank with sturdy rockwork, caves for the night and plenty of swimming room. The minimum tank size of about 1100 litres is our own estimate from the adult size and habits, not a figure from the sources. No species-specific water figures are given in the sources, so the values here are general marine aquarium guidance rather than figures for this fish: 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4 and a specific gravity of 1.020–1.025 (a fish-only system suits it). Keep conditions stable, with low nitrate and good oxygenation. Active by day and returns to the same hiding place at night. Lives in territorial pairs and can make a knocking sound when alarmed. Juveniles run cleaning stations. Adults are black with pale edges to the scales and a yellow ring around the eye. Juveniles are black with bright yellow vertical bars. The sexes look alike. Common in the trade and exported to Europe and the USA; it has been bred in captivity. IUCN: Least Concern, though the article notes trade pressure could lead to a higher category. It is also eaten and can cause ciguatera poisoning in people. Selling: our policies require the adult size and long-term tank needs to be stated clearly in the listing. Large fish must travel by a specialist live-animal courier (see the Livestock shipping guide). Sources: Wikipedia, List of marine aquarium fish species (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofmarineaquariumfishspecies); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomacanthusparu). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Mainly a sponge eater (about 70% of its diet), also taking algae, bryozoans, zoanthids, gorgonians, hydroids, coral and tunicates; juveniles eat parasites picked from larger fish. Feed angelfish foods with sponge, frozen mysis and krill, chopped seafood and marine algae several times a day.

Breeding

Marine angelfish are pelagic broadcast spawners: a pair rises into the water column, usually around dusk, and releases eggs and sperm together. Forms pairs for life and spawns near dusk. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite that grows slowly and matures late. Captive breeding has been achieved.

Compatibility and tank mates

Not reef safe: it grazes sponges and tunicates and will pick at stony and soft corals, clam mantles and other sessile invertebrates. Best in a fish-only system with live rock. Keep one large angelfish per tank unless the system is very large; add it after more peaceful fish and alongside robust tankmates such as tangs, larger wrasses and triggerfish of similar size. Avoid small, slow or timid fish.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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