Passer angelfish (Holacanthus passer) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
King angelfish
Family
Pomacanthidae (marine angelfishes)
Origin
Eastern Pacific, Gulf of California to Peru and the Galápagos; rocky reefs, usually 4–30 m
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
36 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.020–1.025
Minimum tank
1000 litres
Care level
expert
Temperament
aggressive
Reef safe
no

Care

A large, costly fish with a specialised diet. The article gives a minimum of 125 US gallons (about 470 litres), but we suggest about 1,000 litres for an adult, which is our estimate. 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. Dominant and can bully smaller tankmates. Some fish act as cleaners. It has a strong spine on the lower cheek, so handle with care. Very dark blue with a yellow tail and a single white bar on the flank. Males can be up to half as long again as females. Fairly popular but not bred in captivity; most are sold by mail order. IUCN: Least Concern. 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/Holacanthuspasser). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Mainly sponges, plus other attached invertebrates, zooplankton and algae. Often reluctant to take prepared foods; offer 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. Pairs spawn daily around sunset and a pair can produce millions of eggs in a cycle. Not bred in captivity.

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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