Marine angelfish are some of the most fascinating saltwater angelfish species in the aquarium hobby due to their beautiful colors and large sizes, but many hobbyists don’t know that there are several species of marine angelfish to choose from when you’re looking to add one to your tank.
If you’re planning on keeping a saltwater aquarium and want to add some marine angelfish, it can be hard to decide which type of angelfish to buy, as there are so many beautiful species in existence.
Angelfish come in many shapes and sizes, with many different color variations among the different species, so it’s worth learning about each of the most popular types of saltwater angelfish before making your purchase.
Marine angelfish are an incredibly popular saltwater fish species, due in part to their fantastic colors and patterns and also to their relatively easy care requirements.
Below, we’ll outline 13 of the most popular species of marine angelfish available in the hobby today so you can quickly find the perfect marine angelfish for your home aquarium.
Popular marine angelfish types
French Angelfish (Pomacanthus paru)
The French Angelfish (Pomacanthus paru) is a strikingly beautiful fish that comes in two colors: brown and light blue. This fish is one of the most popular saltwater angelfish because its coloration is so unique, and it has a small profile for an angelfish.
The French Angelfish can be kept with other saltwater angelfish species, but they prefer to have their own territory within the tank. The recommended tank size for this fish is 30 gallons or larger.
They will often form pairs in the wild, so it’s best to keep them with a mate if possible. They like live rock and sand bottoms but are not opposed to having lots of open space on top of rocks or coral reefs. These angelfish are omnivores who need both meaty foods such as brine shrimp and algae wafers along with vegetables like cucumbers and seaweed sheets every day.
Queen Angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris)
The Queen Angelfish is one of the most popular saltwater angelfish in the hobby. They are medium-sized fish with elongated bodies and upward-pointing mouths. They are a deep blue color with many shades of yellow, orange, and red on their fins and tail.
Queen Angels are very social and can be kept in groups of three or more individuals. They should be given plenty of room to swim, but not enough room for territorial disputes to arise. These animals require meaty foods as well as other types of frozen food like brine shrimp and marine shrimp.
Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator)
The emperor angelfish is one of the most popular saltwater angelfish due to its brilliant colors and black spots. They can grow up to 18 inches in length, but they are peaceful fish that only lives for up to four years. This species is a great option for new saltwater aquarium owners because it is hardy, easy to care for, and has beautiful colors.
Also known as Poms, these angelfish are best kept with other friendly fish and should not be kept with anemones or urchins. One way to keep these lovely creatures happy is by giving them plenty of live rock – this will provide them with plenty of places to hide out while also providing them with food sources such as crustaceans, snails, and algae.
Gray Angelfish (Pomacanthus arcuatus)
The Gray Angelfish is one of the most popular saltwater angelfish species in the world. It is easy to care for and can be used as a beginner fish. They are very colorful, come in many different colors, and have an average size of 2 inches.
This type of angelfish is best kept in either an aquarium or a large pond with plenty of places to hide when they want to escape from the light. They love live coral and will nibble at it all day long. They need lots of room to swim around so if you plan on putting them into a tank make sure it is at least 3 feet deep and preferably larger.
Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loriculus)
The Flame Angelfish is an orange-red fish with a yellow edge near its tail and a white line on the side of its body. It has a black stripe through its eye, which extends to the top of its head. It can grow up to 18 cm in length, but usually only reaches 13 cm.
The Flame Angelfish’s diet consists mainly of algae, worms, crustaceans, and other small invertebrates. It is found in shallow waters from the Indian Ocean to Western Australia. Its natural habitat includes coral reefs and coastal regions that are rich in algae. They are common in lagoons and sheltered bays where they live singly or form loose aggregations.
Blueface Angelfish (Omacanthus xanthometopon)
The Blueface Angelfish, also called the Yellow-headed Blueface, Yellowface, or Yellowmask Angelfish is one of the most beautiful saltwater angelfish species that can be found in the wild.
This fish has a distinctive blue head and body with a white tail. It is often seen as an aquarium fish because it is easy to care for and makes a wonderful addition to any marine tank. They are non-aggressive toward other fish and they do not eat corals or invertebrates. In fact, they will only eat algae from the glass or rockwork if there is nothing else available to eat.
Coral Beauty Angelfish (Centropyge bispinosus)
Coral Beauty Angelfish is also known as Bispinosus, and it can grow up to six inches in length. This fish has a bright orange body with black stripes. It is one of the most popular saltwater angelfish species because it is hardy and easy to care for.
Coral Beauty Angels usually feed on algae and invertebrates but will eat any type of meat that is introduced into their aquariums. These fish are not aggressive at all, so they make great additions to reef tanks.
They are very territorial, so you will want to keep only one per tank. They don’t need very much space either, as long as you provide them with plenty of caves and hiding places. A 20 gallon or larger tank would be perfect for this beautiful saltwater angelfish.
Pygmy Angelfish (Centropyge argi)
Pygmy angelfish are easy to care for. However, they are not fish for beginners because they need to be kept in a tank that is 100 gallons or larger and have plenty of live rock and coral.
Pygmy angelfish need plenty of hiding places so they should not be housed with aggressive species like triggerfish or puffers. They also require lots of open space so do not house them with predatory fish like lionfish.
The pygmy angelfish can grow up to 3 inches long when fully grown, but usually only reaches 2 inches as adults. It has the ability to change its color depending on the environment it is in; if it feels threatened by another animal, it will turn dark red while if it feels safe, it will turn light brown.
Regal Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus)
The Regal Angelfish is a saltwater angelfish that are native to the Indo-Pacific region. They can grow up to 20 cm in length and are usually found at depths of 8 meters or more. They have a diet consisting primarily of sponges, crustaceans, and mollusks.
These fish are popular pets for aquariums due to their brilliant colors and peaceful nature. In order to thrive as a pet they require plenty of room and live corals. They do best with other regal angels as they tend to be aggressive with other species.
King Angelfish (Holacanthus passer)
King angelfish are one of the most popular saltwater angelfish species due to their beautiful coloration and large size. King angelfish can reach 8 inches in length and require a relatively large tank with plenty of space for swimming. The king angelfish is an aggressive fish that requires plenty of room to avoid territorial conflicts with other fish.
They also have a tendency to jump out of their tank, so extra care should be taken when choosing tank decorations. Unfortunately, they are not as easy to take care of as some marine angelfish because they tend to die after living only 1-2 years.
Potter Angelfish (Centropyge potteri)
Potter angelfish, also known as the Potter’s angelfish, is a saltwater angelfish species that can grow to be up to 4.8 inches long and live for up to 10 years in captivity. The fish are named after Edward Potter who first described the fish in 1887.
They inhabit areas of rocky slopes and coral reefs at depths of 20-30 meters in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Unlike many other saltwater angelfish, they swim close to the bottom of their environment. Their diet consists mostly of benthic invertebrates such as shrimps, crabs, and snails.
Chrysurus Angelfish (Pomacanthus chrysurus)
The Chrysurus angelfish is also known as a Pomacanthus chrysurus. It has an orange-yellow body with a black stripe running horizontally on each side. The fins are usually orange with a black border and the head is yellow with blue markings.
They grow to be up to six inches long and live in the tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific region. Their diet consists of small fish, crustaceans, worms, mollusks, sponges, and other invertebrates. These types of marine angelfish make great pets for aquariums because they are easy to care for.
Koran Angelfish (Pomacanthus semicirculatus)
Also known as Semicircle angelfish, Koran angelfish are one of the more popular saltwater or marine angelfish species. They are small to medium-sized fish, growing up to 10 inches in length. They have a yellow or orange body with black and white spots on their fins.
Koran angelfish can be distinguished from other types of angelfish by their long nasal barbels. They also have long, thin pectoral fins and a rounded tail fin that is usually black with white spots on it.
The underside of the koran angelfish’s body is covered with spiny scales called ctenoid scales. These scales provide protection against predators when they swim near the ocean floor at night. The koran angelfish has a broad distribution across the Indo-Pacific Ocean but is not found north of Japan or south of Indonesia.