Fish Database

Banded Angelfish

Scientific Name: Apolemichthys arcuatus

Aggressiveness: Non-Aggressive
Diet: Formula I & II, Mysis Shrimp, Meaty Foods
Max Size:
Minimum Tank Size: 150gal
Relative Care: Experts Only
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These angels usually do very well in reef tanks as they’re usually smaller in size and don’t grow very large. Because of their small size, most can be kept in reef tanks as small as 30-55 gal tanks, but they do require hiding spaces. Some are hardy while others are rather shy, will not eat, and waste away. Like all angels, some will pick at corals and clams, so they need to be watched when placed in a reef tank. These angels don’t live as long as some of the larger angels, with some living only up to 5 years, while others quite a bit less. Some pygmy angels can be mixed together, but it’s usually best to just have one per tank (unless the tank is large), as they will usually fight. They do very well with the larger angels and usually can be mixed very easily. They also do very well in FOWLR tanks and get along with most other fish. They do best in established tanks, whether reef or FOWLR tanks. They will pick on algae in the tank, but should be fed nori, flakes, and formula foods. The Banded Angelfish is a rare and beautiful fish. They are collected in deeper waters and require cooler tank temperatures. I recommend keeping them in tanks with a maximum temperature of 75 degrees. Like many other deepwater Angelfish, they will probably leave corals alone. The reason I say reef safe with caution” is because of the potentiality for temperatures that are too high in most reef tanks. These fish grow to about 7 inches.”””

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