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What do you think when you hear about livestock from the Red Sea areas? Golden butterflies (Chaetodon semilarvatus)? Similar species, like some of the Lionfishes, but even more colorful and with even more flowing finnage? Big, bad sharks? Well, probably all this and more, but invariably we all have one image come to mind: Moolah, dinero, okani, the big bongo bucks it takes to "reach out and touch some one" to acquire these specimens. Unfortunately, due to vagaries of human conflict, poorly developed collection and distribution facilities, distance from the good ole debt-driven economy which is the U.S. of A., the bogus value of the currency of the same, et alia res, critters hailing only from the region are muy expensivo. And what a shame! Many are supremely well-suited for captive containment. The yellow-band angel is an exemplary species in this regard, being very disease resistant, accepting greedily all types of fresh and prepared foods, and getting along behaviorally with almost all other species. Classification: Taxonomy, Relation With Other Groups For so-called "higher (than family) classification" discussion see articles elsewhere in this series on this genus, other related genera including one of my least favorite (Euxiphipops), the sub-order Percoidea, Order Perciformes, and on up the scale ad nauseum. Members of the marine angelfish family, Pomacanthidae, no duh; and near identical for the genus Pomacanthus in overall morphology, development, size, nutrition, disease control and water quality demands. Gee, that was easy! The species is distributed throughout the Persian Gulf, the northwestern Indian Ocean and Red Sea. It is considered almost sympatric with the Arabian angelfish, P. asfur is akin in appearance as a sub-adult as well as transformed adult (beyond four to six inches) in shape and coloration. A salient color difference is the Arabian's bright yellow tail. Both species are found in over-lapping habitats in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea, are comparable pricey, and hardy. P. maculosus is my sure favorite for being more out-going, however. A Tale/Tail of Two Sympatric Angelfish Species:
Selection: General to Specific Whatever size is available and that you can afford will probably do very well. I have extremely rarely encountered a "beat" or "not likely to survive/prosper" specimen. These fish are consistently good. Juveniles and sub-adults are differently marked and colored than adults. Comparable to younger Euxiphipops, P. annularis, asfur, chrysurus, semicirculatus, and striatus (have I forgotten anyone?) small yellow-bands are alternately blue-white and black banded. Want to impress friends (only try this on the terminally fish-fixated) and bore tearless the less-than passionate? Refer to Allen's book below and study 'til you can discern these various species as juveniles...and, hey! where 'you going? Okay, okay, I was only making a funny. Anyhow, back to the story at hand. I've yet to find a one yellow-band offered on the market that did not appear healthy and eat from the get-go. Larger specimens are very nice as well, just cost an arm, leg and fin due to freight costs (when are folks gonna ship these things out of Eilat?) and I've never occasioned upon one that had "an attitude" behavioral problem... Longevity? They're tough. The photo offered was taken a few years back at Phil Shane's Quality Marine in L.A.. It was there before then and is there now. May as well make mention of other common and scientific names allied with the species: the blue moon (as if when I and you will be able to afford one) angelfish, Holacanthus (!) coeruleus, H. lineatus, H. haddaja, J. mokhella. The latter info. on junior synonyms came from an old T.F.H. source so "take it with a (big) bag, not grain of salt". Hotay? Okay. Environmental: Conditions Habitat Allen found the species mainly in coral and rocky areas, in shallow to moderate depths (forty feet), consistent with other member-species in the genus. Also as with other Pomacanthus considering the ultimate size of the specimen and the system is of importance. Yellow-Bands get a good foot long in captivity and need at least an uncrowded hundred gallons to fare well. Chemical/Physical Exacting as is for most Red Sea biotopes. Keep your water clean and constant in it's chemistry and physics. A higher density is appreciated, at least close to a specific gravity of 1.025. Be religious in your frequent partial water changes. Check and empty (Yes, you will have one) protein skimmer daily. Biology/Other Really save up your dough, learn to dive and make the big excursion to the geographic area itself. It will be worth it, for among other reasons to observe this and other species' behavior in vivo. These are really Filtration If you are going to be spending the major ducats for righteous livestock, do not scrimp on reliable, well designed/engineered/constructed filter gear, installed and maintained properly. Check into Eheim, Tunze, Sander's, TMC (Tropical Marine Center), and other "real" equipment. Enough proselytizing. Behavior: Territoriality As noted before, this fish is downright friendly, so curious that it often approaches the capturing diver on their meeting. They rarely tolerate more than one or closely related and sized species in a system. If you're excessively cursed with cash, coupled with insane curiosity and no common sense, go ahead, make my wholesale day... but remember the cost of freedom? Eternal vigilance!? The right to bear arms was not to gather fun foods, but to keep the "people's government" at bay. Don't surrender your weapons or common sense and observation. Introduction/Acclimation Veritably the same as for other top 'O the rock community species. 1) Put in first, leave the lighting on for a day, feed frequent, small amounts, keep your eyes open. 2) Put in not first, disrupt the physical environment (move the decor about). See rest, above 1). 3) Place concurrently with other livestock; no sweat. See above 1). Predator/Prey Relations Like other large angels, enjoy a thoroughly stocked reef tank, to eat! They do and will sample everything; anemones, algae, tubeworms, corals. Not much attacks them once they establish their alpha dominance. Reproduction: As for other's in the genus; cyclical upper-water column egg scatterers.. Foods/Feeding/Nutrition This angel and it's congener readily accepts any and all types of fresh and prepared food. Frequent, smaller feedings result in a better conditioned and friendly individual. Disease: Infectious, Parasitic If there is an infectious, parasitic, nutritional, environmental or other hobbyist-contrived trouble-mediating effect this fish will be among the last infected. They're tough tough tough. Close: If you've got the cash, the space and the desire for a large, beautiful, hardy marine specimen, there are few that can match the yellow-band angel. Save up and invest. Bibliography/Further Reading: Allen, Gerald R. 1978. Butterfly and Angelfishes of the World. Vol. 2. MERGUS Verlag, Hans Baensch, Germany. Giovanetti, Thomas A. 1989. Getting acquainted with Red Sea fishes. Tropical Fish Hobbyist, 9/89.
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