Description
- Scientific Name: Apolemichthys xanthurus
- Common Names: Cream Angelfish, Indian Yellowtail Angelfish, Yellowtail Angelfish
- Maximum Length: 6 inches (15 cm)
- Minimum Aquarium Size: 80 gallons (302 liters); provide ample live rock for grazing and hiding, with open swimming areas.
- Foods and Feeding Habits: Omnivorous, feeding on sponges, tunicates, and algae in the wild. In aquariums, offer a varied diet of spirulina, marine algae, mysis shrimp, high-quality angelfish preparations with sponge content, and enriched frozen foods. Feed 2-3 times daily.
- Reef Safety: Use caution in reef tanks; may nip at soft corals, LPS corals, and clam mantles. Generally considered reef-safe with caution, but individual behavior can vary.
- Temperament: Semi-aggressive; can be territorial toward similar species. Best kept as the only angelfish in the aquarium unless the tank is very large. Generally peaceful with dissimilar tankmates.
- Description: The Cream Angelfish is an elegant species native to the Indian Ocean, particularly the waters around Sri Lanka and the Maldives. It features a beautiful creamy-white body contrasted by a dark head and a vibrant yellow tail fin. This hardy angelfish acclimates well to captive conditions and is considered one of the easier angelfish species to keep, making it popular among both beginner and experienced marine aquarists.
- Fun Facts:
- Cream Angelfish are one of the few angelfish species that readily accept prepared foods from the start, making them easier to acclimate than many of their relatives.
- In the wild, they are often found in pairs or small groups around rocky reef slopes at depths of 5-25 meters.
