Passer Angelfish - Holacanthus passer

Passer Angelfish - Holacanthus passer

  The Passer Angelfish, also known as the King Angelfish, is a striking species of marine fish. This guide provides detailed information about its appearance, diet, and habitat requirements.

Appearance of the Passer Angelfish

Adult Passers

• Coloration: Mostly dark blue with a white vertical stripe extending downwards from the dorsal fin about two-thirds of the way to the pelvic fin.
• Fins:
  • Dorsal fin: Rimmed with yellow.
  • Pectoral and caudal fins: Yellow.
  • Ventral fins: Yellow on females and white on males.
• Size: Can grow over a foot long, requiring a large aquarium.

Juvenile Passers

• Coloration: Orange with one white and several blue stripes.
• Size Categories:
  • Juvenile: 1" to 1-3/4"
  • Small-Medium: 2-1/4" to 3-1/4" (color transitioning to young adult)
  • Medium: 3-1/4" to 4" (sub-adult)
  • Large: 5" to 6"
  • XLarge: 6" or larger

Tank Requirements for the Passer

• Aquarium Size: At least 250 gallons due to their large size.
• Tank Mates: Should be kept with semi-aggressive fish due to its hardy and potentially aggressive nature.
• Reef Compatibility: Not suitable for reef aquariums as it nips at stony and soft corals (sessile invertebrates) and clam mantles.

Diet and Nutrition of the Passers

Juvenile Passers

• Primary Diet: Filamentous algae and external parasites found on other fish.
• Feeding Environment: Provide plenty of rocks for grazing on algae.

Adult Passers

• Diet:
  • Invertebrate eggs
  • Cnidarians
  • Parasites
  • Zooplankton
  • Algae and sponges
• Tank Feeding:
  • Spirulina
  • Marine algae
  • Sponge material
  • Nori (fresh or dehydrated)
  • Broccoli
  • Meaty foods (e.g., Mysis and brine shrimp)
• Feeding Frequency: At least three times daily.

Origin of these Angelfish

The Passer Angelfish, scientifically known as Holocanthus passer, is widely distributed throughout the Eastern Pacific. This range includes:

• The Gulf of California
• Peru
• The Galapagos Islands

This information should help you understand and care for Passer Angelfish effectively.      

Plant the Foundation of Your Reef

        Explore life in our fish category. See related angels under this species index. Strengthen water chemistry with salt & buffer blends. Feed growth with nutritious dry food.  

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