Velvet Angelfish

Velvet Angelfish, Chaetodontoplus dimidiatus, are elegant large angels, that make great additions to a marine aquarium. Like several members of this genus, adults and juveniles look very different from one another.

Young Velvet Angelfish are black with a bright yellow stripe running from their head to tip of their ventral fins. Their back fins are black and yellow as well. Adult fish retain the black and yellow tail but otherwise have little in common. They have gorgeous black and white bodies, and their face is decorated with orange markings.

Large Angels are from the Pomacanthidae family. A group famous for their vivid colours. The name Pomacanthidae is Greek for, “cover” (poma) and “thorn” (akantha), which refers to the pair of strong spines on the gill cover.

Velvet Angelfish Ecology.

These fish occur on more exposed reef flats in Indonesia. Juveniles prefer to live in more sheltered areas so can out in bays as well.

In nature, Velvet Angelfish graze on macroalgae and sessile invertebrates, such as sponge and tunicates. This makes them unsuitable for marine aquariums with coral, as they do tend to nip at them. However, it may be possible to keep some carefully selected coral species in the same tank as the Velvet Angelfish. We highly recommend consulting a member of staff on the issue.

Chaetodontoplus dimidiatus In the Aquarium.

It is important to have plenty of nooks or crannies where your Velvet Angelfish can explore and feel at home. Keepers may also want to get a jump guard to stop any accidents.

Velvet Angelfish are omnivores and do best when fed a varied diet. They will accept frozen Mysis shrimp and enriched frozen brine shrimp. We enrich all our frozen food with seachem garlic guard and Atvitol vitamins. These are great for keeping fish healthy by providing them with the nutrition otherwise lost in frozen food. In doing so, these additives support their immune system and increase longevity.

Velvet Angelfish will graze on marine algae that can be secured to the side of the tank with clips. Over time they will accept high-quality pellet or flake. We adapt all our Angel Fish to aquarium life before they leave us. We focus on their health, and most are eating a good quality flake food and/or pellet before being offered for sale.

Angelfish can live in a mixed group or alone. Feel free to give us a call with any questions.