# French Angelfish (*Pomacanthus paru*) The French Angelfish is a striking black and yellow fish. It often swims in pairs and is very curious about its surroundings. - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Coral reefs - **Also known as:** Angel Fish, Black Angelfish ![French Angelfish](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425737/objects/4769.jpg) ## Appearance The French Angelfish has a striking dark body with bright yellow-edged scales, distinct yellow pectoral fins, and a prominent white mouth. Juveniles are solid black with vivid yellow vertical bands. Its unique patterns and bold colors make it stand out on the reef. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Perciformes - **Family:** Pomacanthidae - **Genus:** Pomacanthus ## Interesting facts - Their striking adult patterns develop from simple striped juvenile markings! - They blow jets of water to uncover snacks hidden in the sand! - They form strong pairs that often stay together for their entire lives. - Young French Angelfish are cleaner fish, removing tiny bugs from bigger reef creatures! ## Special abilities - **Color Transformer:** French Angelfish can change their colors drastically from juvenile to adult because it helps them blend in or signal their maturity. - **Reef Cleaner:** French Angelfish has special cleaning behavior that helps them remove parasites from other fish, keeping the reef healthy. - **Scraping Snacker:** French Angelfish has strong brush-like teeth that helps them scrape algae and sponges from rocks and coral. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 25-40 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-1.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Swim Speed:** 8 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 100 m - **Water Type:** Saltwater ## Diet & Feeding These angelfish are omnivores, munching on sponges, algae, and small invertebrates. - **Age differences:** Juveniles mostly eat parasites off other fish, while adults eat a wider variety of reef foods. - **Primary Foods:** sponges, tunicates, algae, zoantharians, small crustaceans - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Branching Tube Sponge (*Amphimedon compressa*) — A favorite meal for adult angelfish. - **Symbiotic with:** Doctorfish (*Acanthurus chirurgus*) — Juveniles clean parasites from their skin. - **Eaten by:** Black Grouper (*Mycteroperca bonaci*) — A large reef predator that hunts angelfish. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify French Angelfish? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is French Angelfish? 25-40 cm ### How much does French Angelfish weigh? 0.5-1.5 kg ### How long does French Angelfish live? 10-15 years ### What does French Angelfish eat? These angelfish are omnivores, munching on sponges, algae, and small invertebrates. ### How fast can French Angelfish swim? 8 km/h ### Where is French Angelfish usually found? Coral reefs ### How does French Angelfish hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Miami Beach Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/miami-beach-botanical-garden) — US · Botanical Garden - [Albuquerque Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albuquerque-aquarium) — New Mexico, US · Zoo ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [French Angelfish: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/french-angelfish)