QueenABehFAQ

FAQs about the Queen Angel Behavior

Related Articles: Queen Angels, Holacanthus Angels,

Angelfishes for Marine Aquariums
Diversity, Selection & Care
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by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Queen Angelfish sleeping habits 8/26/2009
Hello. I searched your entire site and could not find an answer. I have a 450 gallon FOWLR tank that houses aggressive fish. They have all been together raised from babies for 4 years. My queen angelfish sleeps hovering horizontally or vertically in the back corner above a power jet to sleep at night. I have tried rearranging the 500 pounds of liverock a few times to make extra caves but it is not interested. Is this an acceptable sleeping habit for this fish?.
<Yes>
It is about 8" long and starting to color up in adult coloration. All other fish, i.e. triggers, lunare wrasse, princess parrot, toadfish, Atlantic blue tang, Aussie harlequin tusk have caves they have claimed to sleep in. I appreciate any advice as always.
<I would not be overly concerned here. Not an unusual behavior for large angels (and other fishes) in captivity. Bob Fenner>

Fish questions Bob I was wondering-- how long does it take for a Queen Angel to reach maturity? I'm thinking of purchasing one, but I'm not going to have a tank large enough for an adult until the end of this summer. I was wanting to hold it in a medium sized tank until then. Possible? I will appreciate your reply. John Pryor >> By maturity as sexually reproductive stage? About a year. To maximum length? 2,3,4... have seen them at sixteen or so overall inches (about twice the length of sexual maturity) Time frame is a possibility... starting with a small specimen (under four inches) and growing it up in the present system (not crowded, a good forty gallons to itself) till the larger tank in Summer. Bob Fenner

Adult Queen Angel Questions Hi Bob !!! I need your advice regarding my adult Queen angel. I had my Queen angel for one week and up to now, she refused to eat all kinds of dried food including frozen krill. There're a lot of "coaches" I mean fishes like damsels and tangs) around and hope that she will learn from them but she didn't. What should I do? <You state this is an "adult" specimen? Better to start with juveniles, sub-adults... as they are not so finicky about eating novel foodstuffs... Do you have plenty of live rock? If not, I would add more, quick, from the tropical West Atlantic (rather than from elsewhere)... hoping there are materials (sponges, tunicates, algae mainly) that this fish recognizes as food, and that the rock modifies the water/environment more to this fish's liking... otherwise, keep trying all different types of foods, perhaps soaked in a vitamin prep. ahead of offering> How long can she go without food or can she find food in my reef aquarium? <Perhaps a few weeks> Secondly, my queen angel doesn't like to swim out in the open like the rest but instead like to stay in one or two location. She doesn't appears to be sick. Is this a normal behaviour ? <Normal for a Holacanthus ciliaris that is "stressed" from capture, moving, being held in a very small space in "weird" surroundings...> Your articles regarding this species also stated that " The species is found foraging and hiding around rocky reefs, not in open, upper waters or over sandy bottoms. Provide some similar habitat." Could you kindly clarify? Thanks. <A note that this Angel requires plenty of cover to duck into, and forage on and about. Next time (if there is one) start with at most a four inch long specimen. Bob Fenner>

Queen Angel Problem Hi Bob, <Steven Pro in this morning.> I came across your website today for the first time trying to figure out a complication with my Queen Angel. The problem is for the last week it's only breathing from one gill at an accelerated pace. <Sounds parasitic; Cryptocaryon, Amyloodinium, or Gill Flukes are all possibilities.> Behavioral patterns are normal, water conditions are fine, and the rest of the inhabitants are healthy. I've tried to locate this problem on other websites the past few days and came up with no results. Is there anything I can do to help this great fish. I really don't want to lose him. <Look up those diseases on our site, www.WetWebMedia.com, for treatment options. Quarantining and freshwater dips or formalin baths would be my course of action.> Thanks, Brian <You are welcome. -Steven Pro>

Queen angel selection and age - 03/11/2006 Hi Bob I want to purchase a medium queen angel , about 3- 5" as recommended. My LFS has one that's about 3-3 1/2" with its juve coloration almost gone. I was debating whether to buy it or hold out for a bigger one. Is there any difference in terms of acclimating to a home aquarium between 3" or 5" angel? <The three inchers are much better...> Which one would you recommend? Also, approximately how old is a queen at 3" <Under a year...> and what is their growth rate in captivity? <Mmm, five, six inches in two years... six, seven in three...> Currently I have a 125tank and I'm getting a 265(7ft x 2ft) early next year. <Will need this. Cheers, Bob Fenner>

Angelfishes for Marine Aquariums
Diversity, Selection & Care
New eBook on Amazon: Available here
New Print Book on Create Space: Available here

by Robert (Bob) Fenner

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