one fish seems to get picked on and never
does well.
Their dorsal fin spines are venomous, so
care should be taken when handling this
species in a net. You should also be aware of
where they are whenever you are working
in the tank, as it is more likely for you to
impale yourself on the dorsal fin of a fish
hiding in a decoration you pick up to move
than it is for the fish to ever intentionally
sting you with its venomous spines.
I would describe it as a bit worse than a
bee sting. Hot water seems to help decrease
the effect, though my finger did have some
residual swelling that went away within 24
hours. P. hepatus typically grows to a length
of about 12 inches and is a very active
species, so the hobbyist should plan for its
ultimate size before purchasing it.
Gold-Tail Angelfish
Pomacanthus chrysurus
Pomacanthus chrysurus, commonly known as the ear-spot or gold-tail angelfish, is occasionally available
to the marine hobbyist. It is well suited to
the home aquarium but will do best for the
aquarist who already has some experience
with one or more of the larger angels.
Juveniles can be kept in reef tanks,
where they will seldom damage any sessile
invertebrates, though there are exceptions
and the occasional individual will pick at soft
corals, large-polyp stonies, or zoanthids. Their
diet makes them less suitable for inclusion in
the reef aquarium as they grow, and adults
should be kept in fish-only or FOWLR
systems. A widely varied diet is important, and
algae-based foods should constitute a large
part of their diet at any stage of life. Adults will
particularly appreciate the addition of sponge-based foods to the feeding regimen.
P. chrysurus is found in the western Indian
Ocean ranging from Sri Lanka in the east to
the African coast in the west, where it is found
from the Gulf of Aden south to Natal. It is
most common along the coast of Africa and
in the Comoros, Seychelles, and Madagascar.
Most of these areas do not have an established
commercial ornamental marine fishery, and it
is this fact that makes the ear-spot angel only
an occasional guest in our tanks. Most of the
specimens that reach the trade are exported
from Kenya.
They are usually available in an array of sizes,
from tiny juveniles to full-grown adults. Most
specimens are 3 to 6 inches in length when
exported for the hobby, which is a good size to
start because they adapt readily to the aquarium
and usually feed very well very quickly. (Fish
courtesy of Marine Wholesale, Inc.) D
40
www.tfhmagazine.com
October 2010
