Hobbies And Interests
Habitat
The marine angelfish is never found in freshwater or brackish water and is a common aquarium fish. The larger of the species is also sold as food. It is found in warm, tropical waters near coral reefs, and although it can venture down to depths as deep as 160 feet it usually goes no deeper than 60 feet. The angelfish's narrow body helps it slip easily between rocks and crevices in the coral reefs to find food and avoid predators.
Colors
The angelfish is famous for its bright, vibrant coloration, and with 86 species there is a huge variety in colors and pattern formation. Usually the colors change as it grows from a juvenile state to adulthood. Most species are marked by vivid concentric lines on their bodies and masks on their faces. It is also thought that the color patterns change to indicate status and dominance within their groups.
Breeding
Marine angelfish are pelagic spawners and do not guard their offspring. All the species are hermaphrodites and some species form pairs while others form harems with a male and many females. If the male dies a female angel fish changes sex to take its place. The female's eggs are released into the sea and float along the surface where the male fertilizes them. They drift with the current until they hatch, but usually vast numbers are consumed along with the plankton they intermingle with before they hatch.
Food
Different species of angelfish feed on different things. One species feeds on zooplankton while other species feed on filamentous algae. Yet other species feed on the sponges of coral reefs and have specially adapted, hardened mouths and their jaws are protracted so they can eat hard sponges. They also release a mucous substance onto the sponges before digesting them. In aquariums they are known as difficult fish to keep because of their dietary habits.