Passer Angelfish (Holacanthus passer)

The Passer Angelfish is also called the King Angelfish. The adult is predominately dark blue with a white vertical stripe extending down from the dorsal fin about two-thirds of the way to the pelvic fin. The dorsal fin is rimmed in yellow. The caudal and pectoral fins are also yellow, while the ventral fins are yellow on a female, and white on the male. The juvenile is orange with one white and multiple blue stripes.

The Passer Angelfish can grow to over a foot in length so it requires at least a 250 gallon aquarium. It is a hardy fish, but can become aggressive, so it should be kept with other semi-aggressive tank mates. It grazes on live rock and will nip at stony and soft corals (sessile invertebrates) and clam mantles, so it is not a good candidate for a reef aquarium.

The diet of the Passer Angelfish should include vegetable matter such as Spirulina, marine algae, meaty items, and high-quality angelfish preparations which include sponges. Feed at least three times daily.

The Small Juvenile will contain the Juvenile colorations, the Small-Medium will be color shifting to a young adult, while the Medium will be a sub-adult, and the Large will be in Adult coloration.

Approximate Purchase Size: Juvenile: Small 1" to 1-3/4"; Medium 1-3/4" to 2-1/4"; Adult: Small: 1-3/4" to 2-1/4"; Small/Medium: 2-1/4" to 3-1/4"; Medium: 3-1/4" to 4"; Medium/Large 4" to 5"; Large: 5" to 6"; XLarge: 6" or larger.

Care details

• Temperature: 72 - 78° F
• dKH: 8 - 12
• Specific Gravity: 1.020-1.025
• Color: White, Yellow and Blue
• Family: Pomacanthidae
• Diet: Omnivore