Care
The Passer Angelfish is a reef dweller known from the Gulf of California to coastal Peru, including the Galapagos Islands. This diurnal grazer feeds on a range of sessile invertebrates, algae, and plankton, but to a larger extent, specialises in feeding on sponges. Juveniles of the species exhibit cleaning behaviour with a variety of fish, and adults have been seen cleaning sharks and manta rays. The adults are also often observed forming large shoals with the Cortez Angelfish (
Pomacanthus zonipectus) to depths of 30m (98ft). Although the Passer Angelfish feeds predominantly on sponges in the wild, unlike some other members of the genus, they will usually switch to consuming other fare in the home aquarium quite successfully. However, it is still prudent to try and find an ongoing source of frozen sponge-based Angelfish rations for the best long term care. Passer Angelfish will always fare best in spacious, mature aquaria with an abundance of live rock and an open swimming space along the front of the tank. Established systems will provide much more in the way of nutritious micro-invertebrates in the living rock and this will help to supplement the specialised diet. In smaller systems, such critters will be quickly depleted, which is why it is doubly important that this active fish is given ample space. Passer Angelfish demand excellent water quality - thoroughly filtered and well oxygenated, with areas of decent current. Keep only one per tank, and not with any other angelfish. This is a very boisterous species that does best with other semi-aggressive tankmates, and it should be the last fish added to an aquarium. Juvenile specimens are largely dusky orange with one white and several blue stripes (as pictured here). With age the colour pattern morphs into a predominately dark blue background colour with a white vertical stripe extending down from the dorsal fin, stretching approximately 2/3 of the way down to the pelvic fins. The caudal fin and the pectoral fins are yellow, whilst the dorsal and anal fins are tinged with orange. There is some debate amongst ichthyologists as to whether this species displays sexual dichromatism; some believe that the male fish have yellow pelvic fins and the female white, yet others insist it is the females that have yellow pelvic fins, and the males white. Another school of thought suggests this difference is merely down to geographical variation and is not an indicator of sex. May also be seen on sale as the King Angelfish.
Feeding
Should be offered a varied diet consisting mainly of special sponge-based Angelfish preparations (available as frozen cubes), plus meaty fare such as Mysis shrimp, vitamin/Spirulina-enriched brineshrimp, and finely chopped krill/squid/cockle/mussel, plus Spirulina & marine algae. Feed small amounts at least 3 times per day.
Breeding This species has not been bred in captivity. In the wild, pairs are monogamous and reproduction takes place during late summer, with the fish spawning daily throughout the lunar cycle
