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By Bob Goemans
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Pomacanthus

Pomacanthus semicirculatus

(Cuvier, 1831)

Koran Angelfish, Semicircle Angelfish, Halfcircle Angelfish

Not Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea and East Africa to Fiji, southern Japan, Western Australia and New South Wales, including Lord Howe Island

Size: 16 inches (40 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow coastal reefs rich in coral growth at depths of 10 to 130 feet (3 – 40 m) and feeds on sponges, tunicates, and algae.

General Husbandry: Both the juvenile and adult are quite pretty and hardy, with the juvenile being overall blue black with numerous vertical white bands with those on the head fairly straight and the remaining on the body becoming somewhat curved as they reach the tail. As for the adult, it has an overall brownish green color with its scales having a bluish edging giving the body and tail a somewhat speckled appearance. All its fins except the pectorals, which are completely yellow, are edged in blue, and dorsal and anal fins have long trailing filaments.

When first introduced into the aquarium, preferably a well-established fish-only aquarium with lots of live rock and cave areas, adults or juveniles should be offered numerous daily feedings so as to quickly acclimate it to its surroundings. Like many others in this genus, their captive diet should consist of a wide variety of frozen foods including fortified brine shrimp, mysis, and especially those containing sponge matter/angelfish food preparations and continued to be offered at least several times daily after its acclimated to its surroundings. Furthermore, flake foods, and especially those containing Spirulina and/or Nori should be also offered, along with fresh broccoli and macroalgae, as ‘greens’ make up a portion of this species diet, especially the juveniles and subadults.

Depending upon its tankmates, juveniles may be somewhat shy when first entering the aquarium, and may hide in caves and crevices. But as time passes, will become more outgoing and begin to establish its territory. As for adults, it’s not as feisty as those in the Holacanthus genus, yet it all depends on aquarium size and tankmates, but its preferable it is the last angelfish to be added to the aquarium.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Perciformes

    Suborder: Percoidei

    Family: Pomacanthidae

    Genus: Pomacanthus

FYI: Keeping more than one genus of angelfishes in the same aquarium is possible, yet depends upon several aspects. The following suggested circumstances are just that, possibilities that when heeded and adjusted to actual aquarium conditions ‘may’ make multiple angelfish collections feasible.

Aquarium size – the larger the better.

Species from the same genus should not be in the same aquarium.

The smallest and most docile genus species should be the first introduced with the largest and most malicious the last to be added.

Do not place similar coloration species in the same aquarium.

Those already in the aquarium should be well fed before adding a newcomer.

Have sufficient hiding places/rocky caves.

Do not overfeed meaty foods, especially juveniles, as it may lead to a fatty deposit around the liver that could stop production of vitamin A. This could cause blindness, often referred to as nutritional blindness.

Keep in mind all angels have cheekspines at the edge of their gill cover; therefore use caution when handling and also avoid using a net to capture it, as it may become stuck or tangled in the net and become damaged when removed.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Diet: Omnivore

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only and Reef Aquariums (See Below)

Reef Safe: Juveniles – Yes/Adults - No - will nip clam mantles, large and small polyped stony (LPS/SPS) corals, and also some soft corals and tubeworms.

Minimum Tank Size: 150 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 81°F (22 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5

 Pomacanthus semicirculatus (Koran Angelfish, Semicircle Angelfish, Halfcircle Angelfish)
Photo © Bob Fenner and Bob Goemans
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