Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: Gulf of Mexico, Florida, Bermuda, and the Bahamas

Size: up to 18 inches (45 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabit rocky areas and collected at 6 to 200 foot depths (2 - 60 m)

General Husbandry: Sometimes confused with H. ciliaris (Queen Angelfish). I should note there is a hybrid Blue/Queen that is called H. townsendi, and has intermediate colors. Prefer a temperature of 70 - 82°F (21 - 28°C) and their natural diet consists mainly of crustaceans, sponges, tunicates and some algae. Needs numerous feedings per day consisting of live or frozen enriched brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, foods containing sponge particles, flake foods containing Spirulina, and even pieces of fresh broccoli, which is a source of vitamins A and C, and/or fresh Caulerpa. However, juveniles need a diet with a greater content of green-type foods/algae. Do not overfeed meaty foods 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. A very popular aquarium fish and does well in captivity, however juveniles and subadults are more aggressive than adults, therefore chose tankmates carefully, as slower moving animals may be damaged. Not suited for reef aquariums containing stony corals, but may be safe with some soft corals, but not gorgonians. Adults should not be housed in anything less than 125 gallon tank and should be the last species added. May become destructive with age

Aquarium Suitability: * * & * * * *