Gray Angelfish

Gray Angelfish
Name: Gray Angelfish
Scientific Name: Pomacanthus arcuatus
Family: Angelfishes
Taxonomic: Pomacanthidae
ID Group: Large Oval Fishes
Size: 10 - 18 in.
Depth Range: On the reef (10 – 60 ft.)
Sightings: Not usually seen

The Gray Angelfish has a gray body with dark spots on each scale, and the inside of its pectoral fins is yellow. Its tail is squared with a thin pale gray or transparent edge. Juveniles have a black body with five yellow bands, including a band that runs from the forehead and around the mouth. Their tail is a bit squared and has a transparent or white edge.

This Angelfish is sometimes seen in pairs and is believed to form long-term bonds. These pairs may work together to defend their territory and search for food. They primarily eat sponges but also consume a variety of other invertebrates and algae. Juveniles act as cleaners, setting up cleaning stations where they remove parasites and other small organisms from larger animals.