Overview

Common Name: Angelfish
Scientific Name: Pomacanthidae
Diet: Omnivore (they feed on sponges, algae, tunicates, and small invertebrates)
Group Name: School (though many species are solitary or live in pairs)
Size: Varies by species — typically 4 to 24 inches (10 to 61 cm)

Marine angelfish are among the most striking and colorful residents of Fiji’s coral reefs. With their vivid hues, intricate patterns, and graceful swimming, these reef fish are easily recognized and admired by snorkelers and divers. Belonging to the family Pomacanthidae, marine angelfish in Fiji typically inhabit shallow reef zones and are most commonly seen darting among coral formations or hovering near crevices. These fish are closely related to butterflyfish but are easily distinguished by a sharp spine on the gill cover. Sizes range widely—some, like the gray angelfish, can grow up to 60 cm, though many of the smaller species found in Fiji measure between 15 and 30 cm.

Angelfish in Fijian waters display fascinating behaviors. Some species are shy and solitary, while others form small harems led by a dominant male. Interestingly, all marine angelfish are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning females can transform into males if needed. Their diet varies by species: some feed on zooplankton or algae, while others graze on sponges and other invertebrates, playing an important role in reef health. Active during the day and hiding by night, these beautiful fish are not just a delight to encounter—they’re a vital part of Fiji’s reef ecosystem.

Anatomy of an angelfish

FJ Fun Fact 1: Sex Change

Flame angelfish: live in small groups on coral reefs, where one male looks after several females. If the male disappears, something amazing happens—the biggest female in the group will slowly change into a male to take his place! This helps the group stay strong and keeps their little fish family going. Nature is full of cool surprises!

Royal Angelfish¹	Sixbar Angelfish²	Koran Angelfish³
Flame Angelfish⁴	Emperor Angelfish⁵	Bicolor Angelfish⁶
Barred Angelfish⁷	Gray Angelfish⁸	Golden Angelfish
Cocos-Keeling Angelfish⁹	Pygmy Yellowtail Angelfish¹⁰	Lemonpeel Angelfish¹¹
Yellow Angelfish	Keyhole Angelfish¹²	Midnight Angelfish ¹³
Pearlback Angelfish¹⁴	Woodhead’s Angelfish	Spotbreast Angelfish¹⁵
Threespot Angelfish¹⁶	Twospined Angelfish¹⁷	Pearlscale Angelfish¹⁸

Footnotes
References

Royal Angelfish: The royal angelfish has a compressed, elongated body with a protractile mouth. Its coloration varies by region, typically featuring blue-white and orange stripes, a black or blue dorsal fin with blue dots, and a yellow caudal fin. They can grow up to 25 cm (9.8 in) and live up to 15 years. ↩︎
Sixbar Angelfish: Juvenile sixbar angelfish are blue-black with vertical white bands, while adults are brownish-yellow with blue spots and six vertical black bands along the flanks. They can grow up to 46 cm (18 in) in length and feature distinct spines and soft rays in their fins. ↩︎
Koran Angelfish: Pomacanthus semicirculatus has distinct juvenile and adult forms. Adults are brownish-green with blue-edged scales and fins, while juveniles are blue-black with white stripes. They transition to adult coloration between 8 and 16 cm (3.1 to 6.3 in). This species can reach up to 40 cm (16 in). ↩︎
Flame Angelfish: The flame angelfish is bright orange-red with a vertical black spot and several black bars on its sides, along with purple-blue and black bands on the dorsal and anal fins. Males are usually larger and more colorful than females. They live for 5-7 years or more. ↩︎
Emperor Angelfish: The emperor angelfish exhibits distinct juvenile and adult coloration. Juveniles are dark blue with concentric curving lines, while adults are striped with blue and yellow, featuring a blue face and a dark blue mask. They can grow up to 40 cm (16 in) in length. ↩︎
Bicolor Angelfish: The bicolor angelfish has a yellow front half and blue rear, with blue patterns around the eye. Known by various names like Pacific rock beauty and blue and gold angel, it grows up to 6 inches and can live between 5 to 13 years in the wild. ↩︎
Barred Angelfish: Paracentropyge multifasciata has a white body with eight black vertical bars that turn yellowish near the ventral area. It features a black spot on the dorsal fin and yellow pelvic, anal, and mouth areas. It grows up to 12 cm (4.7 in) and has distinctive fin threads. ↩︎
Grey Angelfish: The grey angelfish has a disk-shaped body with a large head and small snout. Juveniles are black with yellow stripes, while adults are pale gray with black spots. They grow up to 60 cm (24 in) and feature elongated streamers on their dorsal and anal fins. ↩︎
Cocos-Keeling Angelfish: The Cocos-Keeling angelfish is lemon-yellow with a blue stripe from the nape to the middle of the dorsal fin and a purplish ring around the eye. It grows up to 9 cm (3.5 in) and features a dorsal fin with 14 spines and 16-17 soft rays. ↩︎
Pygmy Yellowtail Angelfish: Centropyge fisheri ranges in color from deep blue to orange-brown, with a whitish to pale yellow caudal fin. Its dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins have vivid blue margins, and it grows to a maximum length of 8.4 cm (3.3 in). ↩︎
Lemonpeel Angelfish: The lemonpeel angelfish is bright yellow with a bluish or whitish ring around the eye and a black blotch on the gill cover. Its fins have blue margins, and juveniles feature a black ocellus with blue edges on the flank. It grows up to 14 cm (5.5 in). ↩︎
Keyhole Angelfish: Centropyge tibicen is mainly black with an elongated vertical blotch on the upper flanks in adults. Juveniles have a white bar that becomes a central blotch. Its fins feature blue lines, and much of the pelvic and anal fins are yellow. It grows up to 19 cm (7.5 in). ↩︎
Midnight Angelfish: Centropyge nox is bluish-black with an irregular yellow blotch behind the gill cover and above the pectoral fin. It grows up to 10 cm (3.9 in) and has a dorsal fin with 14–15 spines and 16–17 soft rays. ↩︎
Pearlback Angelfish: Centropyge multicolor has a pale-peach to orange body with a blue area behind the eyes and black spots. Its dorsal and anal fins are blue, and the caudal fin is yellow. A silvery-white patch runs from the upper mid-flank to the caudal fin. It reaches 9 cm (3.5 in). ↩︎
Spotbreast: Genicanthus melanospilos exhibits sexual dichromatism. Males are bluish-white with reddish-black vertical stripes, yellow-spotted fins, and a black spot on the breast. Females have a yellow dorsal half and bluish-white ventral half with a bluish tail. It grows up to 18 cm (7.1 in) and has a forked “swallow tail.” ↩︎
Threespot Angelfish: Apolemichthys trimaculatus is a yellow angelfish with blue lips, black markings on the anal fin, and a spot on the forehead. Juveniles lack spots but have a vertical black band through the eye. It reaches a maximum length of 26 cm (10 in).. ↩︎
Twospined Angelfish: has a dark purplish-blue body with irregular orange vertical bars. Its fins feature bright blue margins. The dorsal fin has 14 spines and 17–18 soft rays, while the anal fin has 3 spines and 17–19 soft rays. It reaches a maximum length of about 9 cm (3.5 in). ↩︎
Pearlscale Angelfish: Centropyge vrolikii has a greyish to brownish body with whitish scale centers that darken towards the tail. Its gill slit and pectoral fin base are orange, while the fins feature blue margins. It reaches a maximum length of 12 cm (4.7 in). ↩︎

This guide is based on over a decade of research and firsthand experience living in Fiji. It incorporates extensive knowledge gained through long-term residence and ongoing engagement with the region. Images and text have been sourced from official references, which are acknowledged below, to ensure accuracy and comprehensiveness.