Species Name : Chaetodontoplus Melanosoma
Care Level : Moderate
Temperament : Semi-aggressive
Color : Black, Yellow
Diet : Omnivore
Reef Compatible : With Caution
Water Conditions : sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size : 8"
Origin : Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean
Family : Pomacanthidae
Minimum Tank Size : 120 gallons
Chaetodontoplus Melanosoma, the Black Velvet Angelfish, is a species of ray-finned marine angelfish belonging to the Pomacanthidae family.
The Black Velvet Angelfish is a handsome mid-sized angel. It only grows to about 7 3/4 inches (20 cm) in length and is mostly black. But it has a pale gray or brownish tone along the upper half of the body that becomes a bluish gray on its head. This two-toned black and gray effect blends in a smooth and polished beauty that gives it a velvety look, hence its common name. The top of the head is adorned with a stippling effect in oranges and yellowish greens. The rear edges of the dorsal and anal fins are trimmed in yellow and the tail fin is yellow with a large black central blotch.
The Black Velvet Angelfish is shy and may be difficult to acclimatize. It needs a tank of not less than 120 gallons with plenty of hiding places. Black Velvet Angelfish should be kept in plenty of live rock or decorative structures for hiding.
It is not a good reef dweller, since it nips at stony and soft corals (sessile invertebrates) and clam mantles. Best kept in tanks with smaller and non-aggressive fishes since it is also considered as one of the less aggressive angelfishes.
It is hermaphroditic, very difficult to breed in an aquarium, and indistinguishable by coloration from male to female.
The Black Velvet Angelfish prefers a diet of seaweed, shrimp and other meaty foods, and live rock for grazing filamentous algae and diatoms. It's also a good idea to supplement any herbivore diet containing spirulina from time to time and supplement with a sponge enriched mix specifically for angelfish. Feed small amounts 3 times per day.
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