Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus
The golden angelfish, known to aquarists as the golden spotted angelfish or golden shiner angelfish, is naturally found along the coast of the Caroline Islands and further east to the Gilbert, Phoenix, Cook and Line Islands in the central Pacific Ocean. The fish can be found swimming alone, in pairs or in small groups in calm lagoons, in water depths from 3m to 75m. Keep fish for aquarists with some aquarium maintenance experience.
Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus has a yellowish, gold-spotted body. The mouth and lips are bright blue edged. The forehead has a black spot through the eye. Dorsal, anal and caudal fins with bright blue edging. Males are slightly larger than females. Young fish have a black tail plumage without blue edging, a black spot with a white border at the back of the dorsal fin and translucent yellow pectoral fins without blue edging. Fish reach a maximum size of 25 cm.
Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus are moderately aggressive. It is ideal to keep the fish singly or in a common tank with other angel fish species with a different coloration. Best to keep Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus in a mature reef aquarium of 500 liters with lots of live rock, placed in a way that between them were formed caves and crevices, which could freely swim fish.
Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus do not usually harm corals, gorgonaria, shrimps, anemones and fungi.
Water parameters: temperature 24-27° C, hardness dH 8-12°, acidity pH 8,1-8,5, salinity 1,020-1,026. It is desirable to create in an aquarium water flow using a pump. Under acceptable conditions, fish are rarely sick and have a strong immunity.
Medium to bright lighting to provoke algae growth. About 12 hours of daylight per day.
In the natural environment Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus feed on algae, sponges and shellfish. In an aquarium environment with plenty of live rock, they should be fed a varied diet consisting of frozen enriched artemia, Mysis shrimp, spirulina, seaweed and commercial angelfish preparations that include sponge and algae as the main ingredient. They should also be given flakes containing spirulina, which the fish will eat with pleasure. The fish should be fed twice a day.
Reproduction
Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus do not breed in an aquarium.
Although the fish are not rare in the wild, they are quite rare to find in the trade. The price on the market ranges from $450 to $700 per individual.
The life expectancy of Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus under aquarium conditions is about 5 years.
