Blue Angelfish Juvenile

Blue Angelfish

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Holacanthus bermudensis

Overview
Reef Compatible: WITH CAUTION
Diet: Omnivore
Temperament: Docile
Origin: East Americas

Holacanthus bermudensis, also known as the blue angelfish or Bermuda blue angelfish, is a captivating marine species. Here are some fascinating details about it:

1. Description:

   • Holacanthus bermudensis has an oval-shaped body, strongly laterally compressed.
   • Its short snout houses a small mouth with bristle-like teeth.
   • Juveniles display yellowish anterior bodies, transitioning to brownish-yellow halfway along.
   • Vertical white bars adorn their bodies, with bright blue margins on dorsal and anal fins.
   • Adults exhibit bluish-yellow bodies, vivid yellow faces, and blue highlights on the chest and forehead.
   • Their pectoral fins combine blue and yellow hues, and the caudal fin has yellow margins.
   • Dorsal and anal fins sport yellow margins and long yellow streamers .

2. Ecology and Range:

   • Found in the western Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina to Bermuda, the Bahamas, Florida, and the Gulf of Mexico.
   • Also present in Yucatan, Mexico (west) and eastward to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
   • Habitat: Lives close to the seabed near sponges, coral, or rock at depths of 2 to 93 meters (6.6 to 305.1 feet).
   • Active during daylight, it seeks refuge within the reef at night. 

3. Hybridization:

   • Holacanthus bermudensis frequently hybridizes with the sympatric queen angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris).
   • The former species, Angelichthys isabelita, was once considered separate but is now a synonym of H. bermudensis.

If you’re ever lucky enough to encounter one, their vibrant colors and graceful movements are sure to leave a lasting impression!