Is the Blueface Angelfish considered reef safe?

No. The Blueface Angelfish naturally grazes on sponges, soft corals, clam mantles, and fleshy stony corals. They will cause severe damage to a reef tank and should be kept in a FOWLR (Fish Only With Live Rock) setup instead.

Why does my new Blueface Angelfish look completely different to the adults?

Juvenile Blueface Angelfish have a completely different colouration consisting of vertical black, white, and pale blue stripes. As they reach around 10 to 12 cm in length, they undergo a complete metamorphosis to develop their adult yellow mask and intricately laced body.

How large of a tank do I need for a fully grown Blueface Angelfish?

An adult can reach up to 38 cm (15 inches) in length and is highly active. A minimum tank size of 850 litres is strictly recommended to provide adequate swimming space and room for territorial boundaries.

What is the most important part of their diet?

Marine sponges are essential. Without sponge matter in their diet, their immune system will weaken and they are highly prone to developing Head and Lateral Line Erosion (HLLE). Always feed high-quality angelfish preparations that explicitly contain sponge.

Can I keep two Blueface Angelfish in the same aquarium?

It is highly advised against unless you have an exceptionally massive system (thousands of litres) and can acquire a mated pair. In standard large aquariums, two individuals will fight relentlessly, often to the death.

MarineMarineAdvanced

Blueface Angelfish

Pomacanthus xanthometopon

The Blueface Angelfish is a magnificent, large marine species renowned for its intricate body pattern and striking yellow mask, making it a spectacular centrepiece for vast FOWLR aquariums.

List this species for sale Find Blueface Angelfish near me

Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 23 – 27 °C
pH range: 8.1 – 8.4
Hardness: 14 – 22 dGH
Salinity: 1.02 – 1.025 SG
Adult size: 30 – 38 cm
Minimum for a single adult: 850 litres+
Lifespan: 10 – 20 years
Diet: Omnivore; strongly requires marine sponges, tunicates, and spirulina, supplemented with meaty foods like mysis shrimp and chopped squid.
Water flow: Moderate to strong
Preferred setup: FOWLR (Fish Only With Live Rock) featuring extensive, secure rockwork with large caves and overhangs for shelter.

About the Blueface Angelfish

Pomacanthus xanthometopon, commonly known as the Blueface or Yellowface Angelfish, is one of the most highly prized marine fish in the hobby. Juveniles sport a completely different appearance, characterised by alternating vertical bands of black, white, and blue. As they mature, a dramatic metamorphosis takes place, culminating in the adult's spectacular yellow eye mask and complex lattice-like body pattern. Due to their eventual size and specialized dietary needs, they are best suited to dedicated, experienced aquarists.

Find Blueface Angelfish

Search current listings in your chosen area. If none are available, save an alert and we’ll let you know when a match is listed.

Find locally Check compatibility Add to a Setup

Availability alerts only use public sale listings. Adding this species to a Setup updates your private records.

Is it right for your tank?

Check Blueface Angelfish against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.

Where Blueface Angelfish comes from

Native range

Indo-Pacific, Great Barrier Reef, Maldives

Countries / regions

Indonesia, Australia, Maldives, Philippines, Vanuatu

Habitat

Inhabits coral-rich lagoons, reef faces, and channels with abundant caves and crevices, usually at depths of 5 to 25 metres.

Widely distributed across the Indo-Pacific from the Maldives to Vanuatu.

Similar species

Emperor Angelfish
Pomacanthus imperator
Majestic Angelfish
Pomacanthus navarchus
Queen Angelfish
Holacanthus ciliaris
Koran Angelfish
Pomacanthus semicirculatus

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

View all compatibility

Sailfin Tang
Zebrasoma veliferum
A similarly sized, robust herbivore with a different body shape, avoiding territorial overlap while thriving in identical FOWLR conditions.
Great
Harlequin Tuskfish
Choerodon fasciatus
An active, colourful predator of invertebrates that is robust enough to ignore the angelfish's posturing without instigating fights.
Great
Niger Triggerfish
Odonus niger
A relatively peaceful triggerfish that grows large enough to hold its own and enjoys the same strong water flow and varied diet.
Great
Emperor Angelfish
Pomacanthus imperator
Housing two large Pomacanthus species together often results in severe, sometimes fatal, territorial disputes unless the system is well over 2,000 litres.
Compatible with caution
Maxima Clam
Tridacna maxima
The Blueface Angelfish will almost certainly nip at the clam's fleshy mantle, causing severe stress and eventual death.
Not recommended
Brain Coral
Lobophyllia spp.
Fleshy large polyp stony (LPS) corals are a natural food source and will be rapidly consumed or damaged beyond recovery.
Not recommended

Current marketplace listings

Checking the marketplace…

See all Blueface Angelfish listings

Public Wanted requests

No open requests for Blueface Angelfish in this market yet.

Looking for Blueface Angelfish?

Search current listings near you, or post a wanted request so local sellers know what you’re looking for.

Search Blueface Angelfish listings Post a wanted request