Write-up Wednesday: Goldflake Angelfish (Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus)
The Goldflake Angel is one of the most striking angelfish available for a saltwater tank. Their bodies are a combination of bright and muted yellow areas with brighter spots of yellow which give the fish its name. As a juvenile, the fins are almost completely yellow with a black spot on the rear of the dorsal fin. When the fish matures into an adult the fins become black which make the fish even more striking. Add on a mouth that is purple-blue and you’ve got on eye-catching fish.
A juvenile Goldflake that is in the process of becoming an adult
While these fish are available in smaller sizes, they can grow up to 10” (25 cm) as an adult which means they’ll need a lot of swimming space. Goldflakes will do best in tanks sized 150 gallons (567 L)or better. Please do not be fooled into thinking that a small specimen is a dwarf angel and will do well in a small tank.
Like most angelfish, Goldflakes are definitely “fish in the fringe” as they can develop tastes for corals. Adding to the risk is the fact that you won’t know if the fish nips or eats corals until you place the fish in your tank. My Goldflake Angel is a model citizen and ignores all coral. I’m fully aware the fish’s taste could change and I’m ok with that fact. If you love your coral more than your fish, or you don’t want to risk having to remove the fish from your tank, the Goldflake Angel is not for you.
Browse the Store! Questions?
This is a beautiful fish with a lot of personality but not for all reefers. Mine has only attacked acans at this point. Hopefully, she will stay away from all the sps.
Stunning fish … utterly wonderful to see let alone enjoy in ones own tank. Worth a gamble in my book!
Mark, you should do a series on the various methods used to catch and remove fish from reef tanks. Would be especially interesting to see an actual live experiment on different species and how long each takes to ‘take the bait’
Bert…my quarantine guide has a section on fish removal methods
Mark I think everyone is wrong here on what fish to keep in tank is I’m right in wild all fish live near the reef and it work off the reef I think ppl don’t know how to keep there fish well fed to keep there fish from eating there reef I think it shame that ppl tell me I can’t put a puffer and big angle in my reef tank but if I do recall I do have puffer in my reef tank and it not going after my coals and I’m working get big angle fish and seen if I’m right about keep them in my tank I only got 180 but alest im trying to see why ppl would say about keeping the big angle in reef tank
beautiful fish, very expensive
I have a big blue faced Angel in a 180 probably my favorite in the tank and definitely the largest. As a result I have no LPS coral anymore but he doesn’t mess with the sps in the tank. Great fish had him like 2 years now. Fully grown at this point but didn’t get him as a juvenile.
I do keep him well fed too, problem is he would be full and still want to scavenge..got really fat for a while
Brent,
I can tell you from experience that puffers (porcupine is all I’ve owned) are in fact REEF safe. They don’t bother corals at all.
They are however not INVERT safe. A successful reef usually has a clean up crew of various inverts – which is why I believe people say puffers aren’t reef safe.
They WILL eat anything with shell – heck, mine has “tasted” the points on my starfish – but he’s never bit it or hurt it.
Hey Mark, can you do an article on how to take pictures of your corals at night when the Blue LED’s are on, and coral are in full luminescent colors? I and a few people have a hard time getting nice macro pictures. thank you!
Raquel I have shrimp in my tank and the puffer doesn’t go after it at all has long has u feed it it will keep the puffer off I’m all so going to try qeen angle fish in my reef I know if I keep all my fish happy with food I’m shore it would touch my coals that are grown if u want check out look on face book jerseyreef it my page on show what I have in my 180 and re starting my 90