Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Majestic Angelfish
Pomacanthus navarchus
Also called Bluegirdle angelfish, Blue-girdled angelfish
From Indo-Pacific: from Indonesia to Papua New Guinea, north to the Philippines and Micronesia (Palau, Yap), south to Rowley Shoals and the southern Great Barrier Reef12
At a glance the quick version
FishBase gives a maximum of 15 years; Wikipedia gives up to 21 years
Looks how to spot one
Medium-large, deep-bodied marine angelfish
Adults are split into bold zones: a lemon-yellow head and front, a deep blue funnel-shaped saddle across the middle, and a yellow rear covered in a blue net pattern, with pale blue lines edged in black dividing the areas. Juveniles are dark blue with curved white stripes, and they switch to adult colours quite quickly.23
Personality what they are like
Semi-aggressive and territorial. Usually solitary, though wild fish are sometimes seen in pairs or small groups.321
Daily activity how busy a day looks
An active swimmer that needs open space plus rockwork to explore and graze.32
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Keep singly as the only large angelfish of its kind. It will nip at corals, sessile invertebrates and clam mantles, so a fish-only setup suits it best. Feed small meals about three times a day.3
Home where they are happiest
A large tank of at least 120 US gallons (about 455 L), with 180 US gallons (about 680 L) recommended. Saltwater at about 22 to 26 °C, pH 8.1 to 8.4, specific gravity 1.020 to 1.025. Wild fish live in coral-rich lagoons, channels and sheltered outer reef slopes at about 3 to 40 m.31
Food basics what goes in the bowl
An omnivore. Offer quality marine pellets, frozen mysis and brine shrimp, spirulina and marine algae. In the wild it eats mainly sponges and tunicates, plus some algae and small invertebrates.312
Company who they like around
Mostly a solitary fish. In aquariums it is best kept as a single specimen with other robust fish.123
The story where it all began
Frédéric Cuvier described the species in 1831. Its scientific name navarchus is Latin for an admiral or ship's captain, and it is widely sold in the hobby as the Majestic Angelfish.21
Fun facts for the dinner table
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern (assessed 2009)1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Majestic Angelfish. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Salinity checkevery week
- Top-upTop up evaporation with fresh RO water, not salt waterevery day
- Water testevery week
- Water changeAbout 10 to 20% of the waterevery 2 weeks
- Glass cleanevery week
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Where this comes from
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- FishBase: Pomacanthus navarchus, Bluegirdle angelfish fishbase.seused for length, distribution, depth, habitat, diet, colour change, lifespan, IUCN status, describer
- Wikipedia: Pomacanthus navarchus en.wikipedia.orgused for other names, colour description, size, lifespan, sex change, behaviour, history
- Saltwaterfish.com: Majestic Angelfish saltwaterfish.comused for aquarium care, tank size, water parameters, temperament, diet
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.