Ornate angelfish, also known as Bellus angelfish or Genicanthus bellus, is a type of marine fish that belongs to the Pomacanthidae family.
These fish are also called Bellus Lyretail angelfish and are found in the Indo-Pacific region.
They form groups of 3 to 7 and thrive on plankton. These angelfish inhabit steep outer reef drop-offs between depths of 45 to 97 meters.
Although they are not commonly exported through the aquarium trade, they are considered reef safe as they don’t harm coral reefs.
In Canderawasih Bay, they can be found at depths ranging from 20 to 25 meters.
Ornate Angelfish Interesting Facts
- Ornate angelfish, also known as Bellus or Bellus Lyretail angelfish, is a marine fish found in the Indo-Pacific region.
- These fish are usually found in schools along steep outer reef drop-offs at depths ranging from 45 to 97 meters.
- This species of angelfish feeds on plankton.
- Ornate angelfish are rarely exported through the aquarium trade.
Ornate Angelfish Habitat
Ornate angelfish is found in the Eastern Indian Ocean at Cocos-Keeling Atoll and also in the Pacific Ocean in places such as the Philippines, Palau, Guam, Cook Island, and the Society Islands.
Recently it was also reported to be found in Tonga. These fish live near coral reefs and don’t migrate to other areas.
They can be found at depths ranging from 24 to 110 meters but are usually seen around 50 to 100 meters deep.
They prefer warm tropical waters between latitudes of 19°N and 18°S.
It’s possible that their distribution may increase if we explore deeper reefs more thoroughly.
| Water Temperature: | Unknown |
| Water pH: | Unknown |
| Water Hardness: | Unknown |
Ornate Angelfish Physical Characteristics
Size: 7.1 inches (18.0 centimeters)
Ornate angelfish can grow up to 7.1 inches (18.0 centimeters) in length.
It has 15 dorsal spines, 15 to 16 dorsal soft rays, 3 anal spines, and 16 to 17 anal soft rays.
Young and female ornate angelfish have broad black bands, while males have two orange bands – one mid-laterally and the other over the back.
This creates a significant difference in appearance between genders.
The body depth of this fish is usually around 2.1 to 2.2 times smaller than its standard length (SL), and it has about 46 to 48 longitudinal series scales.
Ornate Angelfish Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Pomacanthidae |
| Genus: | Genicanthus |
| Scientific Name: | Genicanthus bellus |
| Also Known As: | Ornate Angelfish, Bellus Angelfish, Bellus Lyretail Angelfish |
| Conservation Status: | Least Concern |