Fun Half Black Angelfish Facts For Kids
Gallery
If your child is one of those that can spend hours and hours just peering into an aquarium and admiring the fish that roam its depths, they are sure to have talked to a friendly angelfish at some point.
Angelfish is one of the most common types of fish seen in an aquarium at people's homes, and not without good reason. There are several different types of angelfish, and each one has a very distinct and attractive coloring that separates it from its fish cousins.
The half black angelfish, pearlscale angelfish, or Centropyge vroliki (named after famous Dutch anatomist Willem Vrolik) boasts a very ornamental-looking exterior, causing it to be a common sight in the aquarium trade.
Native to Australia, Vanuatu, and the Marshall Islands, these fish are known to hybridize with the Blacktail angelfish and the Lemonpeel angelfish, leading to all sorts of exotic patterned fish.
While the half black angelfish (Centropyge vroliki) is not the apex predator, they will not hesitate to feed on clam mantles, Mysis shrimp, and Spirulina (marine algae).
As such, they are often provided with a live rock for grazing in their aquarium. They may seem like dwarf fish due to their size, but make no mistake, the half black angelfish do not get along well with other angelfish.
They don't mind other species of fish like the Bluespine Unicornfish or the Golden Cave Catfish though, so they're a semi-aggressive aquarium companion.
Half Black Angelfish Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a half black angelfish?
As is clear from its name (but not so much its scientific name!), the half-black, or pearlscale angelfish is a beautiful fish.
What class of animal does a half black angelfish belong to?
The half black angelfish belongs to the Pomacanthidae family, a family of marine angelfish that are biologically distinct from freshwater angelfish.
How many half black angelfish are there in the world?
While the exact number of half black angelfish in our waters is not known, it is quite abundant both in the Indo-Pacific and in the aquarium trade.
Where does a half black angelfish live?
The half-black or pearlscale angelfish species is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, off the coasts of Australia, Vanuatu, and the Marshall Islands. Apart from that, it can also call an aquarium home! Since it enjoys eating coral when it's feeling peckish, we cannot consider the half black angelfish reef safe.
What is a half black angelfish's habitat?
The pearlscale angelfish, like its fish cousin, the Blue-ring angelfish, is found in coastal lagoons as well as in deeper waters that house reefs. Due to its diet (omnivore), it inhabits waters rich in algae, Mysis shrimp, and corals.
Who do half black angelfish live with?
They live as a group of one dominant male half black angelfish, a group of females, and their offspring, an arrangement called a harem. They will often get into arguments with other angelfish. Since they do not feed on fish, the altercation (thankfully) does not usually end in death!
How long does a half black angelfish live?
In an aquarium that is the right size for them and with a decent care level, half black angelfish can live for up to 10 years.
How do they reproduce?
Half black angelfish, in an aquarium setting, will get aggressive and defend a portion of the aquarium from other fish for privacy. Then, the pair use a flat surface on the aquarium walls to mate, and you may often mistake it for fighting!
What is their conservation status?
The half black angelfish (Centropyge vroliki) is listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species as a species of Least Concern, meaning its population in the world is stable as of now, and its habitat is not under any threat.
Half Black Angelfish Fun Facts
What do half black angelfish look like?
The half black angelfish (Centropyge vroliki) is a very well-dressed and well-groomed fish that sports a pearly white head and eventually fades into a jet black tail fin, with the scales on its body featuring a gradient effect.
The edges of its caudal (tail) fin, dorsal fin (the one on the top of its body), and anal fin (the one at the posterior of the fish) are colored a bright blue.
Being an angelfish, it sports the distinctly shaped angel wing-like fins of its fish family.
How cute are they?
The half-black or pearlscale angelfish are a very cute species of fish that we're sure children will stare at fixated due to its dazzling coloring.
How do they communicate?
Angelfish most often use aggressive and distinct body movements to communicate with their tank mates and also release chemicals like urine or bile into the water to communicate their social status. Who knew fish were as social as us?!
How big is a half black angelfish?
The half black Angelfish is of a smaller size compared to other angelfish, growing to a maximum of 5 in (13 cm). There is hardly any difference in size between a male and female half black angelfish.
It can grow to become almost exactly the same size as a Leopard Wrasse which is around 5 in (13 cm) in size and are 10 times smaller than the largest of the Tilefish, which can grow as large as 50 in (127 cm) in size.
How fast can a Half Black Angelfish swim?
While angelfish are known to be slow swimmers, the half black angelfish is comparatively faster, due to its slightly smaller size.
How much does a half black angelfish weigh?
The exact weight of this species is not known but is estimated to be around 1-2 lb (0.5-1 kg)
What are the male and female names of the species?
Both the male and female of this species are referred to by the same name.
What would you call a baby half black angelfish?
A baby half black angelfish could be called a half-black angelfry, with fry being the general term for all baby fish.
What do they eat?
In their natural habitat, their diet consists of coral, Mysis shrimp, and filamentous algae. When they are kept in a tank, this diet can be modified to provide the best nutrition possible through Spirulina (marine algae), and fresh or frozen meaty invertebrates like sponges.
Are they poisonous?
No, this dwarf angelfish species is not poisonous, the only angelfish known to produce poisonous toxins is the queen angelfish.
Would they make a good pet?
Yes, provided its needs in terms of tank size and tank mates are met. The tank should be able to hold 70 gal (265 l) of water and preferably with a water temperature of around 78-85 �F (25.5-30 �C).
Did you know...
The half black angelfish can quickly and easily change its sex from female to male, as per the needs of the harem!
Are half black angelfish rare?
Despite our inability to breed half black angelfish, they are not rare by any means. The Black Phantom is widely considered to be the rarest angelfish.
Half black angelfish tank mates
The half black angelfish cannot be tank mates with other dwarf angelfish and must reside in a group of around four or five, with eventual breeding and spawning increasing the size of the harem. Remember to house only females together, so that one of them can covert to a male.
If you house three or four males together, they could get into a power tussle and go from semi-aggressive to super aggressive!
Learn more about some other fish from our Yellow tang and Lionfish pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable half black angelfish coloring pages.
We Want Your Photos!
More for You
See All
Bachelor of Engineering specializing in Computer Engineering
Aabir BasuBachelor of Engineering specializing in Computer Engineering
During Aabir's higher education at Indian School Muscat, he received several academic awards before pursuing his Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada. In addition to his academic achievements, Aabir participated in two Model United Nations conferences and volunteered as a librarian. With his diverse background and language skills, Aabir is a valuable member of the Kidadl team.
Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication
Ankit ShindeBachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication
Ankit is a Journalism and Mass Media graduate from the University of Mumbai. With experience in SEO, blog and article writing, and fiction writing, he is a versatile writer and content creator. In his free time, Ankit enjoys reading, writing, and listening to music.
Disclaimer
1) Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the Buy Now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published but we cannot guarantee that on the time of reading. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
2) At Kidadl, we strive to recommend the very best activities and events. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
3) Because we are an educational resource, we have quotes and facts about a range of historical and modern figures. We do not endorse the actions of or rhetoric of all the people included in these collections, but we think they are important for growing minds to learn about under the guidance of parents or guardians.
