ANGELFISH
POMACANTHIDAE
Rock Beauty
Holacanthus tricolor
    Ecological Descriptors
Habitat Size (cm) Diet Behaviour Sex 
Co to 35 Spo (Cor, Veg, Pla, Tun, Jel, Cl) Pr F
Description:
Adult: Body laterally flattened with a discoid profile.
Front of body yellow, with mid and rear black. Tail entirely yellow. Llips usually navy blue in Antigua.
Juvenile: Very young specimens, of about 2.5 cm in length, are entirely yellow, except for a blue-edged black spot on the upper side of the body posterior to the midpoint (similar to juvenile Threespot Damselfish qv). With growth, the black spot soon expands to become the large black area covering most of the body and dorsal and anal fins.

Ecology
Juveniles usually in shallow water, often near or between the vertical plates of fire corals (Millispora spp) and often clean other fish.
When adult, they move to the reef where they feed primarily on sponges. Most common to depths of 25 m.

Life Cycle
Eggs are found floating in the water column (pelagic) and are clear. In 15-20 hours eggs hatch and the angelfish in the pre-larval stage are
connected to a large yolk sac. Its eyes, gut or fins are not functional. The yolk sac is absorbed in 48 hours; the fish develops into a true larva and begins to feed. Plankton is the main food source for the larval angelfish and within 3-4 weeks prior to hatching the
fish will be approximately 15-20mm. At this time the angelfish settles to the ocean floor Parents do not look after their offspring.
(C) Laszlo Ilyes
Rock Beauty Adult
Rock Beauty Juvenile
(C) Kevin Bryant
Rock Beauty Adult
Rock Beauty Adult
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