French Angelfish (Pomacanthus paru)

The French Angelfish (Pomacanthus paru) is a strikingly beautiful large angelfish from the Caribbean and tropical Atlantic, displaying a jet-black body with golden-yellow scale edges that create a mesmerizing speckled shimmer in good lighting. Juveniles are dark with vivid yellow vertical bars and are notable for performing cleaning behavior on natural reefs — picking parasites from other fish — before transitioning to their spectacular adult coloration over 1–2 years. Hardy and long-lived by large angel standards, it is one of the more adaptable Caribbean angelfish for aquarium care, though still requiring a spacious, well-established system and an experienced keeper who can provide the varied, sponge-enriched diet needed for long-term health.

Provide a minimum 500-liter FOWLR aquarium with abundant live rock for grazing and territory. Offer a broad diet including frozen mysis, marine flake, angel formulas containing sponge, spirulina, and fresh seafood. Can be kept as a mated pair — juveniles are best introduced together if possible. May nip at large-polyp corals and clam mantles in reef systems. Maintain excellent water quality and perform regular water changes.