Emperor Angelfish
Pomacanthus imperator
Price range: $80.99 through $528.99
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity | |
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| Only 3 left | 5.5 -7" - Adult - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $1,006.99.$528.99Current price is: $528.99. |
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| Out of Stock | 2.25 - 3.5" - Juvenile - Indian Ocean | Original price was: $261.99.$137.99Current price is: $137.99. | Email me | |
| In Stock | 2.25" or smaller - Juvenile - Indian Ocean | Original price was: $216.99.$80.99Current price is: $80.99. |
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| Out of Stock | 3.5 - 4.75" - Juvenile - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $274.99.$144.99Current price is: $144.99. | Email me | |
| Out of Stock | 2.25 - 3.5" - Juvenile - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $234.99.$123.99Current price is: $123.99. | Email me | |
| Out of Stock | 2.25" or smaller - Juvenile - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $199.99.$104.99Current price is: $104.99. | Email me | |
| Out of Stock | 2.25 - 4.25" - Sub-Adult/Changing - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $387.99.$203.99Current price is: $203.99. | Email me | |
| Only 3 left | 4.5 - 5.5" - Adult - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $834.99.$438.99Current price is: $438.99. |
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Full guarantee terms →Ships Monday – Thursday for next-day arrival at your nearest FedEx Hold location — typically ready by 9 AM. We monitor every delivery.
Shipping details →
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 9 PM
Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
| Care Level | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Semi-Aggressive |
| Reef Safe | No |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Omnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 250 gallons |
| Max Size | 18 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator), also called the Imperator Angelfish, is a large Indo-Pacific angelfish known for its clear juvenile-to-adult pattern change. Adults show blue and yellow horizontal striping with a dark face mask, while juveniles display curved white and blue rings over a darker body.
What You’ll Observe:
- Steady cruising through open water, then weaving back into rockwork and ledges
- Frequent picking behavior as it grazes and investigates live rock surfaces
- A consistent favorite cave or overhang it returns to during the day
- Gradual changes in pattern as it moves through the changing phase toward adult coloration
- Quickly learning feeding routines and often meeting you at the front glass
Provide extensive live rock with deep caves plus open lanes for swimming so it can graze and settle in confidently. Offer a varied menu of marine algae plus meaty frozen foods and sponge-based angelfish preparations, split into multiple smaller feedings. Maintain a stable routine and give it time to establish a daily circuit through the rockwork.
How long does the juvenile pattern take to turn into adult stripes?
Many hobbyists see the first changing markings begin once the fish is several inches long, and the full shift commonly plays out over a long stretch rather than weeks.
Is it normal to see blotchy or uneven coloration while it is changing?
Yes—during the transition, the pattern can look patchy from day to day, and then become more uniform again as the adult striping fills in.
Why does my Emperor Angelfish wedge into rockwork at night?
Many keepers report a consistent sleeping spot where the fish tucks into a ledge or cave and becomes much less active until lights come back on.
Can I keep an Emperor Angelfish with another large angelfish?
Some aquarists do, but the most consistent approach is adding them at different sizes and using a structured introduction so each fish can settle into the aquascape.
In a mixed reef, what tends to get sampled first?
Keepers often report better results in SPS-heavy setups than with fleshy LPS, zoanthids, and clam mantles; a full, varied feeding schedule and lots of natural grazing surfaces help keep attention on food and rockwork.
Each fish is checked for strong appetite and activity before we approve it for your tank.
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