In this post, we will learn the Ariel fish name, as well as its general characteristics, anatomy, and biology.
Ariel fish name
The fish that inspired Ariel’s fellow and faithful companion from “The Little Mermaid” has been inspired by the species known as the Regal Angelfish, scientifically known as Pygoplites diacanthus.
Found in the Indian and Pacific oceans, the species is delicate and requires a lot of knowledge from the aquarist to reach longevity. In addition, it is a species that is difficult to breed in captivity. Their life expectancy is 15 years.
Characteristics of the Regal Angelfish
Anatomy
At first, know that Angelfish represents species of the Pomacanthid family that have an oval body. They can grow up to 25 centimetres in length.
Some other body features are the small, protractile mouth with bristle-shaped teeth, a protruding snout, and a strong thorn in the operculum. The ventral edge of the operculum is smooth, the eyes are small, and the mouth is terminal and protractile.
They have a rounded shape in the tail fin and the colour of individuals varies according to the region. This type of variation is most notable in populations in the Indian Ocean, Red Sea and South Pacific Ocean. But, as a similarity, we can mention that the body has narrow blue-white and orange-yellow stripes that are on the edges.
The posterior part of the dorsal fin has a black or blue tone, together with blue dots. The posterior region of the anal fin has some blue and yellow bands. Finally, the tail fin is yellowish. The Regal Angelfish body is also outlined in electric blue and most of the blue spots are at the base of the pectoral fin.
Adult Regal Angelfish have short spines on the margins of the body and their colouration have blue-purple with orange-yellow edges on the scales. Above the eye it is possible to notice a shade of dark blue and below it is a greenish-yellow. The throat, chin, mouth, chest, and abdomen are blue-purple, and they are very resistant fish.
Behaviour
The Royal Angelfish is considered a semi-aggressive fish and should be kept alone or with other companions of different sizes, preferably smaller than it.
These animals spend most of their time “grazing” among rocks. If there are enough algae on the rocks, there’s not much to worry about in terms of nutrition with Spirulina-rich foods, for example.
Avoid adding Regal Angelfish to aquariums with fish much larger than them, especially at first. Once they are acclimated to the indoor environment, other semi-aggressive fish can be added. Just make sure the Royal Angelfish does not get stressed out and stop eating.
These animals can be aggressive towards other Angelfish and should not be kept with large wrasses, as well as with fast planktivorous. Any other fish such as wrasses, dotty backs, and damsels should be added last.
Reproduction
Angelfish generate hundreds of eggs at a time and both males and females protect the eggs. Thus, information about reproduction was obtained through analysis in the aquarium. When the female is ready to spawn, she rises from the bottom and extends her pelvic fins to the males. The males will then stand behind the female stroking her belly and then spiral upward until they are about 1 meter from the bottom.
The female and male will release their gametes and he will push his tail up and create a vortex that will throw the fertilized eggs towards the surface, reaching up to 1 metre away.
If this process is successful, the hatchlings begin to move their tails after two days. After only 5 days, the hatchings will swim freely, and 2 days later they already eat alone.
Food
When considering the diet of the Regal Angelfish in nature, we can mention bryozoans, zoanthids, gorgonians, and tunicates. Also, they eat sponges, algae, invertebrates, and other smaller fish species.
Otherwise, aquarium feeding can be done with live or freeze-dried foods, Nori algae, shrimp, and some may accept vegetables like lettuce, spinach, and peas.
Try to feed it several times a day, as soon as they start to eat. Some aquarists tie Nori in rolls and leave it stuck to rocks or other decorations. Some others, for example, open live clams and mussels and offer live Mysis shrimp to entice them to eat.
Where to find the Regal Angelfish
The Regal Angelfish distribution is around the Indian and Pacific Oceans. With that, some regions of the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean around East Africa and the Maldives can shelter the animal.
In this sense, we can include the Tuamoto Islands, New Caledonia and the Great Barrier Reef, with a maximum depth of 80 m.
They inhabit coral areas of lagoons and reefs.
Regal Angelfish tank requirements
Regal Angelfish are quite difficult species to be kept in tanks. When arriving at a new tank, they will need time for acclimation and maybe some feeding efforts.
Always keep Regal Angelfish in large, clean tanks, as long as you can handle it. Make sure you have a good filtration system that does not create excessive currents in the water.
Proper water conditions can also reduce the Angelfish stress level and keep them healthier and happier. With proper water conditions, you can expect a Regal Angelfish’s shelf life to be up to 15 years.
The Regal Angelfish is very sensitive to the conditions of the aquarium and, therefore, it will need a well-stabilized environment that contains at least 400 litres.
Also, you can keep them in aquariums with coral reefs. However, aquarists who were successful in raising these fish had extremely large aquariums – something around 1,000 litres – and lots of natural foods.
In addition, they will need lots of hiding places and a landscape filled with living rocks and corals. It is also important to create an environment with lots of caves so they can hide and feel safer. Also, remember to create spaces to protect them from light.
Ideally, these fish prefer:
· Daily water temperatures ranging from 22 to 26 degrees Celsius;
· Spawning water temperature of 27 degrees Celsius;
· Average pH ranging from 8.1 to 8.4;
· Water hardness between 8 and 12 dH.
Regarding care, these fish are avoided by most aquarists, as they are difficult to adapt to life in the aquarium. They do not usually accept feed very easily and are very expensive animals in the ornamental fish trade.
Conclusion
In this post, we learnt the Ariel fish name, as well as its general characteristics, anatomy, and biology.
If you have any thoughts or doubts, feel free to drop us in a comment below!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Ariel fish name
Why Angelfish?
The common name Angelfish is related to dozens of species whose striking feature is the colourful body. Thus, most fish are marine, living around coral reefs, while others are freshwater.
Can you have angelfish in a tank?
Yes, Angelfish can be kept in a wide variety of setups such as bare tanks, community tanks, and planted tanks.
What do Regal Angelfish eat?
They are omnivores and usually feed on small crustaceans, algae, and sponges. In a tank, they can be fed shrimp, clams, and some vegetables.
Can Regal Angelfish live in a 10-gallon tank?
No, they require huge tanks to live healthily and happily. They are large (up to 25 centimetres in length) and territorial fish. Thus, they require plenty of space to swim around and establish their territory.
Do Regal Angelfish like to hide?
Yes, Regal Angelfish enjoy having hiding spots, mainly females. Remember to set up plenty of plants and rocks, they do have their shy moments. They also love to swim freely but never be too far from a shelter.
Where do Regal Angelfish live?
The Regal Angelfish usually inhabit coral reef areas and lagoons with corals. They are found in the Indo-Pacific ocean. They are normally solitary. However, sometimes it is possible to spot a pair or a small group.
References
Domenici, P. A. O. L. O., & Blake, R. W. (1993). Escape trajectories in angelfish (Pterophyllum eimekei). Journal of Experimental Biology, 177(1), 253-272.
Moyer, J. T., & Nakazono, A. (1978). Population Structure, Reproductive Behavior and Protogynous Hermaphroditism in the Angelfish. Centropyge interruptus at Miyake-jima, Japan. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology, 25(1), 25-39.
Myers, R.F., 1991. Micronesian reef fishes. Second Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 298 p.
