What is a Rock Beauty?

A rock beauty is a species of angelfish that belongs to the Pomacanthidae family. It is known for its distinctive mix of yellow and blue colorings. The fish are found in tropical regions of the Atlantic Ocean. Unlike many other tropical fish, they live mainly off ocean sponges, but are also known to eat other animals such as jellyfish. Even though the fish are attractive, they are not commonly suitable for an aquarium environment due to their aggression.

Rock beauty fish are usually seen in reef areas of the Atlantic Ocean. Like other angelfish, the rock beauty lives in shallow, tropical waters. For this reason, they are most commonly found on the western side of the Atlantic. The fish can live in waters as shallow as 10 feet (about 3 meters), but are usually found much deeper than this.

In color, rock beauty fish are instantly recognizable. This is due to their bright yellow and blue body. Usually the face of the fish is yellow, with the middle region of the body a darker blue. The fish, typically, grow to a maximum of 8 inches (20 cm) in length.

The diet of the rock beauty angelfish is one of the distinguishing features compared to other species. Although the fish will eat algae, plankton, and other small animals, its diet consists largely of sponges. These are sea animals that have bodies made up of a jelly substance and are found in reefs. This is one of the main reasons why tropical fish enthusiasts often find it difficult to keep rock beauty fish.

Relatively little is known about the reproductive habits of the rock beauty, but it is thought that the fish may stay with long-term partners. This is because the fish are found in pairs throughout the year and not just during breeding season. To reproduce, the pair of fish move to shallower water before releasing the eggs and sperm. During this process, the female fish may release millions of eggs in one go.

Angelfish, in general, are found in shallow areas of reef in tropical parts of the major oceans. The group are known for their highly colorful markings and, for this reason, are often among the more recognizable species in a reef environment. Although rock beauty angelfish aren't usually kept in captivity, there are other angelfish that cope well with an artificial environment. Usually, these are fish without specialized feeding patterns.