Queen angelfish are well known for being quite big. This fish is much larger than the freshwater angelfish that you typically see people caring for at home.
It can grow to be eighteen inches long and it’ll usually weigh around three pounds, but it could weigh as much as three and a half pounds. This saltwater fish is one that you’ll only want to keep in your home tank if you have a bit of experience.
Since it’s a fairly large fish, you’ll need to keep a large tank. It’s an aggressive fish, and this means that you can have problems when placing it in a community tank.
You might be worried about the queen angelfish eating other fish in the tank. However, you could also be wondering what fish will eat the queen angelfish.
Read on to learn about what eats queen angelfish. This should help you to understand a bit more about what these fish need to look out for in the wild, and that information could also help you a bit when caring for one at home.
Queen Angelfish Have Many Predators in the Wild
You’ll find that queen angelfish have many predators to worry about in the wild. The queen angelfish will likely be among the largest fish in your fish tank, but in the wild, there are plenty of bigger threats to worry about.
Sharks eat queen angelfish fairly often. They’re considered to be one of the major predators of queen angelfish, and many types of sharks are known to eat the fish.
Barracudas are another queen angelfish predator that you should be aware of. These large, aggressive fish like to make a meal out of any queen angelfish that they can find.
Aside from sharks and barracudas, other large fish will also eat queen angelfish. If a fish is much larger than the queen angelfish, then there’s a good chance that it would eat the fish if the opportunity came.
In the wild, this is basically how it works. Larger fish will eat smaller fish.
If a fish is small enough to be eaten, then the larger fish will take the opportunity to get a meal. The ocean can be a very violent place.
What Fish Can Go in a Tank with a Queen Angelfish?
For the most part, you’re going to deal with more problems with the queen angelfish being aggressive than anything else. Yes, it is technically possible that you could put it in a tank with a large fish that will eat it, but that’s unlikely.
Instead, you’re likely going to be worried about protecting the other fish in the community tank. A queen angelfish can do well in a community tank if you do things in a very specific way.
First, you’re going to have to put the right type of fish in the tank. You need to pick fish that will be able to withstand the aggression of the queen angelfish.
There are actually quite a few options that will allow you to have a good fish tank. You can put groupers in the aquarium as well as snappers.
Clownfish have proven to be some of the best tankmates for queen angelfish. They have similar care requirements, and that makes them an easy choice for the tank.
Many people have put squirrelfish, triggerfish, and surgeonfish in aquariums with queen angelfish. This can work out very well, and you’ll have a good variety of fish in the tank.
It should be fine to pick fish that are similar in size to the ones mentioned above so long as they have the same temperament. You’d do well to research things a bit first to ensure that there won’t be problems, though.
If you’d like to keep things easy, then simply sticking with the recommended fish that have been mentioned here makes sense. You’ll be able to put those fish in the tank and then enjoy your new community aquarium.
Before moving forward, you should know that the queen angelfish is meant to be added to the tank last. Since this fish can be aggressive, things will work out easier if you add it to the tank last.
If it’s there from the beginning, then it’ll get territorial when you attempt to add new fish to the tank. So wait to get the queen angelfish for the community tank until all of the other fish that you want are present.
Remember That Queen Angelfish Aren’t Reef Safe
Another thing to keep in mind when caring for a queen angelfish is that it won’t be reef safe. You see, these fish will pick at soft corals and stony corals.
Reef tanks simply won’t be possible when you’re keeping a queen angelfish in there. It’d be better to just have a tank that has aquatic plants.
You can pick out various types of aquatic plants that will work well for your setup. Perhaps you could go with turtle grass or some simple sea lettuce.
Just take the time to pick plants instead of going with a reef tank. The queen angelfish will wind up ruining it if you do so.
Final Thoughts
You should feel much more informed about the queen angelfish now. Typically, only the really big fish eat this one out in the wild.
It’s unlikely that you’d put a queen angelfish in a tank with a large, aggressive fish that would eat it. Even so, it’s good to keep in mind that this fish needs to be placed in a tank with compatible tankmates.
You have plenty of options to consider on that front, and this means that it’ll be easy to find fish that you’ll enjoy caring for. Taking care of a queen angelfish can be satisfying so long as you’re prepared for the responsibility.
Do your best to care for the fish and remember not to put it in a reef tank. As long as you keep these things in mind, you should have a great experience.
Be sure to tell your friends what you learned about queen angelfish. Anyone who is interested in these large, impressive fish will want to know this information before proceeding.
Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his family’s fish tank. Being able to maintain a small ecosystem and observe the behaviors and interactions in the underwater world peaked his interest early on and has kept him hooked until this day. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything he’s learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium.