All fish / Pomacanthidae

Old woman angelfish

Pomacanthus rhomboides

Also known as old woman angel, old lady angelfish, rhomboid angelfish, brown-bodied angelfish, old woman, オールドウーマンエンゼル, 老妇神仙鱼, 菱形刺盖鱼

Juveniles are dark with thin pale curved bars typical of Pomacanthus young, while adults turn a plain greyish brown with a paler rear body and darker head. It is hardier and less fussy than many large angels, so it suits keepers with a big fish-only tank who want a robust angelfish.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

35 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

1000 litres

Keep as

Single specimen; one large angelfish per tank

Diet

Omnivore: spirulina and sponge-based angelfish foods, nori, mysis, krill and chopped seafood

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Indian Ocean: East and South Africa from Kenya to South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar

Breeding

It is a pair-forming open-water spawner that releases buoyant eggs. Captive breeding in home aquariums has not been reported, and almost all fish in the trade are wild caught.

Good to know

Grows large and needs a very big tank with plenty of swimming room; it will nip corals, clams and sessile invertebrates, so it is not reef safe. It can be aggressive towards other angelfish of similar shape.