Description

The Lamarck’s Angelfish (Genicanthus lamarck), also known as the Blackstriped Angelfish, is a beautiful, hardy, and reef-safe member of the angelfish family. Unlike most angelfish, Lamarck’s is planktivorous, relatively peaceful, and one of the few genus Genicanthus species safe for coral reef aquariums, making it an ideal choice for intermediate hobbyists.

🔷 Species Overview

• Scientific Name: Genicanthus lamarck

• Common Names: Lamarck’s Angelfish, Blackstriped Angelfish

• Origin: Indo-Pacific (Philippines, Indonesia, Great Barrier Reef)

• Size: Up to 8 inches (20 cm)

• Lifespan: 10+ years in captivity

• Temperament: Peaceful

• Reef Safe: Yes

• Care Level: Moderate

🐟 Appearance

• Body Color: Silvery white or gray with three distinct horizontal black stripes

• Tail: Forked and often translucent with black edging (males more ornate)

• Sexual Dimorphism:

  • Males: Longer filaments on tail lobes, more pronounced stripes

  • Females: Smaller and more subtly marked

• Hermaphroditic: Like all Genicanthus, females can change to males in the absence of one

🏝️ Tank Requirements

🍽️ Diet

• Type: Omnivore (primarily planktivore in the wild)

• Feeding Frequency: 2–3 times daily

• Diet Includes:

  • Mysis shrimp

  • Enriched brine shrimp

  • Finely chopped seafood

  • Spirulina

  • High-quality marine flakes or pellets

  • Occasional nori

A varied diet helps maintain color and immunity.

⚠️ Behavior and Compatibility

• Temperament: Generally peaceful, especially for an angelfish

• Tankmates:

  • Great in community tanks

  • Compatible with other peaceful to semi-aggressive fish

  • Can be housed as a male-female pair or female trio in large tanks

• Reef Compatibility: Reef safe – rarely bothers corals or invertebrates

  • Safe with SPS, LPS, clams, and polyps

🛠️ Care Tips

• Acclimate slowly; sensitive to large swings in water parameters

• Provide good water movement and high oxygenation

• Regular feeding is important—planktivores are active grazers

• Best introduced before aggressive species

✅ Pros

• Reef-safe angelfish

• Peaceful temperament

• Can be kept in pairs or groups

• Attractive and unique striped appearance

• Long-lived and hardy once acclimated

❌ Cons

• Needs a moderately large tank

• May be shy initially

• Color can fade in poor lighting or with poor diet

• Still uncommon in some regions, may be pricier