Bahamas Queen Angelfish

The tropical islands that make up the Bahamas offer a plethora of things for visitors to do on land, and even in the skies, but it's the deep blue ocean waters, rich in undersea life, that bring people from around the world to this breathtaking location.

So why spend all day doing nothing but sitting around when visitors can enjoy Bahamas snorkel tours? Whether a visitor is a first time diver or an old hand at underwater exploration, snorkeling in the crystal clear waters off the Bahamas is an amazing way to discover the wonders of ocean life.

Appearance

The queen angelfish gets it blue-blooded name from the spotted, blue-ringed black spot on their heads that resembles a crown.

Dressed in electric blue, blazing yellow, light purple and orange, queen angelfish are among the most colorful fishes in the reefs. Blue markings around each gill can also be found on the queen angelfish. Their shockingly brilliant coloring may seem showy, but they are actually excellently colored for hiding in the exotic coral reefs.

Young angelfish have dark blue bodies with yellow lips, gills, and tail. They also have stripes running from their spines to their bellies ranging from light blue to white. These colors also help the young fish blend in along the reefs. Fairly large for reef-dwellers, queen angelfish can live up to 15 years and grow to an amazing 18 inches long.

Their heads are rounded and they have small beak-like mouths. Like other angelfish, their long upper and lower fins cascade dramatically behind them.

Like other angelfish, much of the queen angel's forward motion is a product of the pectoral fins. The outside 40 percent of this fin produces up to 80 percent of the queen angelfish's total thrust.

Mating

They are a normally shy species and are found either swimming alone or by twos in the warm waters off the Bahamas.

Queen angelfish are closely related to the just as beautiful blue angelfish. In fact, these two species are known to mate, breeding natural hybrids, although it is a very rare occurrence.

Habitat

Queen angelfish inhabit tropical coral reefs and can be spotted near Florida, especially in the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, and the Gulf of Mexico, although it is rare to see them in the Bermuda Triangle area.

Eating Habits

Queen angelfish eat mostly sponges, but they will also eat plankton and algae, as well as sea fans, jellyfish, and soft corals. Young angelfish will also work as "cleaners" and eat parasites off of larger fish.

The queen angelfish is one inhabitant commonly found on reefs in the western Atlantic Ocean. Other common names include queen angel, blue angelfish, and golden angelfish. This is just one of the many colorful fish that can be seen on a Bahamas snorkel tours.