gray angelfish
Pomacanthus arcuatus
Gray reef angelfish of coral reefs, widely used in aquariums and with a small commercial fishery. The flesh is prized, but there are reports of ciguatera.
Also called: paru-da-pedra, isabelita, cachama blanca, gray angelfish
- maximum
- 60 cm
- record/max.
- 1.8 kg
- depth
- 2–60 m
who is the gray angelfish
The paru-da-pedra is an angelfish of the family Pomacanthidae, with a tall, flattened, disc-shaped body. It reaches 60 cm and up to 1.8 kg. It lives on coral reefs, from 2 to 60 m deep, usually alone or in fixed pairs that do not defend an exclusive territory. It mainly eats sponges, but also tunicates, algae and other animals attached to the bottom. As a juvenile it sometimes acts as a cleaner for other fish. It has a small commercial fishery, is in high demand for aquariums, and has already been bred in captivity.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the gray angelfish.
fun facts
- It is friendly to divers.
- It has already been bred in captivity for the aquarium trade.
identification
Adults are gray, with the area around the mouth and the edge of the tail fin lighter, and the inner part of the pectoral fin is yellow. Juveniles look very different: black, with two yellow bands on the body and three on the head, and a yellow tail with a black spot in the middle. The tall, flattened, disc-shaped body is typical of the family.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Lives in the western Atlantic, from New England in the United States to near Rio de Janeiro, with records in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. In Latin America it occurs in Brazil and in Caribbean and Central American countries.
Habitat: Coral reefs, from 2 to 60 m deep.
coast
rules for the gray angelfish
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
There are reports of ciguatera, a poisoning from eating reef fish. Like all angelfish, it has a strong spine on the cheek, so handle it carefully and release any you do not plan to keep.
in the kitchen
The flesh is of very good quality and is sold fresh and salted, but there are reports of ciguatera, so prefer fish from a known source.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.0302, b = 2.9; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Pomacanthus arcuatus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Pomacanthus arcuatusNames by country and language.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.