Masked Angelfish

About

The masked angelfish (Genicanthus personatus) is about as exclusive as marine fish get. Found only in the waters around the Hawaiian Islands and, more recently, the remote Midway Atoll, making wild-caught specimens genuinely rare and expensive. This is a planktivorous angelfish, meaning it feeds more in the water column than it grazes on sessile invertebrates, which puts it in a different behavioral category from many of its angelfish relatives. In the wild it lives over seaward reefs, moving between rocky substrate and open sandy areas at depth. The sexes look noticeably different from each other, as is typical for Genicanthus angels: females are largely white with a clean black mask across the face, while males develop more extensive dark patterning as they mature. Like other members of the genus, this species is considered reef-safe, which is part of what drives demand among serious hobbyists. It generally gets along well with other fish and is not particularly aggressive. Given its intermediate care rating and the price tag attached to most specimens, this is a fish for someone with a well-established system and some experience keeping marines, not necessarily a beginner's fish, but not out of reach for a prepared intermediate keeper either.