Flame Angelfish Care: The Ultimate Reef Guide

Quick Facts

What Is a Flame Angelfish?

The Flame Angelfish is a member of the Centropyge genus, commonly known as dwarf angelfish. It is celebrated for packing the stunning beauty of a large angelfish into a much more manageable size. Native to the reefs of the Pacific Ocean, its intense coloration and active personality make it a perennial favorite, but it requires a mature aquarium to thrive.

Appearance & Coloration

The Flame Angelfish is unmistakable. Its body is a blazing red or orange, overlaid with 4 to 5 vertical, thick black bars that vary in intensity. The posterior edges of its dorsal and anal fins are tipped with a brilliant, electric blue.

Regional Variations: The vibrancy and exact hue of Flame Angelfish can vary based on their collection location.

• Hawaiian & Christmas Island: Often considered the most desirable, these specimens typically display a deep, solid “lipstick” red.
• Marshall Islands: These tend to be a brighter orange-red and may have thicker, more pronounced black bars.

Reef Safety: A Detailed Look

This is the most critical topic for any potential Flame Angelfish owner. The official rating is Reef Safe: With Caution.

While many hobbyists have success keeping them in reef tanks, there is always a risk. Flame Angelfish are natural grazers of algae and microorganisms (aufwuchs) on live rock. This grazing behavior can sometimes extend to nipping at corals and clam mantles.

• High-Risk Corals: Large Polyp Stony (LPS) corals, zoanthids, and especially the soft mantles of Tridacna clams.
• Lower-Risk Corals: Most noxious soft corals (like Leather Corals) and Small Polyp Stony (SPS) corals are often ignored.
• Minimizing Risk: To reduce the chance of nipping, keep the fish well-fed with plenty of marine algae and introduce it to a large, mature aquarium with ample live rock.

Please read our complete guide to reef-safe angelfish for more in-depth explnation.

Temperament & Behavior

Flame Angelfish are bold, active swimmers that are not shy about exploring the entire aquarium.

• Semi-Aggressive: They can be territorial and will display aggression towards other dwarf angelfish, especially those of a similar shape and color. For this reason, it’s a golden rule to keep only one dwarf angelfish per tank, unless the aquarium is very large (125+ gallons) with tons of rockwork.
• Community Fish: They are generally peaceful towards other non-related species like tangs, clownfish, wrasses, and gobies.

Tank Requirements & Habitat

A mature, stable environment is key to success.

• Tank Size: A 30-gallon tank is the minimum for a single Flame Angelfish. For a community reef tank, 70 gallons or more is strongly recommended to provide ample territory and grazing areas.
• Live Rock: A mature aquarium with abundant live rock is the single most important requirement. The rockwork provides hiding places and, more importantly, a constant food source as the fish grazes on algae and the tiny organisms living on the rock.

Diet and Feeding

Flame Angelfish are omnivores that require a diet rich in vegetable matter.

• Primary Diet: A high-quality marine angelfish preparation that contains sponge matter and algae is essential. Frozen foods like LRS Reef Frenzy or Hikari Spirulina Brine Shrimp are excellent choices.
• Algae: Supplement their diet daily with dried marine algae (nori) offered on a veggie clip. This mimics their natural grazing behavior and is crucial for their long-term health.
• Feeding Frequency: Feed small amounts 2-3 times per day.

Breeding Flame Angelfish

Breeding is extremely difficult in the home aquarium and is rarely accomplished. Flame Angelfish are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning they are all born female and the dominant individual in a group can transition into a male. Commercial breeding has become more common, which helps to provide hardier, sustainably sourced fish for the hobby.

Sources

• FishBase — Centropyge loricula (Flame Angelfish)
• IUCN Red List — Centropyge loricula (status & range)

This article is part of our larger guide to Angelfish. For more, please see our complete overview of Saltwater Angelfish.