Bicolor Angelfish care guide
Bicolor Angelfish (Centropyge bicolor) — minimum tank 200 L, temperature 24-27 °C, pH 8.1-8.4.
Overview
The Bicolor Angelfish (Centropyge bicolor) is a dwarf Indo-Pacific marine angelfish reaching about 15 cm, with the front half of the body bright yellow and the back half deep blue, separated by a sharp vertical line. A blue band crosses the head between the eyes.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pomacanthidae
- Genus: Centropyge
- Scientific name: Centropyge bicolor
- Common synonyms: Oriole Angelfish
Habitat
Distributed across the tropical Indo-West Pacific from East Africa to Samoa and from southern Japan to New Caledonia. The species inhabits sheltered lagoons and outer-reef slopes with abundant coral and rubble cover from 1 to 25 m depth.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 200 L (52.8 US gal)
- Adult size: 10-15 cm
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- GH: 8-12 °dGH
- Water flow: moderate
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
- Salinity: SG 1.024-1.026
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 8-12
Diet
An omnivore grazing on filamentous algae, detritus and small invertebrates. In aquaria it requires a varied diet of marine pellets, frozen mysis and brine shrimp enriched with HUFA, plus dried algae sheets (nori) to maintain colour.
Compatibility
Peaceful by angelfish standards but territorial towards other Centropyge; only one per tank. Compatible with peaceful reef community fish — clownfish, smaller wrasses, gobies, blennies and cardinals.
Reef compatibility
Reef-safe with caution. Most specimens leave hard corals alone, but individuals may nip large-polyp stony corals (LPS), clam mantles or zoanthid polyps. Behaviour is unpredictable from fish to fish.
Breeding
A pelagic broadcast spawner. Captive breeding of Centropyge angels is performed at a few research aquaculture facilities, but most trade stock is still wild-caught.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. The species is widespread and the global population is not considered threatened.