The Impressive Flame Angelfish

Adding the Flame Angelfish to Your Aquarium

Few fish capture the attention of marine

aquarists quite like the Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loricula). With its striking red-orange body, vertical black bars, and vibrant blue/purple edging on its dorsal and anal fins, this dwarf angelfish is a true showstopper.

Tahitian Flame Angelfish

While Flame Angelfish are found throughout the Pacific, from the Great

Great Barrier Reef to the Hawaiian Islands, those from Tahiti stand out as one of the most sought-after among collectors and hobbyists due to its deeper red coloration, with a more intense contrast between their black and blue markings, the rarity, and overall hardiness.

The Tahitian Flame Angelfish are considered to be among the hardier variants, which can be a major advantage when acclimating them to a home aquarium. Their ability to adapt more readily to captive conditions means they are less susceptible to stress-related diseases compared to some of their Pacific counterparts.

Understanding

In the wild, Flame Angelfish are commonly found darting between coral structures in reef environments at depths ranging from 10 to 50 meters. They are known for their curious yet cautious nature, often retreating into rocky crevices when startled. As omnivores, their diet includes algae, small invertebrates, and plankton, which contributes to their vibrant coloration. They can grow to about 4 inches in length and typically territorial with all angelfish, including other Flame Angelfish.

Flame Angelfish in community reef aquarium

Compatibility and Behavior

I have found them to be territorial with its own kind, and others species of dwarf angelfish or those of similar body type, and may kill a newcomer. With that said it is possible to keep with other angelfish, but the introduction must be very controlled and monitored closely for the first couple of weeks. Although they are listed as semi-aggressive I have found them to be peaceful with non-angelfish species. I have had success housing them with gobies, clownfish, tangs, wrasses, anthias, jawfish, damselfish, blennies, & filefish.

When adding one or more angelfish to aquarium that already has an dwarf angelfish change up the layout or add rocks or other features, the purpose is to change up the territorial boarder that already exists. Make sure the aquarium is big enough and there are plenty of spots to hide and that there is sufficient food. This does not guarantee they will get a long, you still need watch carefully for a few weeks.

I have 5 Aquacultured Lemonpeels and 1 Flame Angelfish in a 360 gallon community aquarium. When I added the Flame Angelfish it was harassed badly and I had to remove him. About two weeks later I tried again after changing the layout a little bit and he has been fine for over a year.

Reef Compatibility

Exercise caution if you’re considering a reef tank.

This Flame Angel stands out in my community aquarium and gets along with everyone.

Flame Angelfish are known to nip at large-polyped stony corals and the mantels of clams. If you’re determined to keep them in a reef setup, monitor their behavior closely.

Zoa Coral

Mine are kept in a reef tank with clams, zoa and other polyp corals. They don't nip the clams, they do nip the large polys a little, causing the large polyps to keep they tips pulled in, and they don't touch the zoa. I feed them a varied diet with lots of seaweed and algae and mysis to keep them happy.

Feeding Your Flame Angelfish

Diet: Omnivore

While they primarily consume algae, Flame Angelfish also need a varied diet to stay healthy. I feed mine:

• Purple & Green Seaweed sheets of the brand "Two Little Fishes" that we buy in bulk from Bulk Reef Supply.

• Live brine shrimp, which we hatch from eggs that we buy from Brine Shrimp Direct.

• Frozen Mini Marine Mysis Shrimp, 1LB, of the brand V20 Aquarium Foods from Bulk Reef Supply.

• High-quality marine angelfish pellets and flakes

• I feed them small amounts 3 times daily. Try not to overfeed, which can create water quality issues.

Setting Up the Ideal Tank Environment

To mimic their natural habitat, you need to create a suitable tank environment:

• Care Level: Moderate
  

• Tank Size: A minimum of 70 gallons is recommended for a single Flame Angelfish.

  
  

• Water Quality: The key is to maintain stable water parameters. The less variation you have over a short-time period (24 hours), the better your fish and corals will do.

  • Temperature of 72-78°F. Mine 78.1 to 78.6

  • Salinity of 1.021-1.025. Mine 1.022 -1.026

  • pH of 8.1-8.4. Mine 8.09 to 8.31

  • Alkalinity of 8-12. Mine 8.5 to 9.6

    
    

• Water Movement: Provide medium to high waterflow throughout the daytime. This replicates their natural environment of living in the seaward side of coral reefs.

  
  

• Aquascaping: Provide plenty of rock for grazing on algae and hiding spots. They appreciate crevices and caves where it can retreat and sleep during the night.

  
  

• Lighting: Moderate to high lighting will encourage algae growth, which these fish naturally graze on.

  
  

Tips for a Happy and Healthy Fish

1. Quarantine New Fish: Always quarantine new additions to prevent introducing diseases to your main tank.

2. Monitor for Health Issues: Look for signs of stress or illness, such as loss of appetite, faded coloration, or erratic swimming.

3. Regular Maintenance: Keep the tank clean with regular water changes and test water parameters weekly. We test our water continuously using Neptune Apex to monitor salinity, temp, pH, alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium levels.

4. Observe Behavior: Ensure your Flame Angelfish is active, eating well, and not overly harassed by tankmates.

   
   

Wrap-up

The Flame Angelfish is an impressive and rewarding species to keep in a saltwater aquarium. With proper care and attention, this vibrant fish can thrive and become a source of endless enjoyment. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced aquarist, adding this bold angelfish to your tank is sure to brighten up your underwater world!