Fellow Creatures
Saltwater Fish

Flame Angelfish

Centropyge loricula

Vivid red dwarf angel, bold and striking  ·  Intermediate

Flame Angelfish

Andreas März from Darmstadt, Germany · CC BY 2.0 — Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan
5-10 years
Adult size
8-10cm (3-4in)
Min. habitat
Aquarium 200L+ / 55gal+
Social needs
Usually one dwarf angel per tank
Diet
Omnivore, algae and meaty foods
Time
Medium
Cost
Medium

Overview

  • The Flame Angelfish is one of the more striking dwarf angels, a vivid red-orange fish banded with black and trimmed in blue.
  • It stays compact at around 10cm and is moderately hardy, making it a rewarding intermediate reef fish.
  • With good water and a mature tank it is bold and active.
  • Captive-bred specimens are increasingly available and tend to adapt more readily than wild-caught fish.

Housing

  • Provide a mature reef of at least 200L (55 gallons) with plenty of live rock for grazing and numerous caves and crevices to retreat into.
  • It settles best in established tanks with algae film and natural microfauna.
  • Keep temperature 24-27C (75-81F), salinity 1.024-1.026, pH 8.1-8.4, and ammonia and nitrite at zero.
  • Stability and good rockwork are key to a confident, healthy fish.

Diet

  • Feed a varied omnivore diet: spirulina and algae-based flakes, marine pellets, dried nori, and frozen mysis and brine shrimp two to three times daily.
  • Natural grazing on rock algae supplements prepared foods.
  • A diet heavy in vegetable matter maintains the red colour and reduces the urge to nip corals.
  • Well-fed angels are the least likely to sample reef invertebrates.

Health

  • A reasonably hardy species once acclimated, but prone to the usual marine parasites, so always quarantine new fish.
  • Newly imported specimens can be shy and slow to eat, so choose established, feeding individuals.
  • Watch for hiding, refusal to feed, white spots, or laboured breathing.
  • Most problems stem from stress, immature tanks, or poor water quality rather than the fish itself.

Temperament

  • Generally reef-safe but, like other Centropyge, some individuals nip LPS, SPS, or clam mantles, and this varies by fish.
  • It is semi-aggressive and territorial toward other dwarf angels and similar-shaped fish.
  • Keep only one flame angel per tank unless it is very large.
  • It usually integrates well with peaceful community reef fish once it has claimed a territory among the rocks.

A good fit for

  • Reef keepers wanting a vivid centrepiece
  • Medium reef tanks with mature rock
  • Aquarists who choose captive-bred stock
  • Intermediate hobbyists with stable systems

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Some individuals nip corals and clams
  • Wild specimens can be shy, slow feeders
  • Multiple dwarf angels causing aggression
  • Adding to immature tanks lacking algae
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