TankBud

Conspicuous angelfish

Chaetodontoplus conspicillatus

Also known as Conspic Angelfish, Spectacled Angelfish, Conspicillatus Angelfish

SaltwaterFish

Conspicuous angelfish (Chaetodontoplus conspicillatus)
(c) jeyre, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
9.8 in
25 cm
Minimum tank
198 gal
750 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Very rare
Reef safe
Reef safe with caution
Family
Pomacanthidae
Origin
Coral Sea, southern Great Barrier Reef to New Caledonia and Lord Howe Island

Overview

The conspicuous angelfish is a grazing angel for a large, mature saltwater tank. It is a job for an experienced keeper.

Did you know

The conspicuous angelfish is one of the most expensive angelfish in the hobby. Wild adults have sold for several thousand dollars. The first captive-bred fish from the Bali Aquarich hatchery cost even more.

Caring for the conspicuous angelfish

Give a conspicuous angelfish a mature tank of at least 198 gal (750 L), with generous rockwork for grazing and hiding. Keep the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.

Feed it several times a day on angelfish preparations that include sponge, plus mysis, spirulina and nori. Wild fish can be slow to settle, so look for captive-bred stock.

The conspicuous angelfish is mostly peaceful, but it should be the only large angelfish in the tank. Choose its other tank mates with caution. It is reef safe with caution, and breeding it is hard.

Good to know

The conspicuous angelfish belongs to the family Pomacanthidae and was described by Edgar Waite in 1900. Its species name means spectacled, after the bright blue ring around each eye that stands out against the yellow face. It also goes by conspic angelfish and spectacled angelfish.

In the wild

The conspicuous angelfish lives on coral and rocky reefs of the Coral Sea. Its range runs from the southern Great Barrier Reef and central New South Wales out to New Caledonia, Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island. These island strongholds sit at subtropical latitudes, so wild fish see milder water than most reef angelfish. Adults hold to deeper reef slopes, while juveniles settle in protected harbors and bays. It is usually seen alone or in pairs, grazing on sponges and tunicates.

Common questions

What size tank does a conspicuous angelfish need?

A conspicuous angelfish needs at least 198 gal (750 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a conspicuous angelfish need?

A conspicuous angelfish is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does a conspicuous angelfish eat?

A conspicuous angelfish eats angelfish preparations that include sponge, plus mysis, spirulina and nori. Feed it several times a day.

How big does a conspicuous angelfish get?

An adult conspicuous angelfish reaches about 9.8 in (25 cm).

Related species