Coral beauty angelfish
Centropyge bispinosa
Also known as Twospined Angelfish, Dusky Angelfish
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F
- 22–26°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 3.9 in
- 10 cm
- Minimum tank
- 50 gal
- 190 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Own kind
- One male per tank
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Very common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe with caution
- Family
- Pomacanthidae
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific, from East Africa and the Red Sea across to the central Pacific
Overview
The coral beauty angelfish is a dwarf angel that grazes algae over the rockwork of a reef tank. It is easy to keep and one of the hardier dwarf angels.
Did you know
The coral beauty is one of the most color-variable dwarf angels. Depending on where it was collected, it ranges from deep purple-blue with an orange midsection to almost fully orange.
Caring for the coral beauty angelfish
Give the coral beauty angelfish an established tank of at least 50 gal (190 L) with good algae growth. It needs plenty of live rock with caves and overhangs to duck into, and mature surfaces to graze. It spends its day working the rockwork for algae and small organisms.
Hold the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. Feed several small meals a day, mixing meaty and algae-based foods.
The coral beauty is usually peaceful but will defend its patch. It tends to fight other dwarf angels unless the tank is large, so keep it as the only Centropyge in the system. Reef keepers rate it reef safe with caution. Many leave corals alone, but some nip LPS polyps, zoanthids, soft corals or clam mantles, and there is no way to guarantee which you get.
Like others in its genus, it is a protogynous hermaphrodite. Fish mature first as females, and the dominant fish can change into a male. Breeding it is hard.
Good to know
The coral beauty angelfish, Centropyge bispinosa, belongs to the family Pomacanthidae. Its hardiness is a big part of why it is so widely kept. It is also sold as the twospined angelfish or the dusky angelfish.
In the wild
Coral beauty angelfish live on rocky and coral-rich reef slopes across the Indo-Pacific, from East Africa and the Red Sea to the central Pacific. They are usually found between about 5 and 45 meters deep. They stick close to cover, darting between crevices and rubble to graze algae and the film that grows over rock.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The coral beauty angelfish is a mostly peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the middle. Keep only one male per tank. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Cinnamon clownfish
Amphiprion melanopus
Saltwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Clark's clownfish
Amphiprion clarkii
Saltwater5.5 in (14 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Yellow watchman goby
Cryptocentrus cinctus
Saltwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Radiant wrasse
Halichoeres iridis
Saltwater4.5 in (11.5 cm) · 50 gal (190 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Fire shrimp
Lysmata debelius
Saltwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Ring cowrie
Monetaria annulus
Saltwater1.2 in (3 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a coral beauty angelfish need?
A coral beauty angelfish needs at least 50 gal (190 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a coral beauty angelfish need?
A coral beauty angelfish is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a coral beauty angelfish eat?
A coral beauty angelfish grazes algae and small organisms off the rockwork. Give it several small meaty and algae-based feedings a day.
How big does a coral beauty angelfish get?
An adult coral beauty angelfish reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).
Related species
3.9 in (10 cm)50 gal (190 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Flame angelfish
Centropyge loriculus
3.9 in (10 cm) · 50 gal (190 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)55 gal (210 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Golden angelfish
Centropyge aurantia
3.9 in (10 cm) · 55 gal (210 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)55 gal (210 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Half-black angelfish
Centropyge vroliki
3.9 in (10 cm) · 55 gal (210 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)55 gal (210 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Herald's angelfish
Centropyge heraldi
3.9 in (10 cm) · 55 gal (210 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)55 gal (210 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Purple masked angelfish
Centropyge venusta
3.9 in (10 cm) · 55 gal (210 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)69 gal (260 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Rusty angelfish
Centropyge ferrugata
3.9 in (10 cm) · 69 gal (260 L)