Eibli Angelfish

Care at a glance

Overview

An omnivorous grazer that needs steady algae growth in the tank plus at least two small feedings a day of algae-based and meaty foods. It settles in slowly and does best given time to acclimate in a stable, established system, and it will not tolerate another dwarf angel in the same tank. Reef keepers rate it caution: many stay out of the coral, but it can nip LPS polyps, soft corals, or clam mantles, and the risk climbs if it is underfed.

In the wild

Lives on outer reef slopes and drop-offs with strong current and rich coral growth, grazing algae off rock and rubble through the day. It keeps close to structure it can retreat into. In the aquarium it wants a mature tank with abundant live rock, an established algae film, and plenty of hiding spots to settle into.

Good to know

Centropyge eibli grows to roughly 15 cm, on the larger side for the genus, and is a protogynous hermaphrodite that lives in small harems led by one male. Adults show a grey body crossed with thin, wavy orange-rust lines, an orange eye-ring, and a black tail edged in blue; juveniles start out a lighter greenish-grey with the same black-tailed pattern before the fine striping develops.

Did you know

Its fine wavy orange stripes over a grey body are the reason for the trade name red stripe angelfish, even though the overall impression in the tank reads more amber and grey than red.

Related species

• 

  Bicolor Angelfish

  Centropyge bicolor

  5.9 in (15 cm)55 gal (210 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)

• 

  Lemonpeel Angelfish

  Centropyge flavissima

  5.5 in (14 cm)55 gal (210 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Potter's Angelfish

  Centropyge potteri

  5.1 in (13 cm)65 gal (245 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Keyhole Angelfish

  Centropyge tibicen

  7.9 in (20 cm)70 gal (265 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Coral Beauty Angelfish

  Centropyge bispinosa

  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)72–79°F (22–26°C)