Golden angelfish
Centropyge aurantia
Also known as Aurantia 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
- 55 gal
- 210 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Reef safe
- Reef safe with caution
- Family
- Pomacanthidae
- Origin
- Western Pacific
Overview
The golden angelfish is one of the shyest dwarf angels, for a calm, mature saltwater tank. It suits an experienced keeper.
Did you know
Wild-caught golden angelfish are notorious for hiding and refusing food until they waste away. Hatchery-raised fish that arrive already eating pellets have changed how keepers judge the species.
Caring for the golden angelfish
Give a golden angelfish a mature, stable tank of at least 55 gal (210 L), with dense rockwork and natural algae to graze. Keep the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.
Feed it several small meals a day. It may nip fleshy LPS and soft corals, so keep it well fed in a reef. It is reef safe only with caution.
The golden angelfish is mostly peaceful, but it needs calm tank mates. Keep only one dwarf angel in the tank, since it is territorial with its own kind. Breeding it is hard.
Good to know
The golden angelfish is a dwarf angel in the family Pomacanthidae. It is deep golden orange with fine dark vertical striping and a blue ring around the eye. It was described from Samoa in 1974. It is also sold as the aurantia angelfish.
In the wild
The golden angelfish ranges across the western Pacific, from Indonesia and the Great Barrier Reef to the Caroline Islands and Samoa. It stays buried in branching coral and rubble on sheltered reefs. Even where it is common, divers rarely see one in the open.
Common questions
What size tank does a golden angelfish need?
A golden angelfish needs at least 55 gal (210 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a golden angelfish need?
A golden angelfish is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a golden angelfish eat?
A golden angelfish grazes natural algae in the tank. Feed it several small meals a day as well, and keep it well fed in a reef.
How big does a golden angelfish get?
An adult golden angelfish reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).
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