TankBud

Multibarred angelfish

Centropyge multifasciata

Also known as Paracentropyge multifasciata, Multibar Angelfish, Many-banded Angelfish, Barred Angelfish

SaltwaterFish

Multibarred angelfish (Centropyge multifasciata)
desertnaturalist · CC BY 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
4.7 in
12 cm
Minimum tank
59 gal
225 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Reef safe
Reef safe with caution
Family
Pomacanthidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific, from the Cocos-Keeling Islands to the Society Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to the Great Barrier Reef

Overview

The multibarred angelfish is a reclusive, deepwater dwarf angel for a mature saltwater tank full of caves. It suits experienced keepers.

Did you know

The multibarred angelfish spends so much time wedged into caves that divers and aquarists often find it resting upside down against a ceiling. It uses the cave surface the way other fish use the open water.

Caring for the multibarred angelfish

Give the multibarred angelfish at least 59 gal (225 L), built as a maze of mature live rock caves. Add dim, sheltered spots where it can feel secure.

Keep the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. Newly imported fish are often shy, reclusive and slow to accept anything but live rock grazing at first. Feed them patiently with a wide variety of foods early on. Captive-bred fish settle in and eat far more readily than wild-caught ones.

Once established, the multibarred angelfish grazes steadily and holds a territory around its favorite cave. It is mostly peaceful and community safe, tolerating most tank mates but not other kinds of angelfish.

It is better behaved around coral than many dwarf angels, but it can still nip soft corals or clam mantles. Reef keepers rate it caution. Breeding it is hard.

Good to know

Centropyge multifasciata belongs to the family Pomacanthidae and also goes by multibar, many-banded or barred angelfish. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite like its Centropyge relatives, living in harems with one dominant male. It is also listed as Paracentropyge multifasciata. Some authorities treat Paracentropyge as a subgenus, while molecular studies support it as its own genus of three closely related deepwater angelfish. Juveniles carry a blue eyespot near the back of the dorsal fin that fades with age.

In the wild

The multibarred angelfish ranges across the Indo-Pacific, from the Cocos-Keeling Islands to the Society Islands. It reaches north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to the Great Barrier Reef. It is a deepwater specialist of steep outer reef slopes, found from roughly 20 to 70 meters down. That is well past where most reef fish in the trade are collected. It lives in caves and crevices and is rarely seen far from shelter.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The multibarred angelfish is a mostly peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a multibarred angelfish need?

A multibarred angelfish needs at least 59 gal (225 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a multibarred angelfish need?

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

What does a multibarred angelfish eat?

A multibarred angelfish grazes steadily once established. Newly imported fish may accept little but live rock grazing at first, so feed them patiently with a wide variety of foods.

How big does a multibarred angelfish get?

An adult multibarred angelfish reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).

Related species