Saltwater angelfish

Saltwater angelfish are not the same as the freshwater angelfish, which is a cichlid; these are marine fish that range from palm-sized dwarf Centropyge to large angels that need a big tank. Reef safety varies, since many pick at corals and clams, so check each species before adding it to a reef. Each profile lists tank size, diet and reef safety.

Tank size: 29–251 gal; 29 gal (110 L) to 251 gal (950 L); half the list needs 100 gal (380 L) or more
Temperature: 72–79°F; 22–26°C, most of the list
pH: 8.1–8.4; Most of the list
Difficulty: 4 easy; 28 medium · 19 difficult
Temperament: 4 peaceful; 43 mostly peaceful · 4 aggressive
Reef safety: 5 reef safe; 33 reef safe with caution · 13 not reef safe

51 species

Start here

The dwarf angels

The coral beauty angelfish is marked easy at 3.9 inches (10 cm) for 50 gallons (190 liters), the dwarf angel most reefs try first. The flame angelfish is the same size, marked medium, and the red one everyone wants. The cherub angelfish is 2.8 inches (7 cm) for 29 gallons (110 liters), marked easy, the smallest angel in the catalog. The African flameback is 3.1 inches (8 cm) for the same tank. The rusty angelfish is 3.9 inches (10 cm) for 30 gallons (115 liters), and Fisher's angelfish 2.8 inches (7 cm) for 53 gallons (200 liters). Every one of them carries a reef caution: most behave, and some nip clam mantles and fleshy corals.

The rule

What the marks on an angelfish mean

The dwarf angels, Centropyge, are marked caution across the board: a given fish may ignore corals for years or nip a clam the first week. The swallowtail angels, Genicanthus, are the only angels marked reef safe outright, because they eat plankton in open water. The large angels are marked not reef safe, because they eat sponge and coral polyps as a matter of course. Nearly every angel here is marked solitary, so it is one angel per tank unless the tank is very large, and the big ones reach 15 inches (38 cm) and list 185 gallons (700 liters) and up.

01
Dwarf angels, caution
Most behave, some nip clams and corals
02
Swallowtails, reef safe
Plankton feeders that ignore the rock
03
Large angels, not reef safe
They eat sponge and polyps
04
One per tank
Nearly every angel here is marked solitary

Reef safe

The swallowtail angels

The Genicanthus angels swim in open water and eat plankton, which is why they are the angels marked reef safe and peaceful, and the only ones marked social. The bellus angelfish is 7.1 inches (18 cm) for 85 gallons (320 liters). Lamarck's angelfish reaches 9.8 inches (25 cm) and lists 124 gallons (470 liters). The swallowtail angelfish is 7.1 inches (18 cm) for 106 gallons (400 liters). Watanabe's angelfish is the smallest at 5.9 inches (15 cm) for 79 gallons (300 liters), and the zebra angelfish is 7.9 inches (20 cm) for 90 gallons (340 liters). A male with two or three females is the usual group, and all of them jump.

Mid-size

The mid-size angels

The lemonpeel angelfish is 5.5 inches (14 cm) for 55 gallons (210 liters), marked medium, and among the dwarf angels most likely to nip. The bicolor angelfish is 5.9 inches (15 cm) for the same tank. The keyhole angelfish is 7.9 inches (20 cm) for 70 gallons (265 liters). Potter's angelfish is marked difficult at 5.1 inches (13 cm) for 65 gallons (245 liters), a Hawaiian fish that settles slowly. The goldflake angelfish is 9.8 inches (25 cm) for 125 gallons (475 liters), marked medium. The vermiculated angelfish is 7.1 inches (18 cm) for 66 gallons (250 liters) and grazes algae all day.

The giants

The emperor angelfish reaches 15 inches (38 cm), lists 185 gallons (700 liters) and is marked difficult and not reef safe. The French angelfish reaches 16.1 inches (41 cm) for 201 gallons (760 liters). The queen angelfish is 17.7 inches (45 cm) for 251 gallons (950 liters), marked aggressive. The blue angelfish is the same size and temper, marked medium. The asfur angelfish is the Red Sea angel at 15.7 inches (40 cm) for 135 gallons (510 liters), marked medium with a reef caution. The yellowbar angelfish reaches 19.7 inches (50 cm) and lists 180 gallons (680 liters). All of them change color completely between juvenile and adult, so the fish you buy is not the fish you keep.

By the numbers

Smallest

Largest

Most peaceful

FAQ

Common questions

Are saltwater angelfish reef safe?

The swallowtail angels, bellus, Lamarck's, Watanabe's, zebra and swallowtail, are marked reef safe. The dwarf angels carry a caution, and the large angels are marked not reef safe.

Which angelfish is best for a beginner?

The coral beauty, cherub and African flameback angelfish are marked easy and list 29 to 50 gallons (110 to 190 liters). The flame angelfish is marked medium.

Can I keep two angelfish together?

Nearly every angel here is marked solitary and two dwarf angels fight in most tanks. The swallowtail angels are the exception: a male with two or three females is the normal group.

How big a tank does a large angelfish need?

The emperor angelfish lists 185 gallons (700 liters), the French 201 gallons (760 liters) and the queen and blue angelfish 251 gallons (950 liters), for fish of 15 to 18 inches (38 to 45 cm).

What do angelfish eat?

Sponge and algae in the wild, so the food includes a sponge-based angel preparation, nori and algae pellets, plus mysis. A dwarf angel that grazes the rock all day is getting most of its diet there.

Why does my angelfish look nothing like the adult photo?

The large angels change color completely as they grow. A juvenile emperor is blue with white rings; the adult is striped yellow and blue. The change takes a year or two.

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