TankBud

Scribbled angelfish

Chaetodontoplus duboulayi

Also known as Duboulay's Angelfish

SaltwaterFish

Scribbled angelfish (Chaetodontoplus duboulayi)
Graham Edgar / Reef Life Survey · CC BY 3.0 au

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
11 in
28 cm
Minimum tank
180 gal
680 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Reef safe
Reef safe with caution
Family
Pomacanthidae
Origin
Northern Australia, Shark Bay to Moreton Bay, and southern New Guinea

Overview

The scribbled angelfish is a large, mostly peaceful marine angel for a very big tank. It suits a keeper with some experience.

Did you know

Male and female scribbled angelfish wear different patterns, which is unusual among marine angelfish. That makes wild pairs easy to pick out.

Caring for the scribbled angelfish

Provide at least 180 gal (680 L) for the scribbled angelfish, with open swimming room and live rock for grazing. Hold the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. It settles well and feeds readily on spirulina, marine algae, sponge-based angelfish preparations and frozen mysis.

Keep only one, as two scribbled angels will squabble, and choose its other tank mates with care. It may nip corals and clam mantles, so it is reef safe only with caution.

Males carry wavy blue lines along the flanks, while females show spots instead. Breeding scribbled angelfish is hard.

Good to know

The scribbled angelfish, Chaetodontoplus duboulayi, is a marine angel in the family Pomacanthidae. Albert Guenther described it in 1867. The fine blue scrawl over its dark body gives the species its common name.

In the wild

Scribbled angelfish live on coastal reefs across northern Australia, from Shark Bay in the west around to Moreton Bay in Queensland. They also range along southern New Guinea. They stay fairly shallow, usually between 5 and 20 meters, over rock and coral with rich sponge growth. Most are seen alone or in loose pairs.

Common questions

What size tank does a scribbled angelfish need?

A scribbled angelfish needs at least 180 gal (680 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a scribbled angelfish need?

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

What does a scribbled angelfish eat?

A scribbled angelfish feeds readily on spirulina, marine algae, sponge-based angelfish preparations and frozen mysis.

How big does a scribbled angelfish get?

An adult scribbled angelfish reaches about 11 in (28 cm).

How can you tell a male scribbled angelfish from a female?

Males carry wavy blue lines along their flanks. Females show spots there instead.

Related species