Scribbled Angelfish

Care at a glance

Overview

Provide at least 680 litres with open swimming room, live rock for grazing and water at 22 to 26 C. It settles well and feeds readily on spirulina, marine algae, sponge-based angelfish preparations and frozen mysis, though corals and clam mantles may be nipped. Keep only one, as two scribbled angels will squabble.

In the wild

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

Good to know

Chaetodontoplus duboulayi grows to about 28 cm and was described by Albert Guenther in 1867. It is one of the few marine angelfish that can be sexed on sight, since males carry wavy blue lines along the flanks where females show spots instead. The fine blue scrawl over the dark body gives the species its common name.

Did you know

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

Common questions

Related species

• 

  Maze Angelfish

  Chaetodontoplus cephalareticulatus

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  11 in (28 cm)251 gal (950 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  False Personifer Angelfish

  Chaetodontoplus meredithi

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  11.8 in (30 cm)180 gal (680 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Conspicuous Angelfish

  Chaetodontoplus conspicillatus

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  9.8 in (25 cm)198 gal (750 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
• Personifer Angelfish

  Chaetodontoplus personifer

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  13.8 in (35 cm)180 gal (680 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Blueline Angelfish

  Chaetodontoplus septentrionalis

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  8.7 in (22 cm)185 gal (700 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Labyrinth Angelfish

  Chaetodontoplus chrysocephalus

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  8.7 in (22 cm)151 gal (570 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)