Vermiculated angelfish
Chaetodontoplus mesoleucus
Also known as Singapore Angelfish, Vermiculated Angel, Mesoleucus Angelfish
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 7.1 in
- 18 cm
- Minimum tank
- 66 gal
- 250 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Own kind
- One per tank
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe with caution
- Family
- Pomacanthidae
- Origin
- Indo-West Pacific from the eastern Indian Ocean to the western Pacific, on coastal and lagoon reefs with live rock.
Overview
Provide a mature tank of at least 250 litres with lots of live rock for grazing and calm, non-aggressive tankmates at 24 to 27 C. It can be a picky eater at first, so offer spirulina, angelfish preparations, mysis and plenty of algae-covered rock. It nips many corals, so it suits FOWLR setups or reefs only with caution. Introduce it as a juvenile for the best chance of acclimation.
In the wild
The vermiculated angelfish has a white front, black-barred face and fine maze-like scribbling on the rear body. It grazes live rock for algae, diatoms and small growth on coastal reefs. It is a shy, mid-sized angel that likes to weave in and out of rockwork. Some individuals settle in quickly while others stay timid.
Good to know
Chaetodontoplus mesoleucus grows to about 18 cm and was first successfully bred and reared in a hatchery only recently, in 2025. Its fine worm-like body pattern gives the vermiculated name. It belongs to the same genus as the scribbled and greytail angels.
Did you know
It was first bred and raised in a hatchery in 2025, making it one of the most recently captive-bred marine angelfish.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Vermiculated angelfish is a mostly peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the middle. Keep one per tank of its own kind. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Fighting conch
Strombus alatus
Saltwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Pearly jawfish
Opistognathus aurifrons
Saltwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Skunk cleaner shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
Saltwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
One-spot foxface
Siganus unimaculatus
Saltwater7.9 in (20 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Tiger / strawberry conch
Conomurex luhuanus
Saltwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Blackline fang blenny
Meiacanthus nigrolineatus
Saltwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Vermiculated angelfish need?
A Vermiculated angelfish needs at least 66 gal (250 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Vermiculated angelfish need?
A Vermiculated angelfish is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
How big does a Vermiculated angelfish get?
An adult Vermiculated angelfish reaches about 7.1 in (18 cm).
Related species
8.7 in (22 cm)185 gal (700 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Blueline angelfish
Chaetodontoplus septentrionalis
8.7 in (22 cm) · 185 gal (700 L)
8.7 in (22 cm)151 gal (570 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Labyrinth angelfish
Chaetodontoplus chrysocephalus
8.7 in (22 cm) · 151 gal (570 L)
9.8 in (25 cm)198 gal (750 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Conspicuous angelfish
Chaetodontoplus conspicillatus
9.8 in (25 cm) · 198 gal (750 L)
11 in (28 cm)251 gal (950 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Maze angelfish
Chaetodontoplus cephalareticulatus
11 in (28 cm) · 251 gal (950 L)
11 in (28 cm)180 gal (680 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Scribbled angelfish
Chaetodontoplus duboulayi
11 in (28 cm) · 180 gal (680 L)
11.8 in (30 cm)180 gal (680 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)False personifer angelfish
Chaetodontoplus meredithi
11.8 in (30 cm) · 180 gal (680 L)