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Flame Angelfish
Centropyge loricula
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Pomacanthidae
📍 Central Pacific, Hawaii & Cook Islands
Vivid red-orange dwarf angelfish with black vertical bars. One of the most popular dwarf angels. May nip at corals; monitor in reef tanks.
Care Guide
Diet
Flame Angelfish are omnivores requiring a varied diet of high-quality marine flakes, small pellets, and frozen foods such as mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and chopped seafood. Feed once daily in small portions, offering enough food to be consumed within 2-3 minutes. Supplement with occasional vegetable matter like nori or spirulina-based foods to support digestive health.
Behavior
Flame Angelfish are active swimmers that patrol all tank zones, displaying territorial behavior especially toward other dwarf angelfish and similar-sized fish. They are semi-aggressive and may nip at peaceful tank mates or coral polyps, particularly if underfed or in cramped conditions. Males are more aggressive than females and establish dominance hierarchies in community settings.
Breeding
Breeding Flame Angelfish in captivity is extremely difficult and rarely successful in home aquariums. They require very large tanks (200+ gallons), stable conditions, and pairs often fail to spawn or eat their eggs. Most captive specimens are wild-caught, making breeding attempts impractical for most hobbyists.
Tank Mates
Similar size and reef-safe behavior; may compete for space but generally coexist peacefully
Active swimmer with similar temperament; both occupy different feeding niches
Peaceful algae grazer that avoids conflict; occupies different tank zones
Provides cleaning service and poses no threat; Flame Angelfish tolerate their presence
Algae-eating snail that avoids predation; helps maintain tank cleanliness
Common Diseases
Marine Ich (White Spot Disease)
White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, rubbing against surfaces, lethargy
Raise temperature to 26-27°C, increase aeration, use copper-based medication or hyposalinity treatment; quarantine affected fish
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fin edges, discoloration at fin margins, progressive fin loss
Improve water quality, perform frequent water changes, use antibiotic medications if bacterial; ensure adequate nutrition
Velvet Disease (Oodinium)
Fine golden or rust-colored dust on body, rapid breathing, scratching behavior, loss of appetite
Raise temperature gradually to 27-28°C, reduce light exposure, use copper medication or formalin-based treatments; quarantine immediately
Lateral Line Erosion
Pitting or erosion along lateral line, loss of sensory pores, behavioral changes
Improve water quality and stability, enhance diet with vitamin-rich foods, perform regular water changes; may indicate poor nutrition or stress
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Quick Facts
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- diet
- omnivore
- maxSize
- 4 inches
- salinity
- 1.023–1.025 SG
- minTankSize
- 30 gallons
- temperature
- 73–81°F (23–27°C)
Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C