Japanese Swallowtail Angelfish

10 Best Angelfish That Are Reef Tank Safe

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Angelfish are among the many most stunning marine aquarium fish species. Nevertheless, their voracious urge for food for any invertebrates within the aquarium makes it arduous to maintain most species of angelfish in reef tanks containing crabs, shrimp, coral and different invertebrates. A number of the smaller pygmy or dwarf angelfish are much less more likely to choose at your reef tank invertebrates. This predation habits will occur much less typically if the angelfish are effectively fed and have extra reside rock to select at and room to roam in a bigger tank. Most reef tanks can profit from their algae-eating habits, their putting colours, and the busy behaviors of those smaller angelfish. Here’s a take a look at 10 angelfish species which might be the almost definitely to depart your reef inhabitants alone.

Enjoyable Reality

Angelfish species within the wild are omnivores. They usually eat each algae and invertebrates: coral, clams, and shrimp are mainstays of omnivorous reef fishes. Their regular predation behaviors may be mitigated in a house aquarium in the event that they get loads of meat-based meals, together with nutritional vitamins and minerals of their food plan.

Reef Secure Saltwater Aquarium Fish

  • Swallowtail Angelfish

    Japanese Swallowtail Angelfish (Female)

    The swallowtail angelfish (Genicanthus melanospilos) is of course a planktivore and infrequently browses on diatoms and filamentous algae. The gorgeous Japanese swallowtail angelfish is without doubt one of the few actually reef tank secure angelfish because it doesn’t trouble corals or different invertebrates. The swallowtail angelfish is a mid-water swimming fish, which means that within the wild it doesn’t reside on the reef nor close to the floor.

    Species Overview

    Size: As much as 6 inches

    Bodily Traits: Females have a yellow stripe on the again with a light-weight blue physique and black and blue stripes on the tail; males have a further thick black line on the physique and trailing tail fin, just like the swallowtail chicken.

  • Coral Magnificence Angelfish

    Coral Beauty Angelfish (Centropyge bispinosus)

    The Coral Magnificence (Centropyge bispinosa) is a favourite dwarf or pygmy angelfish species for hobbyists; its good coloring, hardiness, and low value makes this species available. This fish might often nip at clam mantles and large-polyped stony corals, notably if saved in small reef aquariums. If the fish has loads of reside rock to select at and to maintain busy with, it seldom causes injury to corals.

    Species Overview

    Size: 2 to 4 inches

    Bodily Traits: physique and head is deep royal blue, highlighted with an iridescent orange to yellow shade on its sides.

  • Fisher’s Angelfish

    Fishers Angel

    One of many smallest dwarf or pygmy angelfish species, Fisher’s angelfish (Centropyge fisheri) is generally not as aggressive as many different angelfishes, however some particular person specimens could also be territorial in smaller aquariums, notably towards the extra docile fishes. Because it does effectively in tanks with diatoms or brown microalgae, the Fisher’s angelfish is greatest saved in an aquarium with established reside rock that has ample algae development current for grazing.

    Species Overview

    Size: 2 inches

    Bodily Traits: Orange physique with a skinny, sapphire-blue define highlighting the stomach and anal fin; caudal fin is pale yellow; genders look comparable.

  • Potter’s Angelfish

    Potter's Angelfish

    One of many extra docile of angelfish species, Potter’s angelfish (Cetropyge potteri) nonetheless tends to be aggressive towards new fish as soon as it has develop into established. It could additionally nip at large-polyped stony corals, Zoanthids, Tridacnid clam mantles, and even some delicate coral polyps. If saved in a reef tank with loads of algae to graze on to maintain it occupied, it ought to depart most corals alone.

    Species Overview

    Size: As much as 5 inches

    Bodily Traits: Physique is an excellent orange, with pale to darkish blue; the caudal parts of the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins are a darkish blue-black; genders look comparable.

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  • Pearlback Angelfish

    Multicolor Angelfish eating algae

    The putting Pearlback angelfish (Centropyge multicolor) is taken into account to be semi-aggressive, notably in a smaller tank the place its territory is challenged. Thought-about reef tank secure with warning, it might nip at clam mantles and stony and delicate corals. A bigger tank and extra reside rock might assist mitigate any injury.

    Species Overview

    Size: 3.5 inches

    Bodily Traits: Pale peach-orange to yellow on its sides; black speckles on a background of blue behind the attention; dorsal and anal fins are blue-black whereas the caudal fin is yellow; horizontal swatch of silvery-white from mid-body to caudal fin.

  • Cherub Angelfish

    Cherub Anglefish

    A cherub angelfish (Centropyge argi) prefers reef tanks to fish-only aquariums, however like many different angelfish, it isn’t fully reef-safe, so warning is advisable when including this fish to a coral tank. The mucus on the coral is what the fish really needs to eat, not the physique of the coral. And but, repeat nipping will trigger any coral or clam to retract and finally die from stress.

    Species Overview

    Size: As much as 3 inches

    Bodily Traits: Metallic blue physique and yellow to orange on elements of the top solely; genders are comparable coloured.

  • Lemonpeel Angelfish

    Lemonpeel angelfish

    The lemonpeel angelfish (Centropyge flavissima) is well-known for choosing at large-polyp stony corals, and tridacnid clam mantles. The lemonpeel angelfish might also eat some delicate coral polyps, in addition to choose at zoanthids. Subsequently this fish, as true with most all angelfish, can’t be fully trusted if these invertebrates are current.

    Species Overview

    Size: As much as 5.5 inches

    Bodily Traits: Uniform vivid yellow physique, blue or white ring across the eye, and dark-blue edges on the vertical fins.

  • Flame Angelfish

    Flame Angelfish

    The flame angelfish (Centropyge loricula) is a tropical Pacific reef dweller from Oceania. Though it doesn’t breed readily in captivity, the wild inhabitants will not be at present threatened. The flame angelfish is taken into account reef secure, as they do adapt effectively to a industrial fish meals food plan. People that be taught to select at your coral or clams are probably simply underfed and would profit from Mysis shrimp or frozen clams.

    Species Overview

    Size: 3 to 4 inches

    Bodily Traits: Vivid orange-red with a vertical elongated black spot and 4 or 5 bars on the edges; the posterior a part of the dorsal and anal fins have alternating purple-blue and black bands; males are sometimes bigger and barely extra colourful than females.

    Proceed to 9 of 10 beneath

  • Orangelined or Eibl’s Angelfish

    Eibl's or Orangelined Angelfish

    One of many bigger dwarf or pygmy angelfish species, the Eibl’s angelfish (Centropyge eibli) adapts effectively to a peaceable aquarium surroundings with loads of hiding locations. However bigger people might act aggressively in the direction of smaller fish, notably when confined in a small aquarium.

    Species Overview

    Size: 6 inches

    Bodily Traits: A pearlescent physique with a number of vertical, evenly-spaced orange to purple stripes; an excellent sapphire-blue stripe outlines the caudal fin.

  • Masked Angelfish

    Masked Angelfish (In transition to Male)

    The beautiful masked angelfish (Genicanthus personatus) are considerably aggressive; they require a minimal tank dimension of 150 gallons. Of their wild habitat round Hawaii, they’re discovered at nice depth, however captive-bred people have tailored to floor water stress. With enough reside rock, these fish is not going to trouble your invertebrates.

    Species Overview

    Size: 8 inches

    Bodily Traits: Like all marine angelfish, the younger fish all begin as females and the dominant fish will develop into a male. The younger fish stay black and white, however when changing into a male, their black masks turns into smaller they usually get yellow-orange coloring on the top, and the fins develop into orange.

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