Flame Angelfish

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Moderate   • Temperament: Semi-aggressive   • Maximum Size: 4"
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons   • Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
• Diet: Omnivore   • Origin: Fiji   • Family: Pomacanthidae
• Species: Angels (Dwarf)   • Aquarium Type: Reef Compatible

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The Flame Angelfish makes a flashy addition to any aquarium, thus making it one of the most popular dwarf angel species within the marine aquarium hobby. It requires a minimum of a 30 gallon tank with extensive live rock for both grazing and to provide adequate hiding places. The Flame Angelfish is prone to nip at stony and soft corals (sessile invertebrates) and clam mantles, thus it must be kept with some caution in a reef aquarium. Compared to most pygmy angels the Flame is one of the least destructive in the reef environment; therefore, if you want to keep an Angelfish in your reef aquarium, the Flame is the best bet.

They adapt well to aquarium life, but should be kept in an established system and housed with dissimilar genera, like other pygmy angels (and most species in general) they do not get along well with others of their own species due to territorial battles that will erupt. Of course large aquariums (100 gallons plus) can provide more territory thus limiting these battles (extensive rock work is required to provide the necessary territory. The Flame Angel is hermaphroditic, thus making it very difficult to breed in an aquarium and has no distinguishable differences in color between male to female.

There are slight differences in both coloration and markings of this species based on the location of collection. Marshall Island Flames are more red in color, with thicker black bars running vertically down the body. Cook Island Flames are more orange in coloration with either small black bars, or only a few thin bars running vertically down the body. Christmas Island Flames are normally a red/orange coloration with thin black bars running vertically down the body. It is important to note that these color descriptions are a general guideline, and please expect variation among each fish.

Like most species and especially pygmy angelfish the Flame Angelfish is territorial towards both other Flame Angelfish and other pygmy angelfish. Extensive rock work, live rock or reef area is required to give the Flame a suitable environment in the aquarium. The Flame Angelfish will spend most of it's time swimming in and out of the rock work picking at marine algae and small coral polyps. The Flame Angelfish is probably the least destructive pygmy angel to keep in a reef aquarium, but it should be kept with caution as it can nip at corals and polyps and may be damaging to some species of corals.

The diet of the Flame Angel should include marine algae, spirulina, high-quality angelfish preparations, and other meaty items such as brine or krill. This species should be fed two to three times daily what the fish will consume within a minute or two. Being an omnivore it is important to provide a balanced diet of algae and meats to provide all the necessary vitamins and nutritional needs.