Multicolor Angelfish

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Moderate   • Temperament: Semi-aggressive   • Maximum Size: 4"
• Minimum Tank Size: 40 gallons   • Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
• Diet: Omnivore   • Origin: Marshall Islands
• Family: Pomacanthidae   • Species: Angels (Dwarf)   • Aquarium Type: Reef Compatible

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Multicolor Angelfish are found fairly infrequently within the aquarium hobby, where they are sold under a variety of common names including: Multicolor Angelfish, Pastel Pygmy Angelfish or Many-colored Angelfish. In nature they are found living in and around deeper reef slopes, ranging from areas of rocky rubble all the way to areas of dense coral growth.

They are found singularly for short periods of time as maturing juveniles, but will quickly form harems of 3 to 8 individuals with a single dominant male and female. Despite being an omnivore, the Multicolor Angelfish consumes much more algae and plant material than it does meaty foods in its diet within it natural habitat. They will quickly adjust to commercial aquarium foods of all types, but for best overall health and to maintain a strong immune system, hobbyists should feed them a diet high in marine algae and seaweed.

The Multicolor Angelfish tends to be more secretive and delicate to keep in captivity than many of the more commonly found dwarf Angelfish aquarium species like the Coral Beauty or the Lemonpeel Angelfish. While the Multicolor Angelfish can do quite well within the aquarium environment, they are much more likely to survive and thrive when provided with plenty of live rock and hiding places.

When first introducing this species to the aquarium it is important to take time and acclimate them slowly, both to adjust to the water chemistry and to provide them with dimmed lighting for 30 minutes to an hour after being introduced into the aquarium. They do best in tanks with calm, peaceful tank mates and should only be kept with other dwarf Angelfish in longer, larger aquariums like a 125 gallon or larger tank.

Multicolor Angels are not suitable for aquariums with more aggressive tank mates like large Angelfish, aggressive Damselfish species or any predatory fish like Triggers or Groupers. They do best in peaceful fish aquariums or reef aquariums where they won't be bothered by tank mates and will have plenty of caves, crevices and other structures to explore, forage for algae and retreat to when threatened.

Unlike some dwarf Angelfish species, Multicolor Angelfish do well in many reef environments as they are not known to bother most corals and invertebrates. However, some specimens have been known to nip at some stony corals and clam mantles, but overall they tend to be on the less destructive side of the dwarf Angelfish scale when it comes to corals and sessile inverts.

Being an omnivore, the Multicolor Angelfish should be fed a varied diet of both vegetable based and meaty food in order to provide the vitamins, minerals and nutrients required for good health and a strong immune system. It is best to feed a mix of commercial meaty and vegetable based foods, or foods designed for marine omnivores. Multicolor Angels will readily accept flake, freeze-dried or frozen commercial marine fish foods; as well as, fresh or frozen meaty foods made from quality marine based meaty items like shrimp, squid or mussels.

Additionally, they should be provided with plenty of marine based vegetable matter either via commercial foods like dried seaweed or marine algae flakes or through algae grazing opportunities from the presence of plenty of live rock within the aquarium. This species will actively graze on marine algae growing on rock work or the aquarium glass.