Coral Beauty Angelfish
If you have a real passion for marine angelfish but don’t have the space to keep one of the big legendary Angelfish types, you’ll be happy to hear that some really lovely angels come in small packages, such as the Coral Beauty Angelfish.
The Dusky Angelfish is a popular saltwater fish among hobbyists, due to its bright colors and toughness.
The majority of this species’ coloration varies depending on where it was discovered in the wild. Bodies, fins, and tails are usually red, orange, or yellow with darker blue or purple edges and margins.
In this article, we will go through all the information you need to know about Pterophyllum, from where they originally come from to how to breed them.
Coral Beauty Characteristics
| Scientific Name | Centropyge bispinosa |
| Common Names | Two Spined Angelfish, Dusky Angelfish |
| Family | Pomacanthidae |
| Origin | Indo-Pacific. |
| Life Span | 10 – 15 years or longer in the wild |
| Breeding | Very difficult to breed in captivity. |
| Aggression | They are peaceful but can b aggressive in small tanks |
| Minimum Tank Size | 70 Gallon (320 Litres) |
| Length | 4 inches (10cm) |
| Diet | omnivorous |
| Ease of Care | Easy |
| pH | 8.1 to 8.4 |
| Temperature | 24°C to 27°C |
| Reef Safe | No |
Coral Beauty Origins & Habitat
The Coral Beauty Angelfish, Centropyge bispinosa, was named by Gunther in 1860. This tiny angelfish is part of the Pomacanthidae family, which includes over 33 species, and belongs to the genus Centropyge.
These fish are difficult to find because they live in lagoons and seaward reef slopes with a rich population of coral and algae.
They live alone or in small groups of one male and two to five females.
You can find them in tropical and subtropical seas, typically at depths of 29 to 148 feet (9 to 45 m).
Individuals living deeper than 59 ft are much paler in hue than those that live near the surface.
The brilliant variants of this gorgeous species may be found in most areas of the Indo-Pacific Ocean.
It is found from the coast of East Africa (Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa) to French Polynesia (Tuamotu Island), in the South Pacific, all the way north to Japan (Izu Islands), and south as far as Australia on Lord Howe Island.
What Are the Features of Coral Beauty Angelfish?
1. Physical Appearance
They have a relatively deep body but a large head and small fins, with a pointed snout and continuous dorsal fin without free rear tips.
2. Colors
The Coral Beauty Angelfish Centropyge is a colorful fish that varies in hue and pattern depending on where it was harvested in the wild.
They are frequently crimson or orange with dark blue markings and a purplish head and fins.
Some are entirely blue, while others are orange, pale yellow, or white. The vertical dark lines on these may be less intense than on others. For example, the Philippines is well-known for its beautiful red-blue combinations.
Unlike other angelfish, colors in these angels do not fade as they age. Also, there is a color difference between juvenile and adult fish. At the juvenile stage, the orange colors are more vivid. As it ages, the orange fades and becomes bluer, while the orange remains, creating a huge contrast of bright hues.
3. Length
The average length of a coral beauty angelfish is about 4 inches.
Coral Beauty Angelfish Cost
The cost of Coral Beauty Angelfish differs according to its size, generally, it costs around 50 – 70 dollars.
| Size | Price |
| Small: over .75-1″ | $49.99 |
| Medium: over 1-2″ | $54.99 |
| Large: over 2-3″ | $59.99 |
| X-Large: over 3-3.5″ | $69.99 |
Is Coral Beauty Angelfish Hardy?
This fish is a great choice for beginners. It requires no special requirements and is quite hardy and simple to keep as long as the water is clean and their diet is varied.
Make sure you get a healthy individual and monitor it alongside suitable tankmates.
Also, provide lots of hiding places for this shy fish to feel safe enough in your tank.
How to Care for Coral Beauty Angelfish?
Water Requirements
1. Water change
The Coral Beauty Angelfish is not as sensitive as other angelfish. Still, it necessitates excellent water.
To keep nitrates at bay, you should change 30 percent of the water every month, or 15 percent every two weeks.
2. PH Level
Beauty needs a pH level of between 8.1 and 8.4 to stay healthy. If your tap water has a lower pH, you’ll need to use a water conditioner to adjust the level.
3. Ammonia, Nitrites, and Nitrates
Coral Beauties are highly sensitive to ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates.
To ensure that these levels remain low in your tank, you should change the water regularly and vacuum the gravel to remove any waste.
The ideal ammonia level is 0 ppm, the nitrite level is 0 ppm, and the nitrate level should be less than 20 ppm.
3. Water Temperature
A water temperature between 72 and 81° F is a must for your Coral Beauty Angelfish.
Tank Setup
1. Size
The coral beauty angelfish doesn’t need a large amount of open swimming area and doesn’t require the hundreds of gallons larger angels do.
A single fish requires around 70 gallons of water (on the cautious side) to swim comfortably in a coral beauty tank because these fish are continual motion machines that require space to swim.
However, be wary that the smaller the tank is, the more likely it is to have aggressiveness.
2. Tank Decorations
Giving your fish constant opportunities to dash in and out of the rocks to hide is important. Therefore, it is essential to maintain a sufficient amount of live rock in your tank.
Put in your mind, the more secure the fish feel, the less likely they are to react stressed, and the more secure they feel. Stress-free fish have healthy immune systems and don’t succumb to saltwater ich.
Coral Beauty Angelfish Compatibility
Corals are generally peaceful with most dissimilar species, but they may quarrel with tank mates that are too similar in size, color, or form.
Combining C. bispinosa with other C. bispinosa or genus species is asking for trouble, especially in smaller systems, so it’s usually best not to keep them together.
Of course, you should not keep a lovely coral fish with a large piscivorous species that may swallow this small species.
| Coral Beauty good tank mates | Coral Beauty bad tank mates |
| Picasso Clownfish | Lionfish |
| Dwarf lionfish | Marine Bettas |
| Mimic saddle filefish | Other Pygmy Angelfish |
| Foxface | Groupers |
| Other peaceful saltwater fish. | Other Coral Beauty Angelfish |
Coral Beauty Angelfish Diet
The Coral Beauty angelfish is omnivorous, which implies they consume various foods. Their diet is largely made up of plants, coral beauty angelfish eat also tiny invertebrates.
Feed them algae and spirulina-based food daily and meaty meals like brine shrimp and Mysis shrimp on occasion.
These fish are voracious feeders; you should feed them 2 to 3 times daily. My absolute favorite food for my tank is live blood worms.
Other routine foods are:
- frozen foods like Mysis shrimp
- frozen foods like brine shrimp
- spirulina flakes
- Formula II pellets
- occasional nori sheets.
Coral Beauty Angelfish Breeding
1. In captivity
Breeding these species in captivity is still a long way from breeding them in the home aquarium, and they haven’t been reproduced often there.
Coral Beauty Angelfish Aquarium is natural lunar rhythms, relying on moon phases to plan gamete production.
Because aquariums lack natural tides or moonlight to signal the Coral Beauties when the moment is available for them to deposit their eggs into the water column, they cannot reproduce.
However, captive breeding is becoming more common in tropical nations such as Indonesia where the rearing tubs can be outside all year. The moon’s phases notify the fish when it’s time to release their pelagic eggs into the water column, where they will float and hatch.
2. In the wild
At dusk or before dimming the lights, a dominant male will woo the female Coral Beauty by flying over her.
He lowers himself to her level, spreads his fins like wings, and inclines at a 45-90 degree angle.
At the top of the aquarium, the female follows the male. The male then rubs his nose across the side of the female.
Immediately after, they release eggs and sperm at the top for external fertilization.
After 2 to 3 days, eggs will hatch and should be fed with microscopic algae after 2 to 3 days.
Coral Beauty Angelfish Gender Difference
The bigger and more authoritative fish will become the male as they mature.
If a male angelfish dies or is removed from his group’s leadership by an outside force, such as disease, the next in line for power may become a male!
Possible Diseases and Prevention
White Spot Disease
White spot disease Cryptocaryon irritans, also known as Marine Ich, Saltwater Ich, and Crypt is the most prevalent disorder affecting marine tangs and angelfish. The primary symptoms of Marine Ick involve constant scratching that leads to lots of white spots.
Marine Velvet
The velvet disease, Oodinium ocellatum (also known as Amyloodinium ocellatum or Branchiophilus Maris) is a flagellate that infects fish.
Symptoms of Marine Velvet include:
- A peppery covering and clamped fins.
- Respiratory distress (breathing rapidly as seen by frequent or rapid gill movements).
- Eye cloudiness.
- Possible weight loss.
Lymphocystis
Lymphocystis is a viral disease that results in the formation of large, white cysts on the skin of marine algae. The disease is not contagious and does not seem to harm the fish, but the unsightly bumps can affect a fish’s ability to eat and breathe.
Symptoms of Lymphocystis include:
- Large, white cysts on the skin.
- Affected fish may have trouble eating and breathing.
Hole-in-the-Head Disease
Hole in the head disease, also known as Hexamita or Head and Lateral Line Erosion (HLLE), is a condition that affects many freshwater and marine fish. The disease is caused by a protozoan parasite that attacks the fish’s skin and underlying tissues, causing holes to form in the head and along the lateral line.
Symptoms of Hole-in-the-Head Disease include:
- Holes in the head and along the lateral line.
- Affected fish may stop eating and lose weight.
Pop-eye
Pop-eye, also known as Exophthalmia, is a condition that results in the bulging of one or both eyes. The condition can be caused by a number of different things, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and physical trauma.
Symptoms of Pop-eye include:
- Bulging of one or both eyes.
- Affected fish may stop eating and lose weight.
How to Prevent Coral Beauty Angelfish Disease?
The best way to prevent your Coral Beauty Angelfish Aquarium from getting sick in the first place is to provide them with a clean and healthy environment. This means having a high-quality filtration system in place and performing regular water changes.
You should also avoid overfeeding your fish, as this can lead to problems such as malnutrition and obesity.
If your coral beauty angelfish aquarium does become sick, it is important to take action quickly. The sooner you can get your fish to a veterinarian or an experienced aquarium hobbyist, the better their chances of recovery.
Is the Coral Beauty Reef Safe?
These little, Coral Beauty fish are not reef-safe. Some individuals claim to have a model citizen in their aquarium, but this is far from the norm.
Most, if not all, of this generation will ultimately begin to nip at your corals, and once they discover their flavor, there is no turning back.
Coral Beauty Angelfish Pros and Cons
There are several advantages, as well as drawbacks, to keeping Coral Beauty Angelfish. They may not be the safest for great barrier reef tank aquariums, but there are some benefits and drawbacks to consider:
Pros
- Fish that can withstand a wide range of temperatures and are capable of swimming vividly in the aquarium.
- It’s easy to get, both online and in stores, and reasonably priced.
- They should aid in the maintenance of algae levels.
Cons
- They may target soft corals, clams, zoanthids, and other invertebrates.
- If housed in small tanks, they can be aggressive and territorial, but they do well and are peaceful in big ones.
- They’re difficult to capture if you need to get them out of the reef tank.
Last Words
Coral Beauty Angel fish is a great choice for the beginner looking to get into saltwater fish. They can be easily caught and found online or in any pet store.
However, they may not be the best choice for the reef tank since they will target soft corals, clams, zoanthids, and other invertebrates.
We hope you enjoyed this article as much as we did. If you still have questions, please share them with us in the comment section below.
