Even for the folks who (unlike us) are not madly into fishkeeping, ‘angelfish’ is a familiar word. There are 7 genera and arout 85 species of marine angelfish out there, each one more beautifully colored and spectacular to look at than the next. If an angel doesn’t draw your eye to an aquarium, we really don’t know what will!
Having difficulty choosing? Not surprising. Let’s go into 15 types of angelfish for marine fish tanks and some basics about their care to help make your decision a little easier.
What’s an angelfish, anyway?
If we’re going to ask what an angelfish is, the first follow-up question needs to be: freshwater or marine? After all, the angelfish from the genus Pterophyllum, native to the South American Amazon and Orinoco basins, are among the most popular fish available in the freshwater hobby.
Today, though, we’re talking marine angelfish. As mentioned in the intro, there are some 85 species currently recognized, of which a good few can be found in your local aquarium store. They’re all members of the family Pomacanthidae, and are naturally found on the reefs of the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans.
Angelfish come in roughly three categories (from the point of view of an aquarist, anyway): pygmy, big boys, and reef-safe. The pygmies are most commonly kept simply because the big boys really are very big, making them exclusive to XL tanks that not all of us can fit into our homes.
One important consideration is that angelfish—with the exception of one genus, as we’ll see—are never fully reef-safe. Some have more of a taste for corals than others, but none can be fully trusted. This is because in the wild, most of them eat mostly sponges, algae, or both, and they’ve evolved to nip at pretty much anything that grows on live rock.
Ready to be wowed? Let’s dive right in!
Tip: Their diet is also something to keep in mind about marine angelfish. The pygmies, with their more algae-heavy diet, usually don’t cause problems. Larger angels, though, are mostly spongivores, and some will straight-up starve rather than accept other foods. Depending on the species, it can be a serious challenge to get them to eat, so it’s a good idea to do your research before buying.
Small Marine Angelfish: Pygmy Angels
Pygmy angelfish from the genus Centropyge are the most popular for the home aquarium. Not surprising: at a maximum size of around 6”, they stay a lot smaller than the other genera of angels!
Coral beauty angelfish (Centropyge bispinosa)
The most common of the pygmy angelfish is probably the coral beauty angelfish, Centropyge bispinosa. Not surprising given this species’ spectacular appearance! Its body is a deep indigo at the edges and bright orange with indigo tiger stripes in the middle, making it a very easy fish to recognize.
The coral beauty angelfish doesn’t tend to surpass 4” in length, although that doesn’t mean it will do well in a nano or pico tank. The species is active and feisty, so it’s best to provide it with at least around 70 gallons of swimming space.
These fish are territorial towards other angels, but other than that, they should play nice with their neighbors. Keep your coral beauty well-fed with a high-quality staple pellet or flake supplemented with algae tabs, fresh veggies and (thawed) frozen foods. This way it won’t be tempted to nip at your corals or other beneficial aquarium critters.
If you’d like to know more about caring for coral beauty angelfish, have a look at the full coral beauty angel care guide!
| Difficulty level | East |
| Min. tank size | 70 gallons |
| Temperament | Semi-peaceful |
| Reef-safe? | With caution |
Orangeback angelfish (Centropyge acanthops)
Also referred to rather adorably as “jumping bean”, the flameback angelfish sports similar colors to the aforementioned coral beauty angel. The difference is that the pattern is more or less reversed, with bright orange-yellow on the head and along the back, and a deep indigo on the belly towards the tail fin.
Typical reef dwellers naturally found in the Indo-Pacific, flameback angels are usually found in small groups in the wild. In the aquarium, unless you have a lot of space to offer, it’s usually best to keep yours alone. They can be pretty feisty, especially when it comes to territorial squabbles with their own kind!
Orangeback angelfish are small even for pygmy angels, maxing out at a length of just over 3″. Great for tanks of 55 gallons and up, especially if you provide plenty of live rock and leave algae for yours to browse. Like other pygmy angels, these are considered tentatively reef-safe, although we personally wouldn’t combine them with our more expensive corals.
Tip: The orangeback angelfish is also sometimes referred to as the flameback angel. However, there’s another species that carries this common name, which can get confusing: Centropyge aurantonotus from the western Atlantic. No problem if you bought the wrong one, though, as the two are also pretty much identical when it comes to care and requirements.
| Difficulty level | Easy |
| Min. tank size | 55 gallons |
| Temperament | Semi-peaceful |
| Reef-safe? | With caution |
Red-striped angelfish (Centropyge eibli)
Here’s another stripey number, this one from the reefs of the Indo-Pacific: Centropyge eibli. Also known as the red-striped angelfish, this is one of the larger species in the pygmy department. It reaches a length of up to 6″ and can be recognized not just by its red tiger stripes, but also its dark indigo tail fin.
For the red-striped angelfish, size goes hand in hand with voracity. Although this species should be fine with certain faster-growing corals, its incessant picking at everything in sight can disturb the more sensitive and fleshy types.
On the upside, these angels usually play nice with their neighbors. As long as they’re not confronted with members of their own species, they’re usually not too prone to challenging their tankmates. In fact, some consider them shy, especially new specimens.
Did you know? Many species of Centropyge angelfish can interbreed. Some even do so in the wild if their natural ranges overlap, resulting in fascinating fish with intermediate colors and patterns. One example is the naturally occurring “tigerpyge“, a cross between C. eibli and its cousin C. flavissima.
| Difficulty level | Easy to moderate |
| Min. tank size | 70 gallons |
| Temperament | Semi-peaceful |
| Reef-safe? | With caution |
Flame angelfish (Centropyge loriculus)
If you like your fish eye-wateringly bright but not too big, the flame angelfish is just the thing for you. This pygmy angel, with its black-striped flanks and blue-rimmed fins on a neon orange base, is one of the most colorful members of an extremely bright genus.
This gorgeous angelfish is naturally found in the Pacific Ocean and grows to around 6″ in length. It does well in aquariums of 70 gallons and up, and it’s thought of as one of the less notorious coral munchers among its kind.
As with other Centropyge angels, feed your flame angelfish a varied diet of commercial pellets or flakes, meaty foods and plant-based options like spirulina or seaweed (nori) sheets. If you see it nipping at corals or clams, you might need to up your feedings. It can be a sign the fish is underfed.
| Difficulty level | Easy to moderate |
| Min. tank size | 70 gallons |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
| Reef-safe? | With caution |
Potter’s angelfish (Centropyge potteri)
One more just ‘cause we just can’t get enough of them: the Potter’s angelfish sports a lovely patterned mix of tiger-striped blue and yellow coloration. It’s naturally found in the Central Pacific, such as around the reefs of Hawaii.
At 3” in length this one’s a bit smaller than the other pygmy angels we’ve mentioned so far, making it a good choice for aquariums of 50 gallons or up. Provide plenty of live rock for tasty microalgae, this angel’s favorite food, to graze on.
Potter’s angelfish care is pretty similar to that of its other cousins from the genus Centropyge. It’s tentatively reef safe and usually behaves, although many recommend making it the last species added to the tank to prevent it from becoming territorial. Do avoid other pygmy angelfish, though, or squabbles are likely to erupt!
Did you know? Centropyge isn’t the only genus of pygmy angelfish. Some aquarium stores will also carry the beautiful Paracentropyge angels, characterized mostly by their yellow and indigo colors. These are much more challenging to care for, though, so they’re best left to expert aquarists only.
| Difficulty level | Easy to moderate |
| Min. tank size | 50 gallons |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
| Reef-safe? | With caution |
XL Marine Angelfish
Queen angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris)
Got some space to spare? One of the most popular of the larger marine angelfish species is the queen angel, and for good reason. This 18” fish is absolutely spectacular to look at, and although it needs an aquarium of at least 250 gallons, it’s coveted by many an aquarist.
In the wild, the queen angelfish is found in the western Atlantic, where it inhabits offshore reefs and feeds mostly on sponges. The species lives in harems, with multiple females accompanying a single male.
Queen angels can be on the mean side, especially when they’re still young. They might nip at slower fish as well as corals and inverts, so you’re best keeping them in a fish-only (FOWLR) set-up with other assertive species. Feed plenty of formulated angelfish foods, but don’t forget to also supplement with algae tabs and other plant-based options.
Did you know? Like many other marine fish species, juvenile angelfish tend to look very different from their adult counterparts. It can sometimes be pretty confusing to figure out who is who if you don’t know what a fish looks like both as a juvenile and an adult!
| Difficulty level | Hard |
| Min. tank size | 250 gallons |
| Temperament | Aggressive |
| Reef-safe? | No |
King angelfish (Holacanthus passer)
If we discuss the queen angelfish, it only seems logical to talk about the king as well! Although Holacanthus passer stays a little smaller than the aforementioned H. ciliaris, this species still tops out at over a foot in length (around 13″). It’s naturally found around Central America and considereed to be one of the most suitable large angelfish for the aquarium.
The king velvet angelfish is usually recommended for fish only with live rock systems, as they do tend to nip at some corals while grazing. As for other tankmates, like its cousin, it can be on the aggressive side. Combine it with other assertive fish.
Like the queen angelfish, king angels naturally feed mostly on sponges. In the aquarium this can be replaced by a variety of both meaty and plant-based foods. Do keep in mind that as with some other marine fish species, it can be a bit difficult at first to get these guys to eat in captivity.
| Difficulty level | Hard |
| Min. tank size | 250 gallons |
| Temperament | Aggressive |
| Reef-safe? | No |
Regal angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus)
Regal indeed! We’ve been lucky enough to spot Pygoplites diacanthus both in captivity and on the wild reefs of the Red Sea, and it’s every bit as spectacular as its name suggests. This species’ psychedelic pattern of neon blues, bright oranges, and stark black makes it a perfect centerpiece fish for large aquariums.
Aside from its stunning coloration, one thing that makes the regal angelfish a popular choice is that it’s not as feisty as some of the other angels for sale in your local LFS. In fact, it’s often noted to be straight-up shy, needing a tranquil environment without overly boisterous tankmates to bother it.
If you’re planning on adding a regal angel to your tank, keep in mind that they don’t always stand up very well to being shipped around the world. Take a close look the specimen you’re looking to buy before bringing it home: is it eating in the store? Is it active and healthy? If the answer is no, it’s better to wait—you’ll be setting yourself up for (expensive) disappointment otherwise.
| Difficulty level | Hard to expert |
| Min. tank size | 150 gallons |
| Temperament | Shy but semi-aggressive |
| Reef-safe? | With plenty of caution |
Bluering angelfish (Pomacanthus annularis)
We’ve arrived at Pomacanthus, the genus most of the more iconic angelfish species call home. And we’re starting off strong! This beautiful number is the bluering angelfish, which is naturally found in the Indo-Pacific. The species has been noted to reach up to 18″ in length in the wild, although it stays a bit smaller (more like 12″) in the aquarium.
Bluering angels are considered one of the hardier fish in their category. Their care is similar to that of most other large angels; they can be somewhat feisty, so don’t combine them with timid tankmates. Like most of their cousins, they’re not reef-safe, especially not with soft corals.
One nice thing about bluerings (and some other marine angelfish) is that there’s captive-bred stock available nowadays. This comes in especially handy here, as wild-caught specimens often need a serious round of antiparasitic meds before you can introduce them into your display tank, and they may struggle to adapt to formulated foods.
| Difficulty level | Moderate to hard |
| Min. tank size | 250 gallons |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
| Reef-safe? | No |
French angelfish (Pomacanthus paru)
Here’s another giant among angels: Pomacanthus paru, one of the most recognizable members of a very recognizable genus. Despite what its common name suggests, it’s naturally found in the Caribbean (not France), where the males can attain a whopping 18″ in length.
Although they’re slow growers and may do well in smaller tanks during their juvenile stages, a mature French angelfish requires a lot of space. We wouldn’t keep them in a tank under 300 gallons, and “the more [gallons], the better” definitely applies here.
You can keep your French angelfish with a variety of assertive tankmates, although unless the tank is huge, it’s usually recommended to avoid other angels (plus similar fish, like surgeonfish). P. paru is a cleaner fish, but tankmates sometimes become tired of its large teeth, which it doesn’t always wield very carefully, and incessant cleaning attempts.
| Difficulty level | Moderate to hard |
| Min. tank size | 300 gallons |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
| Reef-safe? | No |
Gray angelfish (Pomacanthus arcuatus)
No, you’re not seeing double! The aforementioned French angelfish and this species, aptly named the gray angelfish, really are quite similar in terms of looks. But look closely at the photos: whereas French angels sport yellow rims around their eyes and the scales on their sides, the gray edition really is almost entirely gray. The only exceptions include a tiny bit of blue on the fin edges an sometimes a hint of yellow on the pectorals.
Although their beauty is more understated, gray angels are still gorgeous fish to look at. Somehow their grayness just works! The problem is their size: this is one of the biggest marine angelfish of them all. They can reach 20″ or more in length as adults, meaning a 350+ gallon aquarium is a good idea—or just leave this one to the pros.
Like most members of its genus, the gray angelfish mostly feeds on sponges in the wild. It needs regular (2-3 times a day) feeding with a formulated angelfish food, and you can supplement its diet with the usual algae and nori between feedings.
| Difficulty level | Moderate to hard |
| Min. tank size | 350 gallons |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
| Reef-safe? | No |
Arabian angelfish (Pomacanthus asfur)
The striking Arabian angelfish is easy to recognize by its deep blue and lemonpeel yellow coloration, not to mention its long, streamer-like dorsal and anal fins. A beautiful addition to large fish-only tanks, reaching over 15″ in adult length!
This angel isn’t quite as common in the hobby as some of its cousins, and we think that’s a shame. It actually makes a great choice for folks who want to keep a peaceful community, showing significantly lower aggression levels than most other XL angels (except when it encounters fellow Pomacanthidae, but that’s pretty standard for fish. They just don’t like their own kind).
This is another sponge and tunicate eater, although it will also accept normal frozen reef foods like mysis. Keep it away from your corals, because it’ll happily munch away at them in search of its favorite spongy foods.
| Difficulty level | Moderate to hard |
| Min. tank size | 200 gallons |
| Temperament | Semi-peaceful |
| Reef-safe? | No |
Koran angelfish (Pomacanthus semicirculatus)
Also known as the semicircle angelfish, the Koran angel is another species known to attain over 15″ in length, at least when provided with ample space to grow. This is quite an unusual fish to look at, with a brownish-green body base color outlined in neon blue, plus a very fine sprinkling of blue polka dots everywhere except the head.
You can keep a Koran angel in tanks of 250 gallons or up. As always, a mature set-up with plenty of live rock works best: although they usually learn to accept prepared foods, these fish do really appreciate being able to spend their days grazing on algae, sponges, and cyanobacteria.
Koran angels generally adapt well to aquarium life and are considered pretty hardy once established. Do keep in mind that they’re quite territorial even for an angelfish, and there’s little chance of successfully keeping corals with one of these avid sessile invertebrate hunters in your tank.
| Difficulty level | Moderate to hard |
| Min. tank size | 250 gallons |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive to aggressive |
| Reef-safe? | No |
Empreror angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator)
If you’re a seasoned angelfish fan, you were probably wondering when this gorgeous number was going to get its spotlight moment. Well, here it is: the undisputed emperor, Pomacanthus imperator. It’s not difficult to see why many aquarists pick this species as their favorite of the marine angelfish!
The emperor angelfish is native to the Indo-Pacific. From blue-and-white babies they grow into large, eye-catching adults, reaching around 16″ in length. You can recognize an emperor angel by its blue stripes on lemonpeel-yellow, as well as its conspicuous “bandit” mask.
These impressive marine angelfish are appreciated for being hardy, easy eaters that can be kept in aquariums of 300 gallons and up. They’re known for getting along well with most tankmates, although you should keep them away from your corals unless you want your reef to turn into an angel feast.
| Difficulty level | Moderate to hard |
| Min. tank size | 300 gallons |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
| Reef-safe? | No |
Did you know? Large angelfish, like P. imperator, can produce a sort of “grunting” noise that may confuse aquarists at first. The sound is made using their swimbladder muscles and usually related to territorial disputes.
Acoustical Behavior of Coral Reef Fishes
Reef-Safe Marine Angelfish
None of the angelfish we’ve described so far can be labeled fully reef-safe. Even the Centropyge pygmy angels can be hit-and-miss, with some aquarists never experiencing any issues while others catch them nibbling at polyps all the time.
Did you know there is, however, a single genus of reef-safe angelfish? Their name is Genicanthus, the swallowtail angelfish, and while they’re not hugely common in the hobby, we still want to give them a shout-out. The most common swallowtail angelfish in most areas is this one:
Japanese swallowtail angelfish (Genicanthus semifasciatus)
The Japanese swallowtail angelfish gets its name from its natural range. This angel is mostly found in the Western Pacific, especially around the various islands dotting the southern Japanese sea. In the aquarium hobby, it’s mostly known for being one of the only reef-safe angelfish out there.
One cool thing about Genicanthus angels, including this one, is that they’re sexually dimorphic. Males and females look markedly different; the female pictured above completely lacks the male’s typical zebra stripes.
At a maximum length of around 8″, the Japanese swallowtail stays smaller than its cousins in Holacanthus and Pomacanthus. It’s also unique in that it tolerates its own kind, meaning you can keep yours in a pair or even a trio (1M 2F). Despite somehow being less popular than other angels, Genicanthus really does make a great choice for many aquarists.
| Difficulty level | Moderate |
| Min. tank size | 125 gallons |
| Temperament | Semi-peaceful |
| Reef-safe? | Yes! |
Conclusion
Whether you go for a 250 gallon aquarium with a huge queen angelfish or a humble 65 gal tank with a colorful Potter’s, angels are staples of the aquarium hobby.
If you’re unsure how to go about setting up your own fish tank or simply lack the time, FantaSEA Aquariums can help! Contact us with your ideas so we can design, build, and set up your aquarium for you.
Sources & further reading
Lobel, P. S., Kaatz, I. M., & Rice, A. N. (2010). Acoustical behavior of coral reef fishes. Reproduction and sexuality in marine fishes: patterns and processes, 307-386.
Sampaio, C. L., Loiola, M., Colman, L. P., Medeiros, D. V., Quimbayo, J. P., Miranda, R. J., … & Nunes, J. D. A. C. (2017). Cryptobenthic fish as clients of french angelfish Pomacanthus paru (Pomacanthidae) during cleaning behaviour. Marine Biodiversity Records, 10, 1-4.
