Little Shop of Coral
Flameback Angelfish (Centropyge acanthops)
Flameback Angelfish (Centropyge acanthops)
Couldn't load pickup availability
Small, vibrant, and full of personality, the Flameback Angelfish packs serious colour into a compact reef fish. Its electric blue body and bright orange to red back make it a standout in almost any aquarium. Like most dwarf angels, it is active and curious, spending the day picking at rockwork and exploring every corner of the tank. A great choice for reef keepers who want bold color and movement, with the understanding that dwarf angels can occasionally nip at certain corals.
Why we love it
-
Intense blue body with a bright flame-coloured back
-
Active, always exploring, and very visible in the tank
-
Stays smaller than many other angels
-
Great centerpiece fish for midsize reefs and community setups
Care & Compatibility
Care Level: Easy to Moderate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Reef Safe: With caution
Diet: Omnivore
Adult Size: ~3"
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons recommended (40g+ ideal)
Feeding
A varied diet helps keep dwarf angels healthy and reduces picking behavior.
-
Quality pellets and flakes
-
Frozen mysis and brine shrimp
-
Frozen blends with sponge and algae content
-
Occasional nori or spirulina-based foods
Feed once or twice daily and aim for variety.
Tank & Setup Notes
-
Provide plenty of live rock and grazing surfaces
-
Stable parameters and good oxygenation support strong color and long-term health
-
Add hiding spots so it can retreat and feel secure
-
Strong filtration helps since angels are active grazers and frequent feeders
Compatibility Tips
-
Usually does well with most community fish, but may become territorial in smaller tanks
-
Avoid mixing with other dwarf angels unless the tank is large and aquascape allows multiple territories
-
Reef safe with caution. It may nip at some LPS, zoanthids, and clam mantles, especially if underfed
-
Generally safe with most inverts, but keep an eye on ornamental clams
Acclimation & Health
Slow acclimation is recommended. Quarantine is ideal when possible. Once eating well and settled, Flamebacks are typically hardy and become a very active, visible fish in the display.
Collapsible content
LIGHT
LOW: Place coral at the bottom of the tank. Depending on the type, coral may need to be placed off sand and therefore mounted on a ceramic disc of piece of rock.
MEDIUM: Place coral at mid-range of the tank. Best placed/glued on top of a rock scape at mid-range height.
HIGH: Place coral from mid range to just below water level. SPS coral are shallow growing so they require and are able to tolerate intense light.
FLOW
LOW: Most soft coral do well with a small, gentle pulse. There are certain corals that can even be placed in areas of indirect flow, meaning places aside a rock structure or set into a entrance to a cave style space.
MEDIUM: Many LPS types of coral prefer medium pulse current. Most Euphyllia or corals that have more tissue structure connected to their skeleton, don’t like to be in a high flow area like the direct flow of the wave pump.
HIGH: Similar to high light, SPS enjoy being in some heavy current. Most LPS and SPS that branch encrust or plate prefer high flow that simulates the top water waves.
SKILL
ENTRY: While some may say beginner level, "Entry" is a good term to be used when starting out in the world of corals and marine life. Prior to adding livestock, you want to ensure that your reef has the proper parameters including zero levels of ammonia and nitrite. Seeing traces of nitrate in your waters is a good sign - just keep them at a lower level of 2ppm to 10ppm. Maintaining correct temperature and salinity are a huge factor to stable parameters. Starting to monitor your PH, alkalinity, calcium and magnesium is a great habit to get into to keep a successful reef.
While some soft coral don’t require too much light, having a proper reef light that puts out the proper pars is very important. You'll also want to have a good amount of flow and protected rock areas, as placing corals in their happy spot is ideal for success.
ADVANCED: