Little Shop of Coral
Bicolour Angelfish (Centropyge bicolor)
Bicolour Angelfish (Centropyge bicolor)
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The Bicolour Angel is a standout dwarf angelfish with a bright yellow front half and deep blue back half that looks unreal under reef lighting. It is an active grazer with lots of personality, always picking at rockwork and cruising the tank. This species is best kept in a mature, stable system with plenty of natural grazing, and it is considered reef safe with caution due to a higher likelihood of nipping than some other dwarf angels.
Why we love it
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Bold two-tone colour that instantly draws attention
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Active grazer that stays busy all day
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Great “feature fish” for established tanks
Suggested parameters
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Temperature: 24–26°C (75–79°F)
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Salinity: 1.024–1.026 SG
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pH: 8.1–8.4
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Alkalinity: 8–10 dKH
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Ammonia/Nitrite: 0
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Nitrate: Under 20 ppm (stable is best)
Care and temperament
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Difficulty: Moderate
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Temperament: Semi-aggressive
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Reef safe: With caution (higher chance of nipping at LPS, soft corals, zoas, and clam mantles)
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Minimum tank size: 70 gallons recommended (larger is better, especially in mixed reefs)
Diet
Bicolour Angels do best with variety and frequent feeding, plus natural grazing.
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Spirulina and algae-based pellets or flakes
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Frozen mysis and quality frozen blends
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Nori or seaweed sheets (helpful daily)
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Foods with sponge content can be beneficial for angels
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Feed 2 to 3 smaller meals per day when possible
Compatibility and tankmates
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Generally fine with most reef fish, but can be territorial with other dwarf angels
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Best in a tank with lots of rockwork and hiding spots
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Avoid mixing with other Centropyge in smaller systems
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In coral-heavy tanks, monitor closely for nipping and be ready to remove if needed
What you are buying
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You will receive: 1 Bicolour Angelfish (Centropyge bicolor)
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Colour and size can vary slightly between individuals and may shift during acclimation
As with all fish, slow acclimation is recommended, and quarantine is encouraged when possible.
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.
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