About Flame Angelfish
The flame angel (Centropyge loriculus) is a small Indo-Pacific dwarf angelfish prized for its vivid red-orange body with vertical black bars. Reef compatibility is generally good but individual specimens can occasionally nip at large-polyp stony corals and clams.
The flame angelfish is a marine angelfish of the family Pomacanthidae found in tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean. Other common names include flame angel, flaming angelfish and Japanese pygmy angelfish.
Notes from the editors
What it looks like. Vivid red-orange body with four to five vertical black bars and blue accents on the fins. One of the most iconic dwarf angelfish in the hobby and a frequent centerpiece for mid-sized reefs.
In your tank. Generally reef-safe but individual variation is real — most specimens leave corals alone, some nip LPS or clam mantles persistently. Add to an established tank with multiple grazing surfaces to reduce the temptation to sample corals.
Care notes. Semi-aggressive toward other dwarf angels and similar-shaped fish; usually housed singly or as an established pair. Tank should provide ample rockwork for grazing and hiding. Adult size ~4 inches.
Sourcing and feeding. Captive-bred specimens are now commercially available and dramatically more reef-safe than wild-caught — strongly preferred when available. Wild-collected from the central Pacific (Hawaii, Marshall Islands). Omnivore — angelfish-formula foods, algae, mysis, occasional sponge-based foods.
Care info is a starting point, not a guarantee. Individual specimens, water chemistry, and tankmate dynamics vary. Verify against multiple sources and adjust to what you observe. See our terms & disclaimers.
Related fish
Sources & attribution
- Taxonomy and accepted name from the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS AphiaID 402161).
- Description content adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photo: Brian Gratwicke · CC BY 2.0 (via iNaturalist or Wikimedia Commons).