Fireball Angel

Fireball Angel

Scientific Name: Centropyge acanthops

Origin: Western Indian Ocean

Maximum Size: Around 8 cm

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Reef Safe: With caution

Care Level: Moderate

Description

The Fireball Angel is a small but brilliantly coloured dwarf angelfish, with a deep blue to purple body contrasted by a vivid orange-yellow head and back. Also known as the African Flameback or Orangeback Angelfish, it packs a huge amount of colour and personality into a relatively small fish.

Found across the Western Indian Ocean, Fireball Angels naturally inhabit rocky and coral-rich reef areas where they spend much of their time weaving through the structure and picking at algae and small invertebrates.

Despite their small size, they are confident fish and can become territorial once established. Plenty of rockwork, caves and broken lines of sight help give them somewhere to establish a territory without dominating the entire aquarium.

Feeding

Fireball Angels are omnivores and generally adapt well to aquarium foods. Offer a varied diet including quality marine pellets, frozen mysis, brine shrimp, algae-based foods and occasional nori.

An established aquarium with mature rockwork also gives them plenty of opportunity to graze naturally throughout the day.

Compatibility

These are one of the smaller dwarf angelfish, but they can still be surprisingly assertive. They generally mix well with confident community fish but may show aggression towards other dwarf angels or similarly shaped species.

Like all dwarf angelfish, reef compatibility varies between individuals. Many can be kept successfully in reef aquariums, but there is always a risk of them picking at fleshy LPS, zoanthids, clam mantles or other sessile invertebrates.

Why We Like It

The Fireball Angel gives you the colour and personality of a much larger angelfish in a tiny package. The contrast between the almost electric orange back and deep blue body is fantastic, and they quickly become confident, inquisitive members of the aquarium.

For someone wanting a dwarf angel but without the space required for one of the larger species, this is a brilliant little fish.

Care Notes

• Provide plenty of mature rockwork with caves and grazing surfaces.
• Feed a varied diet containing both algae-based and meaty foods.
• Can become territorial, particularly towards other dwarf angelfish.
• Reef safe with caution – individual fish may pick at corals or clam mantles.
• Add to an established aquarium with stable water quality.

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