Home
>
Fish
>
Bicolor Angelfish

Bicolor Angelfish

Centropyge Bicolor

Quick Facts

Scientific nameCentropyge Bicolor

Other namesBicoloured Angelfish, Black And Gold Angelfish, Blue & Gold Angelfish

SizeUp to 15 cm (6 in)

WeightUnder a kilo (2.2lb)

FamilyAngelfish / Pomacanthidae

Distribution

Habitat & AU DistributionClear lagoons, inner reefs, and surge channels.

The Bicolor Angelfish is a small, boldly coloured reef fish that grows to about 15 cm long. Its bright yellow front half and deep blue rear make it one of the easiest reef fish to recognise at a glance.
Look closely and there is more to the colour pattern. A broad blue bar crosses above the eyes, and the tail fin is a vivid yellow that stands out against the dark blue body.
In Australia, Bicolor Angelfish are found along the tropical north, from the north-western coast of Western Australia around to northern New South Wales. They are common on reef slopes and in lagoons throughout the Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to Fiji and southern Japan.
This is a fish that sticks close to the reef. It tends to move in quick darts from one hiding spot to the next, using crevices in the coral and rubble for shelter.
Bicolor Angelfish are usually seen alone, in pairs, or in small groups. They live in harems, with one male overseeing a group of females that are ranked by size.
If the male of a group disappears, the highest-ranking female will change sex and take over as the new male. This change takes between 18 and 20 days to complete.
They feed on algae, small crustaceans, worms and other small animals picked from the reef. They are active foragers, grazing across the rubble and coral as they go.
Spawning in Australian waters is thought to happen from November to March. The eggs are released into open water, and the larval stage lasts around 32 days before the young fish settle on the reef.
Bicolor Angelfish can live for up to 13 years in the wild, though lifespan varies depending on where they live. Some populations may have much shorter lives.
The male spends a good deal of time defending his territory. He guards it mainly against rival males and competing groups, rather than just against predators.
Bicolor Angelfish have a reputation for being difficult to keep in captivity. They are more demanding than many other reef fish of a similar size.

Species Interaction

Bicolor Angelfish: A Reef Favourite in Tanks Worldwide

Aquarium
Snorkelling & Diving
Ecosystem Role
Research & Rare Encounters

The Bicolor Angelfish is best known as an aquarium species, widely traded in the marine hobby for its striking two-tone pattern of bright yellow and deep blue. It is regarded as one of the most popular dwarf angelfish in the aquarium trade globally, though it can be challenging to keep. Divers and snorkellers encounter it on Australian tropical reefs from Western Australia to northern New South Wales, typically singly or in small groups along reef slopes and lagoon rubble.

Species
Sustainability

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Teleostei
Order: Acanthuriformes
Family: Pomacanthidae
Genus: Centropyge
Species: Centropyge bicolor

Conservation Status

The Bicolor Angelfish is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, assessed in October 2009. It is not listed under Australia’s EPBC Act. The species has low resilience, with a minimum population doubling time of 4.5 to 14 years, though fishing vulnerability is rated low given its primary value as an aquarium fish rather than a food species.