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Flame Angelfish

Flame Angelfish

Centropyge Loricula

Quick Facts

Scientific nameCentropyge Loricula

Other namesJapanese Pygmy Angelfish, Dwarf Flame Angelfish

SizeUp to 10 cm (3.9 in)

WeightUnder a kilo (2.2lb)

FamilyAngelfish / Pomacanthidae

Distribution

Habitat & AU DistributionStony coral in clear lagoon reef patches, reef faces, and outer reef slopes.

The Flame Angelfish is one of the most vividly coloured fish on the reef. Its body burns bright orange-red, crossed by a series of dark vertical bars and edged at the rear fins with flashes of blue and black.
It is a small fish, growing to about 15 cm long at most. Most individuals are closer to 12 cm, making this one of the smaller angelfish on the reef.
In Australia, the Flame Angelfish is found along the northern Great Barrier Reef and on reefs through the Coral Sea. Farther afield, it ranges across the tropical Pacific, from Hawaii and the Marshall Islands down toward the Marquesas.
This fish likes clear water and keeps close to the reef. It lives on seaward reefs and in lagoons, typically at depths between about 15 and 60 metres. It is also quite secretive, darting back to shelter when anything approaches.
Flame Angelfish live in small groups called harems, usually made up of three to seven individuals. One dominant male presides over a group of females.
All Flame Angelfish are born female. As one grows larger and stronger, it can change sex to become the dominant male of its harem. This switch is a natural part of life for this species.
Males are slightly larger than females and tend to carry more vivid blue markings on the rear of their fins. Look at the back fins and the blue trim is a reliable way to tell the sexes apart.
The fish feeds mainly on algae growing over the reef surface. It also takes small crustaceans from time to time, so its diet is varied rather than strictly plant-based.
After spawning, the eggs drift freely in open water and hatch in roughly 15 hours. The larvae spend their early life drifting before eventually settling on the reef.
Flame Angelfish from the Marquesas Islands look noticeably different from fish elsewhere in the Pacific. That population has almost no dark vertical bars, giving it a much plainer orange body.
This species is among the most recognisable reef fish in the world and is widely kept in saltwater aquariums. It is one of the more commonly exported reef fish from the Pacific.
The Flame Angelfish has a lifespan of around five to seven years, though some individuals in aquariums have lived considerably longer.

Species Interaction

Flame Angelfish: A Reef Icon in the Aquarium Trade

Aquarium
Commercial Harvest
Snorkelling & Diving
Research & Rare Encounters
Ecosystem Role

The Flame Angelfish is one of the most sought-after dwarf angelfish in the marine aquarium hobby worldwide, prized for its vivid orange-red coloration and manageable size. Wild-caught specimens have historically driven commercial collection from Pacific reef systems, though captive-bred individuals are increasingly available and preferred by responsible hobbyists. Divers and snorkellers encounter them on coral reefs across the tropical Pacific, including Australian waters, where their striking colours make them a memorable sighting.

Species
Sustainability

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Pomacanthidae
Genus: Centropyge
Species: Centropyge loriculus

Conservation Status

The Flame Angelfish is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population across its western-central Pacific range. In Australia it occurs on the northern Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea reefs. Collection for the aquarium trade is the primary pressure on wild populations, though captive breeding has helped ease demand.