Bicolor Angelfish (Centropyge bicolor)

The Bicolor Angelfish (Centropyge bicolor) is one of the boldest dwarf angels in the hobby, splitting a brilliant golden-yellow front half from a deep royal-blue rear in one clean vertical line, with a matching blue "crown" over the eyes. This is an intermediate-level, semi-aggressive marine fish that brings constant grazing activity and big personality to a mature fish-only or carefully planned reef aquarium. Build out the rest of the system with our saltwater livestock selection.

Care Guide

• Aquarium: 70 gallons or larger with plenty of mature live rock. Bicolors are natural grazers and need established rockwork covered in algae and microfauna to thrive, plus open water to swim and caves to retreat into.
• Water quality: Keep parameters stable and pristine. Target 72 to 78°F, pH 8.1 to 8.4, specific gravity 1.020 to 1.025, and dKH 8 to 12. This is not a fish for a freshly cycled tank.
• Diet: Omnivore with a heavy plant tilt. Offer a varied menu of marine seaweed and algae, spirulina, angelfish preparations, and meaty foods like mysis and brine shrimp. Feeding 2 to 3 small meals a day keeps color and condition high.
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive and best kept one angel per tank. Add it after calmer fish are settled and provide enough rockwork to break up sightlines so it can establish a territory without bullying.
• Reef compatibility: Reef safe with caution. The Bicolor is the least reef-trustworthy of the dwarf angels and may nip at LPS, soft coral polyps, clam mantles, and other sessile invertebrates. Well-fed individuals in fish-forward reefs behave best.

Specifications

Tank Mates & Compatibility

Keep just one Bicolor Angelfish per tank, and avoid housing it with other dwarf angels. It does well alongside peaceful to moderately bold reef fish that occupy different zones of the tank. Good companions we carry include:

• Wyoming White Clownfish
• Purple Firefish Goby
• Neon Wrasse
• Tomini Tang
• Mexican Turbo Snails and other reef-safe cleanup crew

Use caution with prized LPS, soft corals, and clams, and avoid very timid tankmates that could be out-grazed at feeding time.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• Brightwell AngeLixir amino-acid soak, formulated for marine angels and butterflies
• Rod's Food Leafy Purple Seaweed for daily algae grazing
• Freeze-Dried Mysis Shrimp for meaty protein
• Spirulina Powder to boost color and add greens to homemade blends
• Browse all marine fish nutrition

FAQ

Is the Bicolor Angelfish reef safe?
Reef safe with caution. It is the least reef-trustworthy dwarf angel and may nip at LPS, soft coral polyps, and clam mantles. Keeping it well-fed lowers the risk, but it is safest in a fish-only or fish-forward setup.

How big a tank does it need?
70 gallons or more with mature live rock. The extra room and established algae growth are what keep this active grazer healthy long term.

Can I keep two angelfish together?
We recommend one angel per tank. Bicolors are territorial toward other angels and usually do best as the only dwarf angel in the system.

What does it eat?
An algae-heavy omnivore diet: marine seaweed, spirulina, angelfish preparations, plus mysis and brine shrimp. Feed small amounts 2 to 3 times a day.