Bicolor angelfish (Centropyge bicolor)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Acanthuriformes · Family: Pomacanthidae · Genus: Centropyge.

Accepted name: Centropyge bicolor · Authority: (Bloch, 1787) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 211780.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Centropyge bicolour (Bloch, 1787); Chaetodon bicolor Bloch, 1787.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=211780 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Centropyge bicolor. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 15 cm · Depth range: 1–25 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10.6 of 100 · Fishery importance: subsistence fisheries · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Inhabits lagoon, channel, or protected seaward reef slopes, drop offs, coral and rubble areas (Ref. 1602). Usually in pairs or in small groups.

Feeds on algae, small crustaceans and worms. Darts from one hiding place to the next. Commonly exported through the aquarium trade (Ref. 48391).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 5454) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Centropyge-bicolor.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

3,139 georeferenced occurrence records for Centropyge bicolor are published through GBIF from 32 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 303 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 37 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Australia (1,083); Indonesia (400); Fiji (286); Tonga (266); American Samoa (230).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2396484) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2396484&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=211780 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Centropyge bicolor (Bloch, 1787) as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 165902) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165902/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2396484) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2396484/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The bicolor angelfish is a small, easily recognizable fish. The head (excluding the areas around and above the eyes), the front of the body and the pelvic and caudal fins are bright yellow, the pectoral fins are essentially transparent, and all other parts are dark blue.

Distribution and habitat

The bicolor angelfish is found in the Indo-Pacific region, including East Africa, southern Japan, Australia, the Philippines and Fiji. It lives at a depth range of 1-25 m, and is associated with reef slopes, coral-rich areas, lagoons, and near drop-off areas.

Diet

The diet of a typical bicolor angelfish consists of small crustaceans (such as brine and mysis shrimp), as well as tunicates, corals, sponges, worms, algae, and sometimes clams.

Life cycle

The larval stages of the bicolor angelfish lasts for approximately 32 days. All larvae are female, as this species is a protogynous hermaphrodite, and sex change only happens in adulthood and in special circumstances (see below). The life expectancy of this species in the wild varies greatly depending on location, and ranges between 5 and 13 years.

Social structure

As adult, the bicolor angelfish lives in harems, with one male dominating the harem and several females (7 on average) ranked linearly based on size; these females exclusively mate with that one male. If the male is removed or dies, the highest ranking female in the harem will undergo sex change to replace the male. This sex change takes between 18 and 20 days in total.

When time is right for reproduction, the male visits the females in the harem to mate, usually at dusk. The male may visit one or multiple females per night to spawn; in contrast, each female spawns at most once per night. The female being visited will scatter her eggs, and the male will release sperm to fertilize the eggs. Higher-ranking females have been found to spawn more frequently than lower-ranked females.

The bicolor angelfish is moderately aggressive, both to members of other species and members of their own species. The male spends most of his time guarding his territory - which tends to not exceed 200 m2 and encompasses the home ranges of all females within the harem - from predators, intruding members of other species, but mostly against other harems. Females are only aggressive towards lower-ranking members of the harem, as they hope to maintain their current rank.

In captivity, the bicolor angelfish has been observed to act as a facultative cleaner fish. It seems unlikely that it would show this behavior in the wild.

Because the bicolor angelfish is a somewhat aggressive fish, it requires a large tank (at least 75 gallons), and is best suited for a tank consisting of coral, rocks and plants. Tanks with a lot of hiding spaces are best, as this species likes to move from one hiding place to another.

Also due to its aggressiveness, it is ideal if there are no other fish species present in the same tank. The water temperature should be kept around 23-26 C, and the pH level between 8.1 and 8.4. The level of care that the bicolor angelfish requires is moderate, and it takes a range of foods, including algae, shrimps, worms, and spirulina flakes.

Source: Wikipedia: Bicolor angelfish — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicolor_angelfish (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

In the aquarium (Wikipedia, cited section)

The Bicolor Angelfish is on the larger end of dwarf angels, and requires a large tank of at least 75 gallons with ample grazing opportunities. This fish will often nip at and consume stony corals and ornamental bivalves, though not every Bicolor Angel will exhibit this behavior. Tanks with a lot of hiding spaces are best, as this species likes to move from one hiding place to another. It can be one of the more sensitive angelfish when adjusting to a new aquarium, so it's ideal to add it early on before other aggressive fish like Tangs have established territories.

The water temperature should be kept around 23–26 °C (73–79 °F), and the pH level between 8.1 and 8.4. The level of care that the bicolor angelfish requires is moderate, and it takes a range of foods, including algae, shrimps, worms, and spirulina flakes. No other bicolor angels should be in the tank unless attempting to pair them or create a harem, in which case the group should include one larger fish and one or more smaller ones to maximize your chances of getting a male.

This block reproduces what the species' own Wikipedia article states about it in captivity, with that article's 10 inline citations. No care parameters — tank size, temperature, reef-safety, temperament — are published by any of the databases used on this page, and none have been added.

Source: Wikipedia: Bicolor angelfish — section "In the aquarium" — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicolor_angelfish (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.