Bicolor Angelfish

Physical Description

• Coloration: The fish features a vibrant, sharp color split. The anterior (front) half of its body is bright yellow, while the posterior (rear) half is a deep, royal blue.
• Markings: A splash of deep blue extends vertically from the eye to the top of the head, and its tail is entirely yellow.
• Size: They typically reach a maximum length of around 6 inches.
• Distinguishing Feature: Like other fish in the Pomacanthidae family, they possess backward-facing spines just below their gills. There are no visual differences between males and females. 

Habitat and Behavior

• Natural Habitat: Found in the wild at mid-depths near coral and rock reefs across the Pacific.
• Social Structure: In nature, they often live in groups with one dominant male and a harem of females. They exhibit hermaphroditism; if the male leaves a group, the largest female will change sex to become the new male.
• Temperament: They are considered non-territorial in their natural environment but can be aggressive towards other angelfish species in an aquarium setting, particularly other males. Battles between males can be intense. 

Aquarium Care and Diet

• Diet: The bicolor angelfish is omnivorous, with a tendency to eat algae (alguivorous). In captivity, their diet should be varied, including Spirulina, marine algae preparations, mysis, and frozen shrimp.
• Tank Requirements: A minimum tank size of 70 gallons is recommended, with plenty of live rock and hiding places to allow for grazing and security.
• Reef Compatibility: They are a “reef safe with caution” species. While they can coexist with some reef setups, they are prone to nip at stony and soft corals, as well as clam mantles.