Overview

Key Characteristics

• Scientific Name: Chaetodontoplus conspicillatus
• Size: Grows up to 10 inches (25 cm) in length.
• Coloration: Adults have a blue-grey or taupe-colored body, a bright yellow face, and striking blue “eyeglasses” or rims around their eyes and gill covers. The lips are white to light blue, the snout is black, and the tail is typically half yellow and half black. Juveniles have a different appearance, primarily black with a broad white band behind the head.
• Habitat: Found on coral and rocky reefs at depths of up to 130 feet (40 m) in the Indo-Pacific region, specifically from the southern Great Barrier Reef to New Caledonia, Norfolk, and Lord Howe Islands. Juveniles inhabit shallower, protected waters.
• Behavior: It is a semi-aggressive fish, especially towards other angelfish, and can be territorial. It is generally best kept in a large, mature aquarium, preferably an expert-only setup. 

Aquarium Care and Compatibility

• Care Level: Expert-only.
• Minimum Tank Size: A minimum of 150 gallons is recommended for an adult to provide ample swimming and grazing space.
• Diet: As an omnivore, its diet must be varied and include angelfish-specific foods containing sponges and tunicates, which are essential for long-term health. It also consumes macroalgae, zooplankton, high-quality pellets, frozen mysis, and spirulina brine shrimp.
• Reef Compatibility: Considered “reef safe with caution”. It may nip at and consume coral polyps, LPS corals, soft corals, and clams.
• Hardiness: Wild-caught individuals are notoriously difficult to keep, but captive-bred specimens are generally hardier and better conditioned to aquarium life and prepared foods.