All fish / Pomacanthidae

Keyhole Angelfish

Centropyge tibicen

Also known as keyhole angel, keyhole dwarf angelfish, black dwarf angelfish, whitespot angelfish, no, アブラヤッコ, 白斑刺尻鱼, 白斑棘蝶鱼

A dwarf angelfish with a deep navy to black body, a large white blotch on each flank shaped like a keyhole, yellow on the lower fins and fine blue edges. It is hardy for an angelfish and popular for fish-only and larger reef tanks with plenty of rockwork to graze and hide in.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

15 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

250 litres

Keep as

Keep singly, or as a male and female pair in a large tank

Diet

Omnivore: algae, spirulina-based foods, mysis, brine shrimp and quality marine flakes and pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific: Christmas Island and Indonesia to Japan, Philippines, Australia, New Caledonia and Fiji

Breeding

A protogynous hermaphrodite that lives in harems, with pairs spawning pelagic eggs at dusk. Spawning sometimes happens in large aquariums, but raising the tiny larvae is very difficult and rarely achieved at home.

Good to know

One of the larger Centropyge, it can turn territorial towards other dwarf angels and similar fish, so add it last. It may nip at clams, large-polyp stony corals and zoanthids, so it is not fully reef safe.