Dwarf angelfish
Coral beauty
Centropyge bispinosa
Also sold as Twospined angelfish
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 11.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 265 litres
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- With corals
- Reef safe with caution
- Captive-bred
- Wild-caught (captive-bred rare)
- IUCN status
- Least Concern
How do you care for the coral beauty?
Semi-aggressive.
Feeding
Omnivore.
Grazes rock; feed algae and meaty foods.
Tank and special needs
Plan for at least 265 litres of water (the care sheet says 70 US gallons).
Mature rock.
Corals and invertebrates
Stony and soft corals, clam mantles (LiveAquaria).
Which tankmates suit the coral beauty?
One dwarf angel per tank unless large.
Suggested order in a mixed tank: add last, after the peaceful fish have settled.
More than one coral beauty
Keep one coral beauty: two of the same species usually fight.
Other fish
Checked against the other 59 fish in this guide, assuming a tank big enough for both. Individual fish differ, so treat this as a starting point.
Avoid together (2)
- Flame angelfishBoth are Centropyge; close relatives defend the same space and food.
- Cherub angelfishBoth are Centropyge; close relatives defend the same space and food.
Usually fine together (57)
- Ocellaris clownfish
- Percula clownfish
- Clark's anemonefish
- Tomato clownfish
- Maroon clownfish
- Neon goby
- Yellow clown goby
- Yellow watchman goby
- Orange spotted goby
- Hi-fin red banded goby
- Gold head sleeper goby
- Rainford's goby
- Lawnmower blenny
- Bicolor blenny
- Midas blenny
- Tailspot blenny
- Striped fang blenny
- Royal dottyback
- Orchid dottyback
- Magenta dottyback
- Neon dottyback
- Banggai cardinalfish
- Pyjama cardinalfish
- Green chromis
- Yellowtail blue damsel
- Blue damsel
- Azure damsel
- Humbug damsel
- Yellow coris wrasse
- Six line wrasse
- Red head solon fairy wrasse
- Carpenter's flasher wrasse
- Melanurus wrasse
- Leopard wrasse
- Bluestreak cleaner wrasse
- Firefish
- Purple firefish
- Scissortail dartfish
- Lyretail anthias
- Bartlett's anthias
- Royal gramma
- Yellow assessor
- Yellow tang
- Regal blue tang
- Kole tang
- Scopas tang
- Powder blue tang
- Foxface rabbitfish
- Flame hawkfish
- Longnose hawkfish
- Falco hawkfish
- Yellowhead jawfish
- Mandarin dragonet
- Spotted mandarin
- Moorish idol
- Harlequin filefish
- Copperband butterflyfish
Invertebrates
Only the invertebrates with a known risk are listed.
Take care (2)
- Tiger tail sea cucumberA stressed or dead tiger tail sea cucumber can release toxins that harm fish; cover pump intakes.
- Sea appleA stressed or dead sea apple can release toxins that harm fish; cover pump intakes.
Corals and anemones
Only the corals and anemones with a known risk are listed.
Take care (41)
- ZoanthidsCoral beauty may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
- PalythoaCoral beauty may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
- Mushroom coralCoral beauty may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
- Hairy mushroomCoral beauty may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
- Florida ricordeaCoral beauty may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
- Yuma ricordeaCoral beauty may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
- Toadstool leatherCoral beauty may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
- Finger leatherCoral beauty may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
- XeniaCoral beauty may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
- Pulsing xeniaCoral beauty may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
- Waving hand coralCoral beauty may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
- Green star polypsCoral beauty may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
- Clove polypsCoral beauty may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
- Kenya treeCoral beauty may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
- Hammer coralCoral beauty may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Frogspawn coralCoral beauty may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Torch coralCoral beauty may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Duncan coralCoral beauty may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
- AcanCoral beauty may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
- FaviaCoral beauty may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
- FavitesCoral beauty may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Chalice coralCoral beauty may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
- BlastomussaCoral beauty may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Candy cane coralCoral beauty may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Bubble coralCoral beauty may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
- GonioporaCoral beauty may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
- AlveoporaCoral beauty may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Open brain coralCoral beauty may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
- LoboCoral beauty may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
- GalaxeaCoral beauty may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Scroll coralCoral beauty may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Montipora capricornisCoral beauty may nip SPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Montipora digitataCoral beauty may nip SPS corals, more so when underfed.
- AcroporaCoral beauty may nip Acropora, more so when underfed.
- Acropora milleporaCoral beauty may nip Acropora, more so when underfed.
- PocilloporaCoral beauty may nip SPS corals, more so when underfed.
- StylophoraCoral beauty may nip SPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Birdsnest coralCoral beauty may nip SPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Horn coralCoral beauty may nip SPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Fire coral (not Acropora millepora)Coral beauty may nip SPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant)The carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant) can catch and eat small fish such as the coral beauty.
These checks follow the reasons fish and invertebrates clash: same species or genus, similar shape, mouth size, temperament, food, burrows, tank size and the order they are added. Individual animals differ; every source agrees on that.
Quarantine and health
Centropyge are copper sensitive; keep copper low and monitored (LiveAquaria flame angel page; retailer guide). typical, check
New fish are the most common way disease gets into a reef tank. Quarantine every fish in a separate tank before it joins the display, and choose a method that suits its tolerance of copper.
Captive-bred or wild?
Wild-caught.
What does it cost in the UK?
about £62. This is one UK retailer’s listing on 21 October 2026, not a market average, and every item was sold out on that day.
Sources
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Related fish
Flame angelfish
Centropyge loricula
- Care
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 10 cm
- Tank from
- 265 litres
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Corals
- Reef safe with caution
Photo Andreas März, CC BY 2.0
Cherub angelfish
Centropyge argi
- Care
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 8 cm
- Tank from
- 189 litres
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Corals
- Reef safe with caution
Photo Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0