Red Stripe Angelfish - (No Online Purchases)
Centropyge Eiblii
- Origin:
- Adult Size:
- Social: Peaceful with similarly sized fish
- Care: Easy
- Semi Aggressive
- Omnivore
Appearance:
- They have a striking appearance with a pearlescent to cream-colored body adorned with vertical stripes ranging from orange to red.
- A prominent black caudal (tail) fin with a bright blue outline on the rear margin is a key characteristic.
- Their eye is often encircled by a ring of orange.
- They possess a typical angelfish body shape, being laterally compressed.
Natural Habitat:
- These angelfish are native to the Indo-Pacific region, including the East and West Indian Ocean, Australia, and Indonesia.
- Within Australia, they can be found in areas like Christmas Island, Ningaloo Reef, Rowley Shoals, Scott Reef (Western Australia), and Ashmore Reef (Timor Sea).
- They inhabit coral reefs and shallow waters, often in sheltered areas with abundant hiding spots and rocky substrates, typically at depths between 3 and 25 meters (10 to 82 feet).
Aquarium Care:
- Minimum Tank Size: A tank of at least 300 liters (79 gallons) is recommended for an adult Red Stripe Angelfish. Some sources suggest a minimum of 70 gallons (around 265 liters), but a larger tank is generally better to accommodate their swimming habits and potential territoriality.
- Water Parameters:
- Temperature: 22-27°C (72-81°F) – a reliable heater is essential for cooler periods.
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Salinity: 1.020-1.025 specific gravity (sg)
- Alkalinity: 8-12 dKH
- Nitrate: Below 20 ppm
- Aquascaping: Provide a mature tank with plenty of live rock. They love to hide within rocky crevices and graze on the live rock. The rockwork should create numerous hiding places and visual barriers.
- Water Flow: Good water movement and quality are essential for their well-being.
- Lighting: Replicate natural conditions with artificial lighting, aiming for 8-10 hours of light every 24 hours.
- Substrate: A fine to medium grade aragonite or coral sand substrate is suitable as they may forage along the bottom.
Temperament and Tank Mates:
- Red Stripe Angelfish are generally considered semi-aggressive.
- They can become more assertive once established in the tank.
- It is best to keep only one Red Stripe Angelfish per tank, especially if they have similar size and coloration, to avoid territorial disputes.
- They can be housed with larger, more robust fish that won't be intimidated by them.
- Reef Safety: They are reef safe with caution. They may occasionally nip at sessile invertebrates, including clams and LPS corals, and soft corals are generally not recommended. Keeping them well-fed can help reduce the likelihood of coral nipping.
- Suitable Tank Mates: Larger gobies, blennies, tangs (with caution, avoid similar body shapes), and some damselfish.
- Avoid: Housing with other dwarf angels is generally not recommended. Avoid overly aggressive tank mates that could stress them.
Diet:
- Red Stripe Angelfish areomnivores.
- Their diet in the aquarium should be varied and include:
- Marine algae and spirulina: They graze on algae, so provide a good source.
- High-quality marine pellets and flakes containing algae.
- Frozen foods: Mysis shrimp, brine shrimp (vitamin/Spirulina-enriched), and other meaty items.
- Chopped meaty foods: Krill, squid, cockle, and mussel.
- Sponge-based angelfish preparations.
- Feeding small amounts 2-3 times per day is recommended. A varied diet will help them adapt to the aquarium and reduce stress.
Size and Lifespan:
- They can grow to a maximum size of around 15-16 cm (6 inches) in the aquarium.
- With proper care, they can live for 5-10 years.
