Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Coral Beauty
Centropyge bispinosa
Also called Twospined angelfish, Two-spined angelfish, Dusky angelfish, Coral beauty angelfish
From Indo-Pacific: from East Africa to the Tuamotu Islands, north to the Izu Islands of Japan and south to Lord Howe Island12
A friendly guide, not veterinary advice. For anything about your pet's health, ask your vet.
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Small, oval dwarf angelfish
A small angelfish with a deep purple-blue body crossed by fine, irregular orange to yellow bars. The dorsal, tail and anal fins carry a bright blue edge, and the amount of orange varies from fish to fish.23
Personality what they are like
Semi-aggressive but generally manageable. It likes to keep near cover and explores the rockwork for food.31
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Busy and curious, grazing on the rockwork for much of the day.31
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Give it plenty of hiding places and rock to graze on. It may nip at stony and soft corals, so take care in a reef tank.3
Home where they are happiest
A tank of at least 70 US gallons (about 265 L) with lots of rock. Saltwater at about 22 to 26 °C, pH 8.1 to 8.4, dKH 8 to 12, specific gravity 1.020 to 1.025. Wild fish live in coral-rich lagoons, rubble areas and drop-offs, mostly at about 5 to 50 m.312
Food basics what goes in the bowl
An omnivore. Offer a varied menu of spirulina and marine algae, a good angelfish food, and meaty items such as frozen mysis shrimp. In the wild it feeds on algae and detritus.321
Company who they like around
Lives in small groups of one male with several females. If the male disappears, the dominant female changes sex and takes his place. Usually best kept as a single dwarf angel per tank.21
The story where it all began
Albert Günther described the species from Ambon Island in Indonesia; FishBase gives the year as 1860 while Wikipedia gives 1869. The name bispinosa refers to its two spines, and in the aquarium hobby it is best known by the trade name Coral Beauty.12
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
If the only male in a group is lost, the top female turns into a male.2
- 2
Its scientific name means 'two-spined', which is also behind its other common name, the twospined angelfish.2
- 3
It ranges across a huge area, from the coast of East Africa to French Polynesia.1
- 4
It is one of the dwarf angels most often recommended to beginners because of its easy care level.3
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern (assessed 2009)1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Coral Beauty. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Salinity checkevery week
- Top-upTop up evaporation with fresh RO water, not salt waterevery day
- Water testevery week
- Water changeAbout 10 to 20% of the waterevery 2 weeks
- Glass cleanevery week
Owner questions the things everyone asks
How often should I feed my Coral Beauty?
Feed small amounts once or twice a day, as suggested in Furry Diary's starting plan. This matches its natural grazing habit, so offer a little food each time.3 Furry Diary plan
What does a Coral Beauty eat, and what should it never eat?
It is an omnivore, so offer spirulina, marine algae, angelfish food, and frozen mysis shrimp. Avoid feeding it anything that could harm it, but specific no-no foods vary; ask your vet or a good breeder for a safe list.321
How much space does a Coral Beauty need?
A tank of at least 70 US gallons (about 265 L) with lots of rock is needed. This gives it room to graze and hide, which it loves.312
What temperature, light or water does a Coral Beauty need?
Keep saltwater at 22 to 26 °C, pH 8.1 to 8.4, dKH 8 to 12, and specific gravity 1.020 to 1.025. Provide moderate lighting and plenty of rockwork for cover.312
How often should I clean a Coral Beauty's home?
Furry Diary's plan suggests cleaning the glass weekly, testing water weekly, and doing a 10 to 20% water change every two weeks. Top up evaporation daily with fresh RO water. Furry Diary plan
Can a Coral Beauty live with others?
It is semi-aggressive and best kept as a single dwarf angel per tank. In the wild, it lives in small groups with one male and several females, but in an aquarium, other fish should be chosen carefully.21
How long does a Coral Beauty live?
Lifespan varies depending on care; ask your vet or a good breeder for a typical range. With a good diet and stable water, it can live many years.
Can I handle a Coral Beauty?
It is not a fish to handle; it is busy and curious, exploring rockwork for food. Handling can stress it, so enjoy watching it from outside the tank.31
Written from the sources on this page, a few checked guides (VCA, ASPCA, RSPCA) and Furry Diary's own starting care plan. A friendly guide, not a vet's advice.
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.
- FishBase: Centropyge bispinosa, Twospined angelfish fishbase.seused for length, distribution, depth, habitat, diet, harem size, IUCN status, describer
- Wikipedia: Centropyge bispinosa en.wikipedia.orgused for other names, colour description, size, habitat depth, sex change, history
- LiveAquaria: Coral Beauty Angelfish liveaquaria.comused for aquarium care, tank size, water parameters, temperament, diet, care level
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Feeding times and frequency for your dog vcahospitals.comused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Dog grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Cat grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: People foods to avoid feeding your pets aspca.orgused for owner questions
- RSPCA: What to feed your rabbit rspca.org.ukused for owner questions
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.