Bellus angelfish (Genicanthus bellus) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Bellus lyretail angelfish
Family
Pomacanthidae (marine angelfishes)
Origin
Western Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean, from Tahiti and Guam to southern Japan, Indonesia and Christmas Island; deep outer reef drop-offs, 25–100 m
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
18 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.023–1.026
Minimum tank
500 litres
Care level
expert
Temperament
peaceful
Reef safe
yes

Care

Swims in midwater, so it needs open swimming room above the rockwork, moderate to strong flow and subdued lighting at first. The minimum tank size of about 500 litres is our own estimate from the adult size and habits, not a figure from the sources. No species-specific water figures are given in the sources, so the values here are general marine aquarium guidance rather than figures for this fish: 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4 and a specific gravity of 1.023–1.026. Keep conditions stable, with low nitrate and good oxygenation. Social; lives in small groups of one male and several females and feeds in midwater shoals. Gentle compared with most angelfish. Light blue-grey with a lyre-shaped tail. The sexes look very different: females have broad black bands, males have orange bands. A dominant female can change into a male within about two weeks if no male is present. Rare and expensive because it is collected from deep water, and many collected fish die; healthy, acclimatised specimens are hardy. IUCN: Least Concern. Sources: Wikipedia, List of marine aquarium fish species (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofmarineaquariumfishspecies); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genicanthusbellus). Checked October 2026.

Diet

A plankton picker that also takes small bottom-living invertebrates and algae. Offer several small feeds a day of frozen mysis, enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood and quality marine pellets and flakes.

Breeding

Marine angelfish are pelagic broadcast spawners: a pair rises into the water column, usually around dusk, and releases eggs and sperm together. Protogynous hermaphrodite living in harems. It has hybridised with the blackstriped angelfish (Genicanthus lamarck). Rarely spawned in aquaria.

Compatibility and tank mates

Listed as reef safe: it does not normally nip corals. Keep one male with one or more females, with other peaceful planktivores such as anthias and small wrasses. Avoid boisterous large angelfish and triggerfish.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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