Herald's angelfish (Centropyge heraldi) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Yellow angelfish
Family
Pomacanthidae (marine angelfishes)
Origin
Western and central Pacific, southern Japan and Taiwan to the Tuamotus and Australia; mostly outer reef slopes, 8–45 m
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
10 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.023–1.026
Minimum tank
200 litres
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
semi_aggressive
Reef safe
with_caution

Care

Provide plenty of rock with grazing surfaces and caves. The minimum tank size of about 200 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. Lives in small harems of one male and one to three females. All lemon yellow with a faint brown patch around the eye; it lacks the blue eye ring of the lemonpeel angelfish. The article gives 12 cm. Sometimes appears in the trade. IUCN: Least Concern. Sources: Wikipedia, List of marine aquarium fish species (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofmarineaquariumfishspecies); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centropygeheraldi). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Herbivorous, grazing filamentous algae. Provide live rock to graze and offer marine algae, spirulina foods, frozen mysis and quality pellets two or three times a day.

Breeding

Marine angelfish are pelagic broadcast spawners: a pair rises into the water column, usually around dusk, and releases eggs and sperm together. A female may change into a male when none is present. Not routinely bred in home aquaria.

Compatibility and tank mates

Listed as reef safe with caution. Dwarf angelfish graze live rock and may nip large-polyp stony corals, zoanthids and clam mantles, especially when underfed. Keep one per tank (or one male with females in a large system) and avoid other Centropyge unless the tank is big and well furnished. Generally fine with clownfish, gobies, wrasses and tangs.

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

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