Fun Bicolor Angelfish Facts For Kids
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One of the most extraordinary-looking fish in the Indo-Pacific is the bicolor angelfish. This marine fish of the ray-finned fish genus which is no more than 6 in (15 cm) is distinguished by its striking yellow and blue color.
The genus Centropyge is known for its approximate 35 species of pygmy or dwarf angelfish that mostly inhabit the Pacific, Atlantic, and the Indian Ocean and may have a different temperament.
For example, the bicolor angelfish is the least aggressive of them and it is described as semi-aggressive. This saltwater fish is also dubbed as the blue and gold angel, Oriole angelfish, two-colored angelfish, Oriole dwarf angel, and Pacific rock beauty.
It is because of its unusual appearance that there is a massive demand for this fish amongst fishkeepers.
However, keeping them is not an easy task as bicolor angelfish require a huge saltwater aquarium which must be at least 75 gal (284 l). These are non-migratory angelfish species that can live for 13 years.
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If you like this article, we have more such articles where you can learn about other animals like neon goby and round goby.
Bicolor Angelfish Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a bicolor angelfish?
The bicolor angelfish (Centropyge bicolor) is species of pygmy or dwarf angelfish which is acknowledged for its remarkable blue and yellow color. It is a very prominent angelfish species in aquaculture and also goes by the name of Oriole angelfish, two-colored angelfish, blue and gold angel, Pacific rock beauty, and Oriole dwarf angel.
What class of animal does a bicolor angelfish belong to?
The bicolor angelfish belongs to the class of Actinopterygii, order Perciformes, family Pomacanthidae, and genus Centropyge.
How many bicolor angelfish are there in the world?
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, this species of bicolor angelfish is not threatened and can be found in superabundance across its distribution range. Not much has been documented about the total population of bicolor angelfish and the total number of these saltwater fish is not listed.
Where does a bicolor angelfish live?
The geographical distribution of the bicolor angelfish ranges comprises East Africa, Australia, Fiji, and southern Japan in the Indo Pacific region where it has an abundance of corals, lagoons, and rubble areas.
As keeping this species is popular in aquaculture, they can be found in an aquarium where they are provided with an artificial habitat consisting of live rock, sessile invertebrates, and other elements.
Keeping this fish in captivity is a tedious task because of its semi-aggressive nature and special requirements as it can be hostile towards its tank mates.
What is a bicolor angelfish's habitat?
The habitat of the bicolor angelfish can be of two kinds.
An angelfish can either be found naturally underneath the ocean where it can thrive amongst live rock, reef slopes, lagoons, and coral areas while the other is in a saltwater aquarium. Simply providing them with an aquarium is not enough as they do not do well in a reef aquarium and captivity.
The bicolor angelfish requires a water tank as enormous as 75 gal (284 l) which can deliver them an almost similar habitat to their natural habitat.
The aquarium and the pH level of the water must be between 8.0-8.4 and the ideal temperature is 73-82 F (22.7-27.7 C).
For the completion of its nitrogen cycle, it is important that the bicolor angelfish is added to a well-established system consisting of marine algae growing on the live rock, plenty of places to hide, sessile invertebrates, plants, and reef slopes.
Although this species of dwarf angelfish is considered semi-aggressive, it can become aggressive towards its tank mates, both the same species or different species. This fish can survive better when no other kind of fish are present in the aquarium.
Other than providing them with an ideal habitat, supplying them with proper meaty foods like shrimps, worms, and algae is also required.
Who do bicolor angelfish live with?
The bicolor angelfish is an extremely territorial species of dwarf angelfish. In the ocean, the male keeps guarding its territory from other groups. The group consists of almost seven females ranked based on their size with the male being the dominant figure.
How long does a bicolor angelfish live?
The approximate lifespan of Centropyge bicolor is from 5-13 years. Factors such as keeping it in an incompatible aquarium can affect its lifespan and they may not survive. To keep it alive for a longer duration, the bicolor angelfish needs to be introduced to a well-established system.
How do they reproduce?
Breeding the bicolor angelfish in an aquarium is difficult as they can become aggressive towards the other fish and they have not been bred successfully in an aquarium.
In the ocean, bicolor angelfish form groups that consist of five to seven females and a male, who is the dominant figure, and the rank of the females is based on their size. The bicolor angelfish attains its sexual maturity when it reaches a size of 2.4-2.7 in (6-7 cm ).
The spawning pattern of all species of dwarf angelfish is similar, with the female being approached by the male during dusk.
A single male can swap with one or sometimes even multiple females each night while the females can only spawn with a single male per day. The process of spawning is initiated by the male and female fish encircling each other followed by a grunting noise produced by the male and both of them will soar upwards.
The eggs are dispersed by the female while the male released sperm which eventually fertilizes the eggs.
What is their conservation status?
The conservation status of the bicolor angelfish according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN) is of Least Concern.
Bicolor Angelfish Fun Facts
What do bicolor angelfish look like?
The bicolor angelfish, also known as Oriole angelfish, two-color, and two-colored angelfish, is a variety of dwarf angelfish. It has a body length of 6 in (15 cm) slightly bigger than the orange back angelfish that is 3.1 in (8 cm).
The body of the bicolor angelfish is covered in scales and the most striking feature is its combination of blue and yellow-colored body. The anterior portion is covered in yellow while deep blue covers its posterior portion and it has a yellow tail.
How cute are they?
These are pygmy or dwarf fish and the bicolor angelfish size and color enhance its cuteness and that is why they are always in demand.
How do they communicate?
There is no verifiable data on how bicolor angelfish communicate.
How big is a bicolor angelfish?
The bicolor angelfish size is around 6 in (15 cm) and as it is a variety of dwarf angelfish, it can grow no more than that. They are very small when they are compared with the gray angelfish which is 24 in (60 cm).
How fast can a bicolor angelfish swim?
The speed of this fish is not available.
How much does a bicolor angelfish weigh?
The weight of this blue and gold angel is not listed.
What are the male and female names of the species?
No names have been assigned to the male and female fish of this species.
What would you call a baby bicolor angelfish?
After the eggs are hatched, they are called larvae but other than that no other names for the babies of bicolor angelfish aer listed.
What do they eat?
The bicolor angelfish (Centropyge bicolor) is an omnivore fish and the quantity of meaty foods consumed by this fish is more than any other pygmy fish. Their primary diet consists of algae and as the fish starts growing, they eat a myriad number of worms, shrimps, brine, corals, clams, and sponges.
If the bicolor angelfish is being kept in an aquarium, there are many alternatives like the excellent quality of commercial bicolor angelfish food.
Are they poisonous?
No, this fish is non-poisonous.
Would they make a good pet?
These fishes are kept in an aquarium in homes and their maintenance can be moderate to high. They can make a good pet if their basic requirements are fulfiled.
Did you know...
The bicolor angelfish (Centropyge bicolor) is a protogynous hermaphrodite. It is a sort of hermaphroditism that occurs in fishes like bicolor angelfish. After the male dies or after the male is removed, the female fish of the highest order undergoes the process of sex change.
The rarest angelfish is the phantom angelfish.
How are bicolor angelfish different from other angelfish?
The bicolor angelfish (Centropyge bicolor) belongs to the family of Pomacanthidae which comprises particularly the saltwater species while the family Cichlidae consists of freshwater angelfish. Other than the taxonomic difference, their physical appearance is another factor.
This is a two-colored fish, blue and yellow, and no other species has this unique combination of color. As it is a pygmy angelfish species, the bicolor angelfish is small compared to other angelfish like the French angelfish. The maximum it can grow is up to 6 in (15 cm).
Are bicolor angelfish reefs safe?
No, a bicolor angelfish is not reef safe, as it is most likely to nip at soft and stony corals and mantles in a reef.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other fish from our lambchop rasbora facts and pigfish facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable bicolor angelfish coloring pages.
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