The Flame Angelfish is a flashy addition to many aquariums. One of the most popular of the dwarf angelfish, the Flame Angelfish is a bright red/orange with vertical black stripes highlighting the body and horizontal black stripes along the caudal portions of the blue-tipped dorsal and anal fins.

It requires the minimum of a 30 gallon tank with lots of hiding places and live rock for grazing. The Flame Angelfish is prone to nip at stony and soft corals (sessile invertebrates) and clam mantles. If the Flame Angelfish is to be added to a peaceful community, it should be the last fish introduced. They adapt well to aquarium life, but should be kept in an established system and housed with dissimilar genera. Flame Angels are very sensitive to elevated levels of copper, and should never be exposed to levels near or above .15.

It is hermaphroditic, very difficult to breed in an aquarium, and has no distinguishable differences in color between male to female.

The diet of the Flame Angelfish should consist of Spirulina, marine algae, high-quality angelfish preparations, mysid or frozen shrimp, and other high-quality meaty items.

There are slight differences in both coloration and markings of this species based on the location of collection. Marshall Island Flames are more red in color, with thicker black bars running vertically down the body. Cook Island Flames are more orange in coloration with either small black bars, or only a few thin bars running vertically down the body. Christmas Island Flames are normally a red/orange coloration with thin black bars running vertically down the body. Flames from Tahiti are blood red and contain very little to no yellow. It is important to note that these color descriptions are a general guideline, and please expect variation among each fish. The price differences between the different varieties is simply a reflection of the difference in collection, transportation and importation expenses.