How related are they?
Same genus, Centropyge (Pygmy angelfishes): very close cousins
They split at the species level: the African Flameback Angelfish belongs to Centropyge acanthops (African Flameback Angelfish), the Flame Angelfish to Centropyge loriculus (Flame Angelfish).
Find the African Flameback Angelfish on the tree · Find the Flame Angelfish on the tree
Family lines, side by side
Highlighted rows are groups both animals belong to. The marked row is where their lines go separate ways.
| Rank | African Flameback Angelfish | Flame Angelfish |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia Animals | |
| Phylum | Chordata Chordates | |
| Subphylum | Vertebrata Vertebrates | |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata jawed vertebrates | |
| Parvphylum | Osteichthyes bony fishes | |
| Gigaclass | Actinopterygii ray-finned fishes | |
| Superclass | Actinopteri | |
| Class | Teleostei Teleost fishes | |
| Order | Acanthuriformes Surgeonfishes, angelfishes and kin | |
| Family | Pomacanthidae Marine angelfishes | |
| Genus | Centropyge Pygmy angelfishes | |
| Species split | Centropyge acanthops African Flameback Angelfish | Centropyge loriculus Flame Angelfish |
Care, side by side
| Fact | African Flameback Angelfish | Flame Angelfish |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Fish · Angelfish | Fish · Angelfish |
| Care level | Easy | Moderate |
| Reef safe | With caution | With caution |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Semi-aggressive |
| Diet | Omnivore | Omnivore |
| Favorite foods | Spirulina and marine algae foods, Algae grazed from live rock, Angelfish preparations | Film and filamentous algae grazed from live rock, Frozen angelfish formulas (with sponge), Mysis shrimp |
| Max size | 3.1 in (8 cm) | 5 in (12.7 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 55 gal | 75 gal |
| Temperature | 72–78 °F | 72–78 °F |
| Salinity (SG) | 1.020–1.025 | 1.020–1.025 |
| pH | 8.1–8.4 | 8.1–8.4 |
| Lifespan | Not documented in the sources we checked; no published longevity study or reliable captive lifespan figure was found. | About 5-7 years in aquariums, sometimes longer (hobby sources; no formal longevity study found). |
| Breeding | Hard | Hard |
| Conservation (IUCN) | Least Concern | Least Concern |