How related are they?
Same genus, Centropyge (Pygmy angelfishes): very close cousins
They split at the species level: the Flame Angelfish belongs to Centropyge loriculus (Flame Angelfish), the African Flameback Angelfish to Centropyge acanthops (African Flameback Angelfish).
Find the Flame Angelfish on the tree · Find the African Flameback 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 | Flame Angelfish | African Flameback 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 loriculus Flame Angelfish | Centropyge acanthops African Flameback Angelfish |
Care, side by side
| Fact | Flame Angelfish | African Flameback Angelfish |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Fish · Angelfish | Fish · Angelfish |
| Care level | Moderate | Easy |
| Reef safe | With caution | With caution |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Semi-aggressive |
| Diet | Omnivore | Omnivore |
| Favorite foods | Film and filamentous algae grazed from live rock, Frozen angelfish formulas (with sponge), Mysis shrimp | Spirulina and marine algae foods, Algae grazed from live rock, Angelfish preparations |
| Max size | 5 in (12.7 cm) | 3.1 in (8 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 75 gal | 55 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 | About 5-7 years in aquariums, sometimes longer (hobby sources; no formal longevity study found). | Not documented in the sources we checked; no published longevity study or reliable captive lifespan figure was found. |
| Breeding | Hard | Hard |
| Conservation (IUCN) | Least Concern | Least Concern |