Another Great Reef Safe Angelfish

The Bellus Angelfish (also called the Bellus Lyretail Angelfish, Ornate Angelfish and, locally, the Boray-Boray), is one of the best so-called reef-safe angelfish for the angelfish-ready saltwater aquarium. For those unfamiliar with this fish, the Bellus Angelfish is a relatively small (to seven inches), hardy and attractive angelfish with a generally peaceful disposition. Unlike most angelfish, they tend to leave invertebrates alone, making them one of the few angelfish appropriate for a reef tank.

The Bellus angelfish is from the genus Genicanthus and, like all species in the genus, the Bellus angelfish is a mid-water planktavore (look closely at the small mouth which contains multiple rows of short bristle-like teeth adapted for taking plankton from the water column). This dentition means that, unlike other fish in the Pomacanthidae family known to pick at corals and sessile invertebrates, the Bellus Angelfish can be kept in a reef tank with confidence.

Adult male specimens of G. bellus possess two striking orange bands over a grey-bluish body. One of the male’s bands is a mid-lateral band, while the other arcs along the base of the dorsal fin. The male also has an orange spot behind its gill plate. Females and juveniles have dramatic black lateral stripes often contrasting with a bold blue swath beneath. Because of the dramatic sexual dimorphism exhibited by this species, it is highly recommended that the aquarist keep a pair or small group in a suitably large aquarium (at least 100 gallons).

The Bellus Angelfish is a tropical fish living between 19° North and 18° South in the eastern Indian Ocean from Cocos-Keeling Atoll to the Philippines and Pacific Islands of Guam, Cook and the Society Islands. In captivity, it prefers a tropical reef tank with plenty of swimming room and caves in which to retreat. This angelfish is known to inhabit depths in the wild of 100 meters along the edges of outer reefs. As such, the Bellus Angelfish is susceptible to swim bladder trauma as a result of improper decompression in wild-caught specimens. Always make sure a Bellus Angelfish is swimming normally before purchasing it from a dealer’s tank. Generally hardy, the Bellus Angelfish is not overly susceptible to disease.

While there are other angelfish to consider for a reef tank (Genicanthus watanabei, for example), the Bellus Angelfish is an excellent choice. Prices for this fish vary widely based on availability, but the aquarist can expect to spend a little over $100 for a male in the two-three inch range and slightly less for a similarly-sized female.

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