Care guide, husbandry, breeding, disease, and sourcing intelligence on Half Black Angelfish - written by the Fast Aquatics editorial team.
Half Black Angelfish at a glance
Adult size: 4 inches · Min tank/pond: 55 gallons · Difficulty: intermediate · Diet: omnivore · Lifespan: 5-10 years.
Half Black Angelfish (Centropyge vrolikii) is a popular saltwater fish in the aquarium and pond hobby. Suitable for keepers with 6-12 months of stable-tank experience.
Where Half Black Angelfish comes from
Half Black Angelfish (Centropyge vrolikii) is native to Indo-Pacific reef ecosystems. Wild populations distribute across coral reefs from East Africa through Indonesia, the Philippines, and into the western Pacific. Captive-bred Half Black Angelfish is increasingly available and is the more sustainable choice when you can find it.
Half Black Angelfish tank size and setup
Half Black Angelfish requires a minimum of 55 gallons for healthy adults. The minimum is based on 4 inches adult size and territorial range. For Half Black Angelfish, plan a mature reef tank with stable parameters, sand bed, live rock for cover, and reef LED if photosynthetic.
Water parameters for Half Black Angelfish
Half Black Angelfish requires standard reef parameters: temperature 76-80°F, specific gravity 1.025, pH 8.1-8.4, alkalinity 8-9 dKH, calcium 420-450 ppm, magnesium 1300-1400 ppm, ammonia + nitrite 0 ppm, nitrate under 10 ppm. Use a refractometer (not hydrometer) to measure salinity.
What Half Black Angelfish eats
Half Black Angelfish is a omnivore. Provide a varied diet of pellets, frozen foods, and supplemental greens. Feed twice daily in small portions. Browse our food guides for product recommendations.
Half Black Angelfish tankmates and compatibility
Half Black Angelfish is best paired with peaceful reef-tank species in similar size class. Avoid known fin-nippers and large aggressive species.
Half Black Angelfish adult size and lifespan
Half Black Angelfish reaches 4 inches at adulthood with a captive lifespan of 5-10 years with proper care.
Can you breed Half Black Angelfish?
Half Black Angelfish breeding in captivity ranges from straightforward to very difficult. Captive-bred specimens are increasingly available from sustainable aquaculture facilities.
Common Half Black Angelfish diseases and problems
Half Black Angelfish is susceptible to ich, velvet, marine flukes, and bacterial infections. Quarantine new Half Black Angelfish for 4-6 weeks before adding to display.
Where to buy Half Black Angelfish online
Half Black Angelfish is sold at LFS, online retailers, and direct from breeders. Browse live Half Black Angelfish from vetted Fast Aquatics vendors with carrier-tracked overnight shipping, climate-aware hold logic, and a 4-hour DOA window with photo-evidence claims.
Related saltwater species you might also keep
Other species in the same category with care profiles on Fast Aquatics. Click any name for the full husbandry breakdown.
Half Black Angelfish taxonomy and care recommendations cross-checked against the following authoritative references and our internal vendor + breeder database.