What is your experience with bicolor angelfish?

[AydenLincoln]

I have had one for almost three years and he has survived ich, flukes, and a few tank moves lol! I only learned they are supposedly hard/expert fish because the lfs I go to was impressed I have been able to keep him one!

 

[Subsea]

I never considered them difficult. For certain they are gorgeous. However, I will not keep Drawf Angels again: they nip at too many corals.

This is what live aquaria says about them:

Overview​

Thought by many to be the most striking of the Centropyge group of dwarf or pygmy angelfish, the Bicolor Angelfish, also known as the Two-colored Angelfish or Oriole Angelfish, is a vibrant yellow on the anterior half of its body and a deep blue on the posterior half. A splash of deep blue extends upward vertically from the eye to the top of the head and the tail is yellow.
A minimum of a 70 gallon tank with lots of hiding places and live rock for grazing will offer an environment in which to thrive. Not a good reef dweller, the Bicolor Angelfish is prone to nip at stony and soft corals (sessile invertebrates) and clam mantles.
It is hermaphroditic, very difficult to breed in an aquarium, and has no distinguishable differences in color between male to female. The Bicolor Angelfish requires a diet of Spirulina, marine algae, high-quality angelfish preparations, and mysis or frozen shrimp.

 

[AydenLincoln]

I never considered them difficult. For certain they are gorgeous. However, I will not keep Drawf Angels again: they nip at too many corals.

This is what live aquaria says about them:

Overview​

Thought by many to be the most striking of the Centropyge group of dwarf or pygmy angelfish, the Bicolor Angelfish, also known as the Two-colored Angelfish or Oriole Angelfish, is a vibrant yellow on the anterior half of its body and a deep blue on the posterior half. A splash of deep blue extends upward vertically from the eye to the top of the head and the tail is yellow.
A minimum of a 70 gallon tank with lots of hiding places and live rock for grazing will offer an environment in which to thrive. Not a good reef dweller, the Bicolor Angelfish is prone to nip at stony and soft corals (sessile invertebrates) and clam mantles.
It is hermaphroditic, very difficult to breed in an aquarium, and has no distinguishable differences in color between male to female. The Bicolor Angelfish requires a diet of Spirulina, marine algae, high-quality angelfish preparations, and mysis or frozen shrimp.

See that is why I know many people don’t like them! In this hobby you can’t keep everything. He is in a FOWLR tank for a reason. I cringe when people try and keep clearly not reef-safe fish in reef aquariums and then wonder why they have issues. You can’t have everything in this hobby.

 

[Subsea]

See that is why I know many people don’t like them! In this hobby you can’t keep everything. He is in a FOWLR tank for a reason. I cringe when people try and keep clearly not reef-safe fish in reef aquariums and then wonder why they have issues. You can’t have everything in this hobby.

You asked for my experience with them, I said nothing about disliking angels. I don’t keep tangs for similar reasons: I like my ornamental seaweeds and ornamental sponges. Angels & Tangs eat both.

No need to cringe. It’s a hobby.

 

[56longroof]

How do they compare to a Venustus angelfish? I read they are supposed to be difficult also but the one I have has been as hardy as they come with no issues with corals or clams.

 

[AydenLincoln]

You asked for my experience with them, I said nothing about disliking angels. I don’t keep tangs for similar reasons: I like my ornamental seaweeds and ornamental sponges. Angels & Tangs eat both.

No need to cringe. It’s a hobby.

Okay maybe that came off wrong. And that statement was a general statement and my thoughts.

 

[DietDr.Kelp]

See that is why I know many people don’t like them! In this hobby you can’t keep everything. He is in a FOWLR tank for a reason. I cringe when people try and keep clearly not reef-safe fish in reef aquariums and then wonder why they have issues. You can’t have everything in this hobby.

I think it's a good sentiment to remember that "you can't have everything," especially in this hobby. Sometimes you roll the dice and get luckier than others when it comes to fish. I have a blue spotted toby that loves eating certain corals—I have had to decide whether I want him or those corals. Now I cater the tank around him and what he won't eat.

 

[AydenLincoln]

I think it's a good sentiment to remember that "you can't have everything," especially in this hobby. Sometimes you roll the dice and get luckier than others when it comes to fish. I have a blue spotted toby that loves eating certain corals—I have had to decide whether I want him or those corals. Now I cater the tank around him and what he won't eat.

Good decision! I love all puffers. They truly are saltwater puppy dogs. And corals don’t follow you around the room or spit water at you lol. I’m team puffer all the way! Puffers steal your heart and don’t give it back! At least mine did for me.

 

[DietDr.Kelp]

Good decision! I love all puffers. They truly are saltwater puppy dogs. And corals don’t follow you around the room or spit was at you lol. I’m team puffer all the way!

He's a total character!
Haha the corals sure don't spit or accidentally (or not so accidentally) bite your fingers like a puffer does! Luckily, he does leave enough alone that I can enjoy a reef tank, but zoanthids are just too pretty and tasty looking for him I had to setup a pico to get my fix of them without his meddling.

We both love him, and think it's hysterical that he has a strict bed time and puts himself to bed in the same corner every night. I can feed the tank, and all of the other fish will be going crazy, but if he's already in bed, the puffer is done for the night.

 

[AydenLincoln]

He's a total character!
Haha the corals sure don't spit or accidentally (or not so accidentally) bite your fingers like a puffer does! Luckily, he does leave enough alone that I can enjoy a reef tank, but zoanthids are just too pretty and tasty looking for him I had to setup a pico to get my fix of them without his meddling.

We both love him, and think it's hysterical that he has a strict bed time and puts himself to bed in the same corner every night. I can feed the tank, and all of the other fish will be going crazy, but if he's already in bed, the puffer is done for the night.

Don’t mention the fingers! THE PAIN! He has not bitten me in over a year probably. I am much more careful as I learned my lesson one too many times. Plus he is HUGE now and I don’t want to feel that pain!

 

[AydenLincoln]

He's a total character!
Haha the corals sure don't spit or accidentally (or not so accidentally) bite your fingers like a puffer does! Luckily, he does leave enough alone that I can enjoy a reef tank, but zoanthids are just too pretty and tasty looking for him I had to setup a pico to get my fix of them without his meddling.

We both love him, and think it's hysterical that he has a strict bed time and puts himself to bed in the same corner every night. I can feed the tank, and all of the other fish will be going crazy, but if he's already in bed, the puffer is done for the night.

Despite all this! I love him so much. He is a true saltwater puppy dog! Although he likes to move the sand around for his bed and then I move it back. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t like that lol.

 

[DietDr.Kelp]

Don’t mention the fingers! THE PAIN! He has not bitten me in over a year probably. I am much more careful as I learned my lesson one too many times. Plus he is HUGE now and I don’t want to feel that pain!

That is an "and I'd do it again" face Mine is small enough that I just curse loudly and wrench my arm out of the water haha
He and the blue throat trigger are menaces. If it's not one, it's the other one!

Despite all this! I love him so much. He is a true saltwater puppy dog!

Such a cute face! Innocent of all wrongdoing!

 

[AydenLincoln]

That is an "and I'd do it again" face Mine is small enough that I just curse loudly and wrench my arm out of the water haha
He and the blue throat trigger are menaces. If it's not one, it's the other one!

Such a cute face! Innocent of all wrongdoing!

Exactly! They are like puppies and toddlers and use their mouths to explore things and are so food driven. I can’t stay mad at his cute little face almost saying, “Sorry Mom!” He is lucky he is cute and that I love him very much!

 

[RobertK]

I have a captive bred bicolor angel and he has been a model citizen in my reef tank, as have his two other dwarf angel tankmates.