Blacktail Lemonpeel Angelfish

Also known as the Eibli Angelfish

The Blacktail Lemonpeel Angelfish, more accurately known as the Eibli Angelfish, is an elegant dwarf angelfish native to the Western Pacific Ocean. This species displays a beautiful silvery-gray body adorned with intricate orange-red wavy lines, a distinctive black vertical bar behind the gill plate, and a dark tail fin. Often confused with the Lemonpeel Angelfish due to similar body shape, the Eibli is a distinctly different species with its own unique coloration and personality.

Key Features

• Scientific Name: Centropyge flavissima
• Common Names: Eibli Angelfish, Blacktail Lemonpeel, Eibl’s Angelfish, Red-Striped Angelfish
• Adult Size: 4–6 inches (10–15 cm)
• Lifespan: 8–12+ years with proper care
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive; moderately territorial
• Reef Compatibility: Not reef-safe – will nip at corals and clams
• Minimum Tank Size: 70 gallons (70+ gallons preferred)
• Experience Level: Intermediate, requires varied diet and stable water conditions

Habitat & Tank Requirements

Natural Habitat: Found in lagoons and sheltered outer reef slopes at depths of 15–100 feet throughout the Western Pacific, including Indonesia, the Philippines, and the Great Barrier Reef. Inhabits caves and crevices in coral-rich areas, typically as solitary individuals or in pairs.

Tank Environment:

• Abundant live rock with numerous caves, crevices, and hiding spots
• Complex rockwork structure for territory establishment and security
• Moderate open swimming areas
• Well-established aquarium (3–6 months minimum for natural algae growth)
• Moderate water flow with some calmer zones

Water Parameters:

• Temperature: 72–78°F (22–26°C)
• Salinity: 1.023–1.025 specific gravity
• pH: 8.1–8.4
• Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm
• Nitrate: <20 ppm
• Alkalinity: 8–12 dKH
• Calcium: 400–450 ppm

Essential Equipment:

• Quality protein skimmer
• Efficient biological and mechanical filtration
• Moderate water circulation
• Regular water changes (15–20% biweekly minimum)
• UV sterilizer (optional but helpful for disease prevention)

Diet & Feeding

Eibli Angelfish are omnivores with a strong herbivorous requirement, needing a balanced diet of both plant matter and protein sources for optimal health and coloration.

Recommended Foods:

• Plant Matter: Nori sheets, spirulina, marine macro algae, dried seaweed preparations (40–50% of diet)
• Frozen Foods: Mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, cyclops, finely chopped krill, marine fish flesh, angelfish formula preparations
• Pellets/Flakes: High-quality marine angelfish pellets, spirulina-enriched formulas, herbivore pellets, color-enhancing foods
• Prepared Mixes: Angelfish blends containing sponge material, marine cuisine, Formula Two
• Natural Grazing: Live rock with established microalgae and film algae growth
• Supplements: Vitamin C-enriched foods, garlic-based supplements, omega fatty acids

Feeding Schedule:

• Feed 2–3 times daily in varied portions
• Provide nori or seaweed sheets clipped to tank glass for constant grazing
• Rotate food types to ensure complete nutrition
• Allow natural algae to grow on some rocks for supplemental grazing between feedings

Behavior & Compatibility

Temperament:

• Semi-aggressive with moderate territorial behavior
• Less aggressive than Bicolor Angels but more assertive than Flame Angels
• Becomes bolder once established in the aquarium
• Generally peaceful toward non-angelfish species
• May become more aggressive as it matures
• Individual personality can vary

Territorial Behavior:

• Establishes territory within rockwork structure
• Most territorial toward other dwarf angelfish
• May chase similar-sized or shaped fish occasionally
• Aggression increases in smaller aquariums or with limited hiding spots
• Can coexist with other fish if introduced carefully

Tank Mates:

• Compatible with: Semi-aggressive tangs, most wrasses, clownfish, damselfish, dottybacks, larger gobies, blennies, cardinalfish, anthias, chromis
• Caution with: Other dwarf angelfish (only in tanks 100+ gallons with multiple territories), very peaceful fish may be intimidated, slow-moving species
• Avoid: Multiple Centropyge species in smaller tanks, extremely peaceful fish (firefish, dartfish), very aggressive species that may bully it

Reef Compatibility:

• Not reef-safe: Known to nip at various corals
• Will pick at LPS corals (favia, favites, brain corals, acans)
• May damage soft corals and zoanthids
• Can nip at clam mantles
• May consume coral polyps and flesh
• Particularly destructive to certain SPS polyps
• Best suited for FOWLR (Fish Only With Live Rock) systems
• Rare individuals may leave corals alone, but this cannot be predicted

Acclimation & Care Tips

Initial Acclimation:

1. Drip acclimation over 1.5–2 hours for optimal adjustment
2. Dim aquarium lights for first 24–48 hours
3. Provide ample hiding spots for initial security
4. Minimize activity and disturbances around tank for first few days
5. May begin feeding within 12–24 hours (faster than some dwarf angels)
6. Patience during first week is important for stress reduction

Health Considerations:

• Generally hardy once properly acclimated
• Susceptible to marine ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) and velvet (Amyloodinium ocellatum)
• Can develop lateral line erosion (HLLE) with poor water quality or nutritional deficiencies
• Sensitive to copper-based medications (use lower doses if treating)
• Quarantine for 4–6 weeks before adding to display tank strongly recommended
• Monitor for weight loss if herbivore diet is inadequate

Signs of a Healthy Specimen:

• Active swimming and exploration of territory
• Confident, alert behavior
• Vibrant silvery-gray body with clear orange-red striping
• Bold black vertical bar behind gill plate
• Clear, bright eyes
• Full-bodied appearance (not thin or pinched)
• Eager feeding response to both meaty and plant-based foods
• Smooth, intact fins without tears or damage
• No visible parasites, spots, or lesions

Color & Development

Adult Coloration: Eibli Angelfish display distinctive and elegant markings:

• Body: Silvery-gray to pearl-gray base color
• Striping: Multiple wavy, horizontal orange-red to coral-colored lines across entire body
• Vertical Bar: Bold black vertical bar behind gill plate (diagnostic feature)
• Tail: Black to dark gray caudal fin (key identification feature)
• Eye: Black vertical bar runs through eye area
• Fins: Dorsal and anal fins edged in electric blue to purple
• Face: Orange-red wavy lines extend onto face

Juvenile Coloration: Juveniles appear similar to adults but may show:

• Slightly less intense striping
• More muted orange tones
• Less pronounced black markings
• Pattern remains essentially the same as adults

Color Intensity Factors:

• Diet quality (adequate spirulina and carotenoids essential)
• Water quality (pristine conditions enhance coloration)
• Lighting (moderate to bright lighting brings out colors)
• Stress levels (stressed fish appear washed out)
• Age (color intensifies with maturity)

Special Considerations

Personality Variations: Individual specimens can vary significantly:

• Some are relatively shy and peaceful
• Others become moderately bold and territorial
• Aggression levels cannot be reliably predicted
• Observe behavior at retailer when possible

Tank Size Considerations:

• 55 gallons: Minimum for single specimen
• 70–90 gallons: Better for long-term health and reduced aggression
• 100+ gallons: Allows potential for multiple dwarf angelfish with caution
• Larger tanks significantly reduce territorial behavior

Regional Collection Quality:

• Indonesian specimens: Commonly available, generally hardy
• Philippines specimens: Good quality, acclimate well
• Australian specimens: Excellent quality but less common and more expensive

Pairing & Multiple Specimens

Keeping Pairs:

• Males and females can be paired in tanks 70+ gallons
• Sexual dimorphism minimal; difficult to sex visually
• Introduce pair simultaneously for best results
• Provide multiple territories and hiding spots
• Monitor for aggression during pairing period
• Not all individuals will pair successfully

Breeding in Aquariums

Spawning Behavior:

• Rarely spawns in home aquariums but possible in established pairs
• Spawning occurs at dusk in nature
• Eggs are pelagic (released into water column)
• No parental care provided
• Larval rearing extremely difficult and not practical for hobbyists

Quarantine Protocol

Why Quarantine is Critical: Eibli Angelfish benefit significantly from quarantine to prevent parasite introduction and ensure proper dietary conditioning, particularly for the essential herbivore component of their diet.

Our Quarantine Process:

• Observation Period: 4–6 weeks minimum
• Parasite Prevention: Prophylactic treatment for marine ich, velvet, and flukes
• Dietary Conditioning: Training to accept varied prepared foods with emphasis on herbivore diet
• Stress Reduction: Calm, stable environment for recovery from collection and shipping
• Behavioral Observation: Assessment of temperament and compatibility potential
• Health Monitoring: Daily observation of feeding response, activity level, and physical condition
• Color Enhancement: Quality diet to ensure vibrant coloration develops
• Acclimation Training: Gradual adjustment to standard aquarium conditions

Why Choose a Quarantined Blacktail Lemonpeel (Eibli) Angelfish?

Purchasing a properly quarantined Eibli Angelfish provides significant advantages for this beautiful species. Our extended quarantine protocol ensures your angelfish has been treated preventatively for common parasites, is feeding eagerly on both meaty and plant-based foods (critical for long-term health), and has fully recovered from collection and shipping stress. The conditioning period allows us to assess individual personality, helping you select a specimen compatible with your existing tank inhabitants. This careful preparation dramatically improves survival rates and provides you with a healthy, vibrant fish ready to become a stunning centerpiece in your FOWLR aquarium for many years to come.