Both the coral beauty and the flame angel have gone viral in recent months due to a number of photographs and videos showing the beauty of the fish being shared on social media.
This has resulted in a huge spike in the demand for the fish with some people trying to workout if they should be going with one species over the other.
Due to this, we have decided to publish our coral beauty vs flame angel comparison to try and help our readers workout the best species for their needs!
Please note that both the coral beauty and the flame angel fish look beautiful but the should never be bought on a whim. Fish are a large commitment and require you to think and plan the future of the fish and how it will fit into your community tank.
In addition to this, if you are keeping a reef tank, you have to try and factor in if they will eat your corals or not. Thankfully, we will be covering all of this in our article below to try and help you settle on the best fish for your needs!
The Visual Looks Of The Fish!
The coral beauty fish is a strikingly beautiful fish that is often compared to the more popular flame angel fish.
However, there are a few key differences between the two species that set them apart. The coral beauty has a more brightly-colored body with orange, yellow and pink hues, while the flame angel is predominantly orange with some black stripes running down its body.
The coral beauty fish also has a colored tail that makes it more obvious to see while the flame angel has a shorter and more stubby tail that often looks translucent in some lighting making the fish look a little strange at times.
The Size Of The Fish!
In terms of size, the coral beauty grows to around 4 inches in length, while the flame angel can grow up to 6 inches in length.
This means that the coral beauty is the smaller of the two fish, which is something to consider if you have a smaller tank or you want a fish that won’t grow too large.
Still, being angelfish, both fish will require a larger than average tank relative to their size due to their swimming needs.
The coral beauty is also more peaceful than the flame angel, which is something else to take into account too.
The Life Expectancy Of The Fish!
The coral beauty has a life expectancy of around 12 years, while the flame angel can live for around 6 years in the right conditions.
This is a key difference to take into account as the coral beauty will be with you for much longer and will require more care and attention over its lifetime.
As we mentioned back at the start of the article, both fish are still a big commitment to take on with both living for years but the coral beauty can live around double of the average flame angel.
The Diet Of The Fish!
Although many people think that the coral beauty is a herbivore, it is actually an omnivore but the species do tend to prefer plant based foods and will require a diet that consists mostly of plant matter.
You can achieve this by providing them with marine algae, spirulina, or even lettuce as part of their diet.
Flame angels, on the other hand, are omnivores that prefer a meat based diet and will require both plant and meaty foods as part of their diet.
You can provide them with a variety of foods such as brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, squid, and even krill as part of their diet.
The Prices Of The Fish!
Coral beauty fish are often cheaper than flame angels, with the average coral beauty costing around $30 while the average flame angel costs closer to $50.
This was before the recent spike in popularity for both types of fish where they can be found listed for most than double these formal prices.
As with all viral fish species though, we do expect their prices to fall back to their normal ranges once the buzz on social media calms back down.
If you are on a budget and want an angelfish then there are definatley cheaper options available but they tend not to have the striking appeareces of the coral beauty or flame angel fish.
Aggression Levels From The Fish!
Coral beauties are known to be one of the more peaceful angelfish species and are often found in pairs or small groups in the wild.
This makes them a good choice for beginner saltwater aquariums as they are less likely to bully or harass other fish in the tank.
That said, some coral beauties can be peaceful for years before suddenly starting to become aggressive towards their tank mates. It is unknown why some coral beauties do this so there will always be a risk with the species.
Flame angels, on the other hand, have a reputation for being a little more aggressive than coral beauties and are often found alone or in pairs in the wild.
This is likely due to the fact that they are more territorial fish and will often claim a small area of the coral reef as their own.
While this aggression can be managed by keeping them with other peaceful tank mates, it is something to be aware of if you are considering a flame angel for your aquarium.
Are The Fish Reef Safe?
The coral beauty is considered to be a reef safe fish as it will usually not bother corals or other invertebrates in the tank.
Still, this can change in later life similar to the aggression levels of coral beauties. We have seen a number of people say that around half of their coral beauties just decided to start eating their corals in their tank one day after years of not even nipping a coral.
Some people do think that this is due to problems with the diet of the fish and it not being able to get all of the vitamins and minerals that it requires though.
The flame angel, on the other hand, is not considered to be reef safe as it may harass or nibble on coral and other invertebrates in the tank.
This is something to take into account before getting a flame angel as they will require their own dedicated tank if you want to keep coral in your aquarium.
Coral Beauty vs Flame Angel
So, there you have it! A coral beauty vs flame angel comparison. As you can see, both fish are still a big commitment to take on with both living for years but the coral beauty can be a cheaper option and is often more peaceful.
The coral beauty is also reef safe while the flame angel is not so that is another factor to take into account. Still, both fish are stunning to look at so it really comes down to personal preference when choosing between them! Thanks for reading.
