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Related FAQs: Best FAQs on Centropyge,
Centropyge Angels 1, Centropyge Angels
, Centropyge
Angels 3, Centropyge Angels 4,
Dwarf Angel Identification, Dwarf
Angel Selection, Dwarf Angel
Compatibility, Dwarf Angel
Compatibility 2, Dwarf Angel Systems,
Dwarf Angel Feeding, Dwarf
Angel Disease, Dwarf Angel Disease
2, Dwarf Angel Disease 3,
Dwarf Angel
Reproduction, Marine Angelfishes In General,
Selection, Behavior,
Compatibility,
Systems, Health, Feeding,
Disease.
Related Articles: C. loricula/Flame
Angel,
Lemon/y
Dwarf Angels, A Couple of Lemons; the True and False/Herald's (nee Woodheadi) CentropygesPotter's Angels,
The Marine Angelfish Family, Pomacanthidae,
/The Conscientious
Marine Aquarist
Perfect Little
Angels, Genus Centropyge, pt. 1
To: Part.
2
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By Bob Fenner |
Centropyge bicolor, Fiji |
Amongst families of marine fishes, the
marine angels are some of the most beautiful, intelligent and hardy as aquarium specimens.
One principal limiting factor to their husbandry is their prodigious size; many get to be
too big for any but the largest of aquariums. Fortunately there is the genus Centropyge
("sent-roe-pie-gay"), the dwarf or pygmy angels (some of the angel
genus Genicanthus are considered dwarves as well), some species of which stay less
than 3" overall, with giant members growing to half a foot. All but a handful of Centropyge
adapt well to captive conditions and thrive in what should be the smallest of captive
systems.
There are but few "guidelines"
for selecting and maintaining these diminutive beauties; sufficient cover, matched
tankmates, adequate food. What is essential and often missing is the knowledge of how to
pick out healthy specimens and properly condition them before introduction to the
main/display tank.
Classification: Taxonomy, Relation
With Other Groups
The genus Centropyge is the largest
of the marine angel family Pomacanthidae, with some 33 and counting species described. Can
you name all nine genera of marine angels? Apolemichthys, Centropyge, Chaetodonoplus,
Genicanthus, Holacanthus, Paracentropyge, Pomacanthus, Pygoplites, Sumireyakko, of 75
total species.
Centropyge Species of
Interest/Use to Aquarists:
The majority of Centropyge angels
make for suitable to great aquarium specimens; however there are a few notable exceptions.
In my opinion the Colin's, bicolor, multi-barred, Herald's, the (true) Lemonpeel,
midnight, Potter's, and venustus are on-average, less hardy by far than other dwarf angel
species. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the coral beauty (except from the
Philippines), flame, Japanese, pearl-scaled, and rusty dwarf and most of the smaller
(dwarf-dwarf) angels (C. acanthops, C. argi, C. aurantonotus, C. fisheri, flavicauda,
C. resplendens) are my favorites as being most hardy and adaptable to aquarium
conditions. The "rest" of Centropyge species, , either lie somewhere
between the worst and best rating or my personal and recorded experience is too limited
to rank them high or low.
Here is a current listing of described Centropyge
species with brief biological notes.
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Centropyge acanthops
(Norman 1922), even more orange than
the sympatric Centropyge argi and Centropyge aurantonotus, the African
Pygmy Angel (1) can be
easily discerned as the only one of the three with a light colored, yellow-transparent
caudal fin. Coastal eastern Africa up to the coast of Oman.
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Centropyge argi Woods & Kanazawa 1951, the Cherub or Atlantic
(Caribbean) Pygmy Angel (1). To 2.5" overall. Bermuda on down to the coast
of Brazil. Aquarium and a Cozumel, Mexico pix of more adult, more juvenile
individuals. |
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Centropyge aurantius Randall & Wass 1974, the Golden Pygmy Angel
(1) is a real
striker. It's a shame that this species hides so well, necessitating extensive breaking of
coral and drug or poison use in its collection, and hiding for so much of the time in
captivity. Western Pacific Ocean, Indonesia to Caroline Islands. Aquarium photos
of a 6 cm. specimen from Bali by Hiroyuki Tanaka and a 9 cm. one in captivity by
RMF.
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| Centropyge
aurantonotus Burgess 1974, the ( Brazilian) Flameback Angel (1) is very much like the more northerly
Centropyge argi with more orange color
on its back, at a much higher price. Found in southern part of the Caribbean
Sea. Note the dark blue caudal fin, distinguishing it from C. acanthops.
To 2.5" overall length. Pix by Hiroyuki Tanaka and RMF.
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Centropyge bicolor (Bloch 1787), the Blue-and-Gold, Pacific
Rock Beauty, Bicolor or Oriole Dwarf Angel (3), is highly variable in it's survivability in
captivity. Some shipments are 100% live on arrival, others can be just the opposite within
days. Better specimens come from other than the Philippines or Indonesia. To 6" if
they live. This near full-size adult off Heron Island, GBR, Australia. Pix by
Hiroyuki Tanaka and RMF.
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Centropyge bispinosa (Gunther 1860), Two-Spined, Dusky or
Coral Beauty Angel (2). Usually hardy from everywhere but the Philippines. Found
widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific to central Pacific. Pix by Hiroyuki
Tanaka and RMF of one in captivity and one in
Australia.
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Centropyge boylei Pyle & Randall 1992, Boyle's (for Chip
Boyle)(2),
or Peppermint Dwarf Angel. So far only found in deep water in Rarotonga in the
South Pacific Ocean. Currently placed in the genus Paracentropyge.
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Still saving for that rebreather, and working out to use
it! |
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Centropyge colini Smith-Vainz & Randall 1974, Colin's
Dwarf Angel (3), is a
deepwater form (usually collected below 100 feet) that does poorly as far as the genus
goes. Rare and expensive in the hobby. Indo-west Pacific to western Pacific
area. Thanks to Evan McLaughlin for this pic!
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Centropyge debelius Pyle 1990, Debelius's or Blue
Mauritius Dwarf Angel (2),
named in honor of Helmut Debelius, German aquarist, diver-photographer. Found
thus far only in Mauritius and Reunion in the southwestern part of the Indian
Ocean. 9 cm. specimen photo by Hiroyuki Tanaka.
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Centropyge eibli Klausewitz 1963, Eibl's Dwarf Angel (1), is an
excellent aquarium species, especially coming from Sri Lanka, its principal
source, though found all over the eastern Indian Ocean over to the
Maldives. Closely related to Centropyge vroliki of the Pacific,
with which it hybridizes. Aquarium pix by Hiroyuki Tanaka and RMF. |
 
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Centropyge ferrugata Randall & Burgess 1972, the Rusty Dwarf Angel (1),
is a winner occasionally brought in from Japan and Taiwan. It adapts very easily
to captivity. Western Pacific, Japan to the Philippines. Aquarium pix by
Hiroyuki Tanaka and RMF. |
 
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Centropyge fisheri
(Snyder 1904), Fisher's Dwarf Angel (3), is
one of the many Hawaiian endemics. This is a "dwarf" Dwarf Angel, usually
no more than two inches in length. Closely related to Centropge
flavicauda. Hawaii and Johnston Atoll distribution only. A juvenile
off of Kona and a more typical adult in captivity.
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Centropyge flavicauda Fraser-Brunner 1933, the Damsel or
White-Tail Dwarf Angel (2), is rarely seen in the trade; one of the dwarf-dwarf
angels, growing to only a couple of inches in length. Indo-west and central
Pacific. Pix by Hiroyuki Tanaka and RMF
collected off of Nichinan Coast and Gili Air, Lombok, Indonesia.
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Centropyge flavipectoralis Randall & Klausewitz 1977, the
Moonbeam or Yellowfin Pygmy Angel (2), is a good fish for medium aggressive fish-only set-ups. At first
glance the Yellowfin is easily mistaken for a darkened Coral Beauty, with bright yellow
pectoral fins. Sri Lanka and Maldives, Indian Ocean.
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Centropyge flavissima (Cuvier 1831), the True or just the
Lemonpeel Dwarf Angel, (3) look for and pay the extra-cost for Indian Ocean
specimens (Christmas and Cocos-Keeling Islands)(1-2); they are much more likely
to live. Centropyge heraldi, sometimes called the False Lemonpeel, is
very similar, but lacks the True Lemonpeel's blue markings. Pix by Hiroyuki
Tanaka and RMF of a juvenile and adult in captivity.
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Centropyge heraldi Woods & Schultz 1953, Herald's or the
False Lemonpeel Angel (2), are overall yellow with a variable amount of black on their dorsal fins
and behind the eyes (males), but never with the blue outline around the eyes of the
"true" Lemonpeel, Centropyge flavissimus. Central and western
Pacific Ocean. Aquarium and N. Sulawesi pix.
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Centropyge interruptus (Tanaka 1918), the Japanese Pygmy
Angelfish (1), a gorgeous and tough dwarf. Found in the northwestern Pacific
Ocean off southern Japan eastward. Aquarium photos of an adult by Hiroyuki Tanaka.
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Centropyge loricula (Gunter
1874), the Flame Angel (1), is a
staple in the ornamental marine trade, with some 5,000 individuals collected and sold
worldwide every week. Western to central Pacific Ocean. Shown: An aquarium
specimen (likely Marshall Islands) and one in Nuka Hiva, Marquesas, Polynesia
where they typically show just one body band.
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To: Pt.
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