Centropyge is a genus of fish in the family Pomacanthidae found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean. These species do not exceed 15 cm in length and live in haremic structures with one dominant male and multiple females. Although it is hard to identify their gender; females are often shorter and more round finned. Like many other reef fish and all marine angelfish, this genus is protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning that they start their adult lives as females and the dominant individual in a group can change to a male within days. A reversal of this sex change is possible if the social status of the individual changes, it is however a process that requires much more time.
In aquaria
This genus prefer matured reef tanks due to the usually high water quality and the often used "live rock". In nature most species feed on algae, sponges and small benthic invertebrates. Having an abundance of well cured live rock will help to supplement their diet. This is also in the interest of the aquarist, as underfed Centropyge angels may nip at corals and sessile invertebrates. The difficulty of keeping varies from species to species, as does their rarity and correspondingly their price. These species are social that live in loose groups in the wild. So if multiple this genus is kept to a tank, they will establish a pecking order. To reduce the stresses of establishing the dominance in the group it is wise to choose semi-adult specimens or specimens of different size. Dwarf angels can be quite shy initially, hiding in corals, caves and crevices but become more outgoing when they have established their territory - if they are kept with appropriate tank mates and in appropriately sized tanks.
Species
There are currently 35 recognized species in this genus:
- Centropyge abei G. R. Allen, Young & P. L. Colin, 2006 (Abe's pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge acanthops (Norman, 1922) (Orange-back pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge argi Woods & Kanazawa, 1951 (Cherub pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge aurantia J. E. Randall & Wass, 1974 (Golden pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge aurantonotus W. E. Burgess, 1974 (Flame-back pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge bicolor (Bloch, 1787) (Bicolor pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge bispinosa (Günther, 1860) (Two-spined pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge boylei Pyle & J. E. Randall, 1992 (Peppermint pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge cocosensis K. N. Shen, C. W. Chang, Delrieu-Trottin & Borsa, 2016 (Cocos pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge colini Smith-Vaniz & J. E. Randall, 1974 (Cocos-Keeling angelfish)
- Centropyge debelius Pyle, 1990 (Blue Mauritius pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge deborae K. N. Shen, H. C. Ho & C. W. Chang, 2012 (Blue velvet pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge eibli Klausewitz, 1963 (Black-tail pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge ferrugata J. E. Randall & W. E. Burgess, 1972 (Rusty pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge fisheri (Snyder, 1904) (Orange pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge flavipectoralis J. E. Randall & Klausewitz, 1977 (Yellow-fin pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge flavissima (G. Cuvier, 1831) (Lemon-peel pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge heraldi Woods & L. P. Schultz, 1953 (Yellow pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge hotumatua J. E. Randall & D. K. Caldwell, 1973 (Black-ear pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge interrupta (S. Tanaka (I), 1918) (Japanese pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge joculator Smith-Vaniz & J. E. Randall, 1974 (Yellow-head pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge loriculus (Günther, 1874) (Flame pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge multicolor J. E. Randall & Wass, 1974 (Multicolor pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge multispinis (Playfair, 1867) (Dusky pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge nahackyi Kosaki, 1989 (Nahacky's pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge narcosis Pyle & J. E. Randall, 1993 (Narc pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge nigriocellus Woods & L. P. Schultz, 1953 (Black-spot pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge nox (Bleeker, 1853) (Midnight pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge potteri (D. S. Jordan & Metz, 1912) (Russet pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge resplendens Lubbock & Sankey, 1975 (Resplendent pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge shepardi J. E. Randall & Yasuda, 1979 (Mango pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge tibicen (G. Cuvier, 1831) (Key-hole pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge venusta (Yasuda & Tominaga, 1969) (Purple-mask pygmy angelfish)
- Centropyge vrolikii (Bleeker, 1853) (Pearl-scale angelfish)
- Centropyge woodheadi Kuiter, 1998 (Black-fin pygmy angelfish)
References
