Orangeback Angelfish (Centropyge acanthops)

Orangeback Angelfish Centropyge acanthops
Name	Orangeback Angelfish
Name Lat.	Centropyge acanthops
Family	Angelfishes
Family lat.	Pomacanthidae
Order	Surgeonfishes
Order lat.	Acanthuriformes
Origin	Western Indian Ocean
Habitat	Coral reefs
Diet	Omnivore
pH	8.1-8.4
Hardness	8-10 °KH
Behavior	Semi-aggressive
Keeping	Individual, pair, harem
Reef Compatible	With caution
Care Level	Moderate
Life Span	5-8 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	7 cm
Temperature	22-27 °C
Salinity	33-36 ‰
Aquarium	~ 300 l
US Units
Size	3"
Temperature	72-81 °F
Salinity	1.020-1.025 sg
Aquarium	~ 80 gal

Distribution and habitat

The distribution area of Centropyge acanthops is the east coast of Africa, the Arabian Gulf and the islands in the Indian Ocean, where they mostly live on steep, coral-covered reef edges in 6-40 m depth.

Maintenance

They need a well-structured aquarium with a reef structure that offers hiding, resting and covering possibilities, with living stones that they can graze on (sponges, algae, small crustaceans) and that act like a biological filter as well as sufficient swimming space. Only lime-rich, heavy metal-free sands, gravel or stones may be used as substrate.

Filters, skimmers and heaters are necessary to ensure water quality, as well as pumps to simulate tides, swells and bottom currents. Lighting must be appropriate for the species' day-night rhythm

Salinity: 33-36 ‰	pH value: 8.1-8.4
Carbonate hardness: 8-10 °KH	Nitrate content: 2-8 mg/l
phosphate content: 0.01-0.1 mg/l	nitrite content: 0.0-0.05 mg/l

For salinity, an average value should be aimed for, which may only vary slightly by +/- 0.5 ‰. Ammonia and ammonium must not be measurable. Special attention must be paid to constantly good water quality.

Diet

In nature, they feed mainly on algae and crustaceans. The change of feed does not always succeed without problems. The food supply should consist of a commercially available, vitamin-enriched frozen special food mix for angelfish or a combination of algae (e.g. spirulina, nori), chopped shrimp, crab and mussel meat with live and frozen food, such as mysis, krill, bosmids and artemia, as well as live cyclops, which also serve to keep them busy. It is recommended to feed small portions several times a day (3-5 times)

Regular and varied feeding promotes health and increases resistance.

Behaviour and compatibility

It is recommended to keep them in pairs. To avoid ranking fights, a larger animal should be kept with a considerably smaller one. The dominant, larger animal always develops into the male. They are territorial and can sometimes be aggressive toward other dwarf angelfish of similar coloration or body shape.

Sex dimorphism

They are protogynous hermaphrodites, i.e. most males develop from functional females. External sexual characteristics are not known.

Reproduction and breeding

There are isolated reports of successful breeding in the aquarium.

Important

They are easily confused with Centropyge aurantonotus, but unlike them they have a yellow, slightly transparent caudal fin.

As reef dwellers, they should not be kept in a fish-only aquarium. When kept in pairs, with sufficient activity (live rocks) and varied feeding, they can be maintained even in challenging coral tanks without encroaching on the corals.

If different species are kept together, care should be taken to ensure that the fish match each other in terms of water quality and temperature requirements and social behavior, and that the setup meets the needs of all species kept together. New fish to be introduced must be acclimated slowly to the water in the aquarium

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Werner Knapp; Image: Franz Lowak

Source: ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch; PATZNER & MOOSLEITNER (1999): Meerwasser Atlas Bd. 6, Mergus Verlag

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF