Vermiculated Angelfish (Chaetodontoplus mesoleucus)
| Vermiculated Angelfish Chaetodontoplus mesoleucus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Vermiculated Angelfish |
| Name Lat. | Chaetodontoplus mesoleucus |
| Family | Angelfishes |
| Family lat. | Pomacanthidae |
| Order | Surgeonfishes |
| Order lat. | Acanthuriformes |
| Origin | Indo-West Pacific |
| Habitat | Lagoons, coastal reefs |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| pH | 8.1-8.4 |
| Hardness | 8-10 °KH |
| Behavior | Semi-aggressive |
| Keeping | Individual, pair |
| Reef Compatible | With caution |
| Care Level | Difficult |
| Life Span | N/A |
| Protection | No |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | 18 cm |
| Temperature | 22-27 °C |
| Salinity | 33-36 ‰ |
| Aquarium | ~ 750 l |
| US Units | |
| Size | 7" |
| Temperature | 72-81 °F |
| Salinity | 1.020-1.025 sg |
| Aquarium | ~ 200 gal |
Distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the swimming Chaetodontoplus mesoleucus is the eastern Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean, from Sri Lanka and Indonesia to southern Japan and New Guinea. There they live mostly in small groups on coastal reefs with sponge and coral growth.
Maintenance
They need a well-structured aquarium with a reef structure that offers hiding, resting and covering possibilities (crevices, caves), with living stones that they can graze on and that act like a biological filter as well as sufficient swimming space. Only lime-rich, heavy metal-free substrates 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 match the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals
| 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, crustaceans and sponges. 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. Dry food (granules, flakes) can be offered in addition. 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, two different sized or two juvenile animals should be placed in the aquarium at the same time. The dominant, larger animal always develops into the male. They are territorial and can be aggressive towards other angelfish. Towards other fish they usually behave peacefully.
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
As reef dwellers they should not be kept in a fish-only aquarium. If kept in pairs, with sufficient activity (live stones, corals, large reef surface) and frequent as well as varied feeding, they can be maintained even in demanding coral tanks without serious attacks on the corals.
If different species are kept together, care should be taken that the fish match each other in terms of water quality and temperature requirements as well as their 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 Winter; Image: Franz Lowak
Source: KUITER, DEBELIUS (2007): Atlas der Meeresfische: Die Fische an den Küsten der Weltmeere, Kosmos Verlag; PATZNER & MOOSLEITNER (1999): Meerwasser Atlas Bd. 6, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch
- Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF