Coral
Beauty Angelfish or Centropyge
bispinosus
are members of the family Pomacanthidae.
This species is indigenous to the Indo-Pacific, from East
Africa
to the Philippine Islands. Most
of the coral beauties made available for the aquarium industry
originate from Fiji.
This
Dwarf
angelfish
lives up to its name. Their heads, upper body region and dorsal fin are
bright blue
or purple. This primary coloration fades into yellow or orange
transitioning
into shade of pink at mid-body. Thin vertical banding of the primary
body color
breaks up this transition. Pectoral fins are typically orange or
yellow. Anal
and caudal fins are blue or purple. All but the pectoral fins are
frequently
outlined in neon blue. This species is also sold under the trade names
Twospined Angel or Dusky Angelfish.
This
is
an excellent choice for amateur aquarists who want to own their first
angelfish.
They have all the exotic beauty one expects in a marine angelfish. They
only
grow to an adult length of 4 inches. So you don’t need an
enormous aquarium to
house them. They can be raised in a tank as small as 30 gallons. Most
dwarf angels
carry a moderate to expert care level (depending on the informational
source). Coral
beauties are one of the hardiest angelfish. These fish have an easy
care level
so they are perfect for novice saltwater aquarium owners. Regardless of
size,
most angelfish are labeled as semi-aggressive. This species is among
the most
peace loving of all angelfish. They may pick on smaller fish or fight
with
similar looking species as they mature but the do not demonstrate near
the
instinctive territorial behavior of most angels. More experienced
aquarists
will enjoy the fact that this species is rated reef safe if it is
introduced to
a marine reef environment as juvenile and is well fed as an adult. All
of these
factors make the coral beauty one of the most popular and commonly kept
angelfish in home aquariums.
This is
an omnivorous species. Juveniles are
primarily planktonic feeders. An adult’s diet consists
largely of algae. You
will need to supply your aquarium with plenty of cured live rock to
insure the
general health of any marine angelfish. Coral, crustaceans, mollusks
and worms
comprise the remainder of an adult’s dietary intake. This is
why you want to
introduce this species to a reef set up when they are still juveniles.
The
trick is to get them accustomed to aquarium food and algae as their
total dietary
intake before they develop their adult taste buds. Feeding should take
place
2-3 times a day.
Like
most
angelfish, this is a hermaphroditic species. They are born of
indeterminate
sexuality. They will then develop into females. In a population
consisting
exclusively of females the largest, most dominant fish will undergo a
hormonal
change until it transforms into a male.
Coral
beauties are one of the few marine species that have been known to
breed in
home aquariums. Breeding is induced by the release of a gamete, or sex
cell,
into the water. The gamete’s presence will make this species
feel the need to spawn.
Spawning occurs shortly before dusk in their natural environment. In an
aquarium spawning is just as cyclic. Spawning will take place precisely
one
hour before the lights turn off in an aquarium with a timer. The fact
that
breeding habits make the transition into captivity is truly phenomenal.
Courtship
begins with the male dashing around erratically in a pre-mating dance.
Once the
female is attracted, the perspective mates will then begin swimming
side by
side. The two will then seek out the most turbulent area in the
aquarium. This
is generally found next to the power head. The male will rub his nose
against
the female’s side. The female will respond by expanding her
fins in a seductive
manner and then dashing off so as not to be thought of as an easy
target for
the male’s affection.
Once the courtship rituals
are completed, the
female will release a small clutch of eggs (usually 12-20) one at a
time for
fertilization. The eggs are left to float away. Juveniles are platonic
feeders.
Fry must be fed newly hatched brine shrimp in order to increase their
likelihood of survival.
Environmental Parameters
|
Temperature
|
pH Level |
Specific Gravity |
| 72-78
°F |
8.1-8.4 |
1.020-1.025 |