Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Central Southern Pacific Ocean: Rarotonga Island
Size: 3 inches (7 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits coral rubble areas, ledges and caves on steep outer reef slopes at depths from 200 – 400 feet (60 – 120 m).
General Husbandry: This extremely beautiful deep water dwarf angelfish has alternating reddish orange and white bars on the body, head and fins with its dorsal and anal fins edged in light blue and a translucent tail. Is thought to feed mainly on worms, crustaceans, sponges, tunicates, and detritus.
Not normally seen in the U.S. aquarium trade, and has rarely been available in the Japanese aquarium trade. It is extremely rare to have this species available anywhere in the trade, but when so, it's exceptionally expensive! Not much is known about its exact diet and aquarium care, nevertheless, it should no doubt mimic that of other deep water species. Therefore, its highly recommended it should be added to only well established aquariums containing lots of live rock that will provide it many caves and crevices to explore and/or hide in when feeling threatened. And that frozen foods including fortified brine shrimp, mysis, and especially those containing sponge matter/angelfish food preparations be offered several times a day. Yet, more definitive information is needed before one can precisely denote its care/needs.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Pomacanthidae
Genus: Paracentropyge, Centropyge
FYI: All Centropyge species start life as unsexed individuals, but begin their adult life as females. Then, the larger or more dominant individual within small groups will change sex within a few days to a couple of weeks and become a male. Knowing that size is the main difference between the sexes, and not so much its coloration, all one needs to do is place a small and larger specimen together. Within approximately sixty days one of the two fish will have physically changed sex to accommodate the other. A reversal of this sex change is possible if the need arises, but that requires much more time, e.g., weeks to months.
Keep in mind all angels have cheekspines at the edge of their gill cover; therefore use caution when handling and also avoid using a net to capture it, as it may become stuck or tangled in the net and become damaged when removed.
Synonyms - Paracentropyge boylei, Centropyge boylei
Experience Level: Professional
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Omnivore
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Reef Safe: With caution has a tendency to nip clam mantles, sea anemones, large–polyped stony (LPS) corals and some soft corals such as zoanthids, especially so when underfed.
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 79°F (22 – 26°C).
Specific Gravity: 1.020-1.027
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
