African Flameback Angel Care Guide
Centropyge acanthops is a small western Indian Ocean dwarf angelfish with golden-yellow upperparts and a deep blue lower body.
Overview
Centropyge acanthops, the African pygmy or orangeback angelfish, is a dwarf angel of the family Pomacanthidae, originally described as Holacanthus acanthops by Norman in 1922. The head, upper flanks, dorsal fin and tail are golden yellow, while the lower body and anal fin are blue with dense purple spotting and blue-ringed eyes. It reaches about 8 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pomacanthidae
- Genus: Centropyge
- Scientific name: Centropyge acanthops
Habitat
Found across the western Indian Ocean, including East Africa from Somalia to the Eastern Cape, Madagascar, the Seychelles, Comoros, Mascarene and Chagos Islands and the Maldives. It occurs over coral and coral rubble with dense algal growth at depths of about 1-70 m.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 200 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
- dKH: 8-12
- Adult size: 6-8 cm
- Lifespan: 8-15 years
Diet
Grazes on algae and small invertebrates. In aquaria it needs a mature tank with microalgae for grazing plus marine algae and small prepared foods.
Reef compatibility
Reef compatibility is variable but it is generally considered one of the more reef-tolerant dwarf angels; it may still sample coral polyps. Maintain specific gravity 1.024-1.026 and dKH 8-12.
Compatibility
Semi-aggressive, especially toward other dwarf angels; avoid keeping multiple Centropyge in one tank and avoid aggressive damsels. Suitable tankmates include tangs, clownfish, wrasses and gobies.
Breeding
A social species often found in groups of up to ten fishes; it is a protogynous hermaphrodite where the dominant female becomes male. It spawns at dusk and has been bred in captivity.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. It is common in the aquarium trade.