Multibarred Angel Care Guide
Centropyge multifasciata is a shy Indo-Pacific dwarf angelfish with black vertical bars on a white body, often placed in the genus Paracentropyge.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Centropyge multifasciata, the barred or multibarred angelfish, is a dwarf angel of the family Pomacanthidae, placed by some authorities in the genus Paracentropyge. It has a white body with about eight black vertical bars that turn yellowish ventrally, plus yellow mouth and fins. It reaches about 12 cm total length.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pomacanthidae
- Genus: Centropyge
- Scientific name: Centropyge multifasciata
Habitat
Distributed across the Indo-Pacific from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands east to the Society Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to the Great Barrier Reef. A cryptic species, it lives under overhangs and in caves on steep outer reef slopes at depths of about 7-70 m.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 300 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
- dKH: 8-12
- Adult size: 10-12 cm
- Lifespan: 8-15 years
Diet
Feeds on algae, sponges, tunicates and a variety of crustaceans. This diet makes it notoriously difficult to feed in captivity; it requires a mature tank with live sponges and varied small foods.
Reef compatibility
Reef compatibility is variable; because part of its natural diet is sponges and tunicates, it may sample sessile invertebrates and coral polyps. A mature, well-established tank is essential. Maintain specific gravity 1.024-1.026 and dKH 8-12.
Compatibility
A shy, cryptic species best kept with calm tankmates. It is semi-aggressive toward other dwarf angels; avoid mixing Centropyge species and aggressive damsels. Tangs, clownfish, wrasses and gobies are suitable.
Breeding
It is found in pairs or small harems with one dominant male and several females. Spawning is by broadcasting eggs, with pelagic larvae lasting up to about 50 days.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern.
Multibarred Angel (Centropyge multifasciata) Breeding Guide
Overview
The multibarred angel, Centropyge multifasciata (also placed in the genus Paracentropyge), is a cryptic dwarf angelfish of the Indo-Pacific, ranging from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands to the Society Islands at depths of about 7 to 70 m. Reaching around 12 cm, it shelters in caves and overhangs on steep reef slopes and rarely strays far from cover. As a pelagic spawner it is not reproduced in home aquaria.
Sexing
Like all angelfishes it is a protogynous hermaphrodite, with all individuals beginning as females and the dominant ones changing into males. Sex is therefore set by social rank within a harem rather than by any fixed external feature.
Conditioning
In nature it lives in harems of one dominant male with usually several females and is typically encountered in pairs or small groups. As a shy, cryptic species that is also tricky to feed, establishing and conditioning a stable breeding harem in captivity is difficult outside specialist setups.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
The multibarred angel is a broadcast spawner, releasing eggs and sperm into the water following a lengthy mating ritual. This open-water release cannot be reproduced in an aquarium under normal conditions.
Egg & Fry Care
The eggs are pelagic, about 0.7 mm across, and hatch after roughly 16-18 hours. The resulting pelagic larvae drift for up to about 50 days before settling and metamorphosing. Sustaining the tiny larvae on suitable live prey through this long planktonic period is the central obstacle to captive rearing.
Common Challenges
No documented home breeding of this species exists. Its protogynous biology, broadcast pelagic spawning and long-lived larvae confine reproduction to dedicated marine aquaculture rather than the home aquarium.