Potter's Angel Care Guide
Centropyge potteri is a Hawaiian dwarf angelfish with an orange body and fine blue lines that feeds on algae and detritus.
Overview
Centropyge potteri, Potter's angelfish, is a dwarf angel of the family Pomacanthidae described by Jordan and Metz in 1912. It has a bright orange body marked by thin blue to black vertical lines, with blue-margined fins. FishBase reports a maximum total length of about 12.5 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pomacanthidae
- Genus: Centropyge
- Scientific name: Centropyge potteri
Habitat
Found in the central Pacific around the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll. It is a benthopelagic species occurring over rock, coral and rubble on seaward reefs at depths from about 5 to over 120 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 and detritus in the wild. In aquaria it needs a mature tank rich in microalgae for grazing, supplemented with marine algae, mysis and prepared angelfish foods offered several times daily.
Reef compatibility
Reef compatibility is variable; like many dwarf angels it may nip at coral polyps and clam mantles. It is best kept in a mature tank with abundant grazing. 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
It lives in harems of one male and up to eight females and is a protogynous hermaphrodite; the dominant female changes sex if no male is present. Spawning occurs from December to May near nightfall.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2009). It is collected for the aquarium trade.