Mango Angel Care Guide
Centropyge shepardi is a western Pacific dwarf angelfish from the Marianas with an apricot-orange body and blue fin margins in males.
Overview
Centropyge shepardi, Shepard's or mango angelfish, is a dwarf angel of the family Pomacanthidae. Its body ranges from nearly red to light apricot, with males showing a vivid blue margin on the soft dorsal and anal fins and variable dark barring. It reaches about 9 cm total length.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pomacanthidae
- Genus: Centropyge
- Scientific name: Centropyge shepardi
Habitat
Restricted to the western Pacific in the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and the Ogasawara Islands of southern Japan, with recent records at Yoron and Okinoerabu Islands. It occurs on exposed outer reef slopes and occasionally lagoon reefs with mixed live and dead coral at depths of about 10-56 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: 12-14 cm
- Lifespan: 8-15 years
Diet
Mainly herbivorous, with algae forming most of its diet. In aquaria it needs a mature tank with microalgae for grazing plus marine algae and prepared foods.
Reef compatibility
Reef compatibility is variable; as with other Centropyge it may nip coral polyps and clam mantles. A mature tank with abundant grazing helps. 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 forms harems of three to seven individuals and is a broadcast spawner, spawning at dusk with eggs hatching in about two to three days.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. It is rare and expensive in the aquarium trade.