Chaetodontoplus duboulayi (Scribbled Angelfish): Breeding Guide

Chaetodontoplus duboulayi is an Australasian protogynous angelfish with documented egg size and fecundity. It has been bred commercially but not in home aquariums.

Overview

Chaetodontoplus duboulayi is a Pomacanthidae angelfish of the Indo-West Pacific, found across northern Australia and parts of Indonesia south to Lord Howe Island. FishBase records a maximum length of 28 cm and a depth range of 5 to 20 m on coastal and inner reefs with rubble, rock, sponge and seawhip. It feeds on sponges and tunicates.

Sexing

Wikipedia describes the species as a protogynous hermaphrodite: all individuals are female initially and the dominant ones change to males. Functional sex therefore follows social rank rather than fixed external markings.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

Like other marine angelfish, the scribbled angelfish is a pelagic spawner that releases gametes into open water. Wikipedia cites 1993 research giving an egg size of about 0.9 to 0.92 mm and a per-spawning fecundity of roughly 5,000 to 33,000 eggs.

Egg & Fry Care

The small pelagic eggs hatch into planktonic larvae that need cultured live feeds through settlement. Wikipedia notes the species has been successfully bred in captivity, with specimens reaching the trade through Quality Marine, indicating hatchery-scale rather than home rearing.

Common Challenges

Maintaining a protogynous group, inducing pelagic spawning and culturing the planktonic larvae all require specialist infrastructure. These needs place reproduction in aquaculture facilities rather than home aquariums.