Lemonpeel Angelfish care guide
Lemonpeel Angelfish (Centropyge flavissima) — minimum tank 200 L, temperature 24-27 °C, pH 8.1-8.4.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
The Lemonpeel Angelfish (Centropyge flavissima) is a dwarf marine angelfish reaching about 14 cm, with a uniformly bright lemon-yellow body and a contrasting electric-blue ring around the eye, blue lips and a blue trim along the gill cover and fins.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pomacanthidae
- Genus: Centropyge
- Scientific name: Centropyge flavissima
Habitat
Distributed across the tropical central and western Pacific, from the Cocos-Keeling Islands to the Marquesas and from southern Japan to the southern Great Barrier Reef. The species inhabits coral-rich shallow lagoons and reef flats from 1 to 25 m depth.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 200 L (52.8 US gal)
- Adult size: 10-14 cm
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- GH: 8-12 °dGH
- Water flow: moderate
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
- Salinity: SG 1.024-1.026
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 8-12
Diet
An omnivore that grazes mostly on filamentous algae, detritus and small invertebrates. In aquaria a varied diet of marine pellets, mysis, enriched brine shrimp and dried algae sheets is required; vegetable content should be high.
Compatibility
Territorial towards other Centropyge; only one per tank. Compatible with peaceful reef community fish — clownfish, gobies, blennies, smaller wrasses and cardinals. Avoid other yellow dwarf angels that may trigger aggression.
Reef compatibility
Reef-safe with caution. The species is more prone than some Centropyge to nip large-polyp stony corals (LPS), tridacnid clam mantles and zoanthids. Behaviour varies between individuals.
Breeding
A pelagic broadcast spawner releasing eggs at dusk. Centropyge flavissima has been captive-bred at a few specialised aquaculture facilities; commercial supply remains predominantly wild-caught.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. The species is widespread and the global population is not considered to be at risk.
Lemonpeel Angelfish Breeding Guide
Overview
The lemonpeel angelfish (Centropyge flavissima) is a dwarf angelfish of the Indo-Pacific, ranging from the Ryukyu Islands of Japan east to the Tuamotu Islands and south to Australia, typically in waters shallower than 20 m in coral-rich lagoons and seaward reefs. It reaches about 14 cm and feeds mainly on filamentous algae. Home breeding is not established; the following describes wild biology and the genus's reproductive mode.
Sexing
The species is a protogynous hermaphrodite. If there is no male in the group, the dominant female may change into a male, and this change can reverse. Social structure consists of harems with one male and several females; juveniles tend to be more secretive than adults.
Conditioning
No home conditioning protocol is documented. The natural diet is dominated by filamentous algae, so a mature reef with grazing surfaces supports normal husbandry rather than serving as a spawning trigger.
Spawning Behaviour & Trigger
The Centropyge dwarf angelfish are pelagic spawners. As documented for the closely related bicolor angelfish, the male visits females at dusk and the female scatters eggs into open water for the male to fertilise; this dusk pelagic pattern is characteristic of the genus.
Egg & Fry Care
Reproduction is pelagic, with eggs and larvae developing in open water rather than in a guarded nest. There is no practical means of rearing the planktonic larvae in a home aquarium.
Common Challenges
Although other Centropyge species such as the coral beauty have been captive-bred at specialist aquaculture facilities using cultured live foods, that approach is not reproducible at home. Pelagic spawning and planktonic larvae keep hobbyist reproduction out of reach.