Flame angelfish

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Flame angelfish
Flame angelfish (Centropyge loricula).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Pomacanthidae
Genus: Centropyge
Species:
C. loricula
Binomial name
Centropyge loricula
(Günther, 1874)
Synonyms [2]
  • Holacanthus loriculusGünther, 1874
  • Centropyge loricula(Günther, 1874)
  • Centropyge flammeus(Schultz & Woods, 1953)

The flame angelfish (Centropyge loricula) [3] is a marine angelfish of the family Pomacanthidae found in tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean. [3] Other common names include flame angel, flaming angelfish and Japanese pygmy angelfish. [1]

Contents

Description

The flame angelfish's coloration is bright orange-red with a vertical elongated black spot and four or five bars on the sides, the posterior part of the dorsal, and anal fins, with alternating short purple-blue and black bands. [3] Specimens from the Marquesas lack the vertical black bars. [1] Males are generally larger and slightly more colored than females.

The life span of the flame angelfish is 5–7 years or more. [4]

Range

It is found in various reefs of Oceania, most common in Marshall, Line and Cook Islands. The fish is also, although less commonly, found in the Hawaiian Islands. Particularly, the flame angelfish can be found on the foreslope of coral reefs and clear lagoons. [1]

Diet

In the wild, the flame angelfish has a varied diet consisting of algae and crustaceans. There are occasional specimens that live very long lives in reef aquaria, but the majority of these fish will often die for no apparent reason when they are older. This may be easily explained as many of the Centropyge family are predominantly plankton eaters as juveniles and will switch to consuming its natural adult diet once fully grown. Sometimes, all it takes is for an underfed individual to "test" a food source. This being the case, angelfish are usually added to a well established tank and fed frozen mysis shrimp or meaty crustaceans such as shrimp and clam.

In aquarium

In captivity, this species feeds on a variety of food including brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and other meat as well as spirulina, seaweed sheets, and pellets, also from personal experience[ opinion ] they favor tuna and table shrimp. [3]

The flame angelfish is known to be shy upon introduction to an established aquarium, [3] especially smaller specimens; but, within a week, it will gain confidence and is then constantly seen grazing around live rock during the day.

The flame angelfish is often considered reef safe. They will adapt to a captive diet quickly which will usually prevent them from consuming soft or stony corals. Individual specimens that do pick at coral or clam mantles are more often than not under fed or under nourished.

Breeding

The flame angelfish has been known to spawn in captivity, with successfully captive bred specimens offered by Atoll Farm Aquaculture in Thailand. [5] The flame angelfish is haremic in the wild and can be kept in pairs or trios in an extra-large aquarium. The aquarium should contain only one male — the males have more blue on the outer edge of the dorsal and anal fins, and tend to be larger. The fish will spawn toward the end of the day and release pelagic gametes into the water column. Collecting the eggs and raising the larvae is the biggest challenge. The flame Angelfish are broadcast spawners, releasing eggs and sperm simultaneously at dusk. They rise into the water column and release their eggs and sperm at the top.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pomacanthidae</span> Family of fishes

Marine angelfish are perciform fish of the family Pomacanthidae. They are found on shallow reefs in the tropical Atlantic, Indian, and mostly western Pacific Oceans. The family contains seven genera and about 86 species. They should not be confused with the freshwater angelfish, tropical cichlids of the Amazon Basin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orangeback angelfish</span> Species of fish

The orangeback angelfish, also known as the flameback angelfish, African pygmy angelfish and in South Africa as the Jumping Bean or Bean, is a species of ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the western Indian Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bicolor angelfish</span> Species of fish

The bicolor angelfish is a marine species of fish, easily recognizable by its yellow tail, yellow front half of their body, and blue rear with blue patterns above and around the eye. Other names of this angelfish include: Pacific rock beauty, oriole angelfish, oriole dwarf angel, blue and gold angel, and two-colored angel. The life expectancy in the wild varies greatly, depending on location, and ranges between 5 and 13 years. These fish tend to grow to a maximum of 6 inches in length. The larval stages lasts approximately 32 days.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japanese angelfish</span> Species of fish

The Japanese angelfish or Japanese pygmy angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the western Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal angelfish</span> Species of fish

The royal angelfish, or regal angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae, and the monotypic genus Pygoplites. It is found in tropical Indo-Pacific oceans. It can grow as long as 25 cm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen angelfish</span> Species of marine angelfish

The queen angelfish, also known as the blue angelfish, golden angelfish, or yellow angelfish, is a species of marine angelfish found in the western Atlantic Ocean. It is a benthic warm-water species that lives in coral reefs. It is recognized by its blue and yellow coloration and a distinctive spot or "crown" on its forehead. This crown distinguishes it from the closely related and similar-looking Bermuda blue angelfish, with which it overlaps in range and can interbreed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banded angelfish</span> Species of fish

The banded angelfish, also known as the bandit angelfish and three spine angelfish, is a distinctive species ray-finned fish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is endemic to deeper reefs in Hawaii and the Johnston Atoll.

<i>Chaetodontoplus duboulayi</i> Species of fish

Chaetodontoplus duboulayi, the scribbled angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. This species is from the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

<i>Paracentropyge multifasciata</i> Species of fish

Paracentropyge multifasciata, the barred angelfish, banded pygmy-angelfish, many-banded angelfish, multi-banded angelfish or multibarred angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish, belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is native to the Indo-Pacific.

<i>Centropyge heraldi</i> Species of fish

Centropyge heraldi, the yellow angelfish or Herald's angelfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It comes from the Pacific Ocean and sometimes makes its way into the aquarium trade.

<i>Centropyge multicolor</i> Species of fish

Centropyge multicolor, the multicolor angelfish or pearlback angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is from the Pacific Ocean that sometimes makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 9 cm in length.

<i>Centropyge potteri</i> Species of fish

Centropyge potteri, commonly known as the russet angelfish, Potter's angelfish or Potter's pygmy angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the central Pacific Ocean.

<i>Centropyge venusta</i> Species of fish

Centropyge venusta, the purplemask angelfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae, It is found in the Western Pacific and is occasionally found the aquarium trade.

<i>Centropyge multispinis</i> Species of fish

Centropyge multispinis, known by the common names bluefin dwarf, brown pygmy angelfish, dusky angelfish, dusky cherub, many-spined angelfish, and multispined angelfish, is a species of marine ray finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific area.

<i>Centropyge fisheri</i> Species of fish

Centropyge fisheri, the orange angelfish, whitetail angelfish, damsel angelfish, yellowtail angelfish, Hawaiian flame angelfish, Fisher’s angelfish, Fisher’s dwarf angelfish or Fisher’s pygmy angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden angelfish</span> Species of fish

Golden angelfish, also known as golden pygmy angelfish or velvet dwarf angel, is a small marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It inhabits shallow reefs in the western Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peppermint angelfish</span> Species of fish

The peppermint angelfish is a relatively small species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the Central area of the South Pacific Ocean, and is known to be native to the Cook Islands.

<i>Centropyge shepardi</i> Species of fish

Centropyge shepardi, the mango angelfish, Shepard’s angelfish or Shepard’s pygmy angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the Western Pacific Ocean.

<i>Pleurosicya mossambica</i> Species of fish

Pleurosicya mossambica, also known as the toothy goby or the Mozambique ghost goby, is a small species of goby native to the tropical Indo-West Pacific region. It was first described by South African ichthyologist J.L.B. Smith in 1959. Like many other gobies, it forms commensal relationships with several other marine invertebrates, including soft corals and sponges.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Allen, G.; Fricke, R.; Pyle, R.; Myers, R. (2010). "Centropyge loricula". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2010: e.T155308A4771656. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T155308A4771656.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Centropyge loricula" in FishBase. December 2019 version.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Animal Planet :: Fish Guide -- Angelfish, Dwarf". Animal Planet. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
  4. "Flame Angel fish - Centropyge loricula". Fishlore. Retrieved 21 Sep 2012.
  5. "Thailand's Atoll Farm Latest To Successfully Breed Pygmy Angelfish". Reef Builders. Retrieved 18 May 2019.