Centropyge Acanthops
Scientific Name : Centropyge Acanthops
Origin : West Indian Ocean
Temperament : Semi-Aggressive
Temperature : 72F - 82F
Maximum Size : 3 Inches
Diet : Omnivore
Difficulty : medium
Reef Safe : With Caution
Tank Size : 30 Gallons
Centropyge Acanthops, or its common name, the African Flameback Angelfish, is one of two very similar fishes. The other being Centropyge Aurantonotus which is known as the Brazilian Flameback Angelfish.
Both of them have a brilliant orange to yellow streak across the top half of their bodies that start from the head and stop at the end of the soft dorsal fin. The rest of the body is colored by a deep royal blue which is also present around the eyes.
While they may look like the same fish to the casual onlooker, there is a very easy way to tell both the African and Brazilian flameback angels apart. Centropyge Acanthops has a yellow tail while Centropyge Aurantonotus has a tail that is deep blue like the rest of its main body. They are one of the smallest members within the genus Centropyge. They are commonly sold at sizes from 2 to 3 inches in length. This fish will usually not exceed a maximum of three inches. They are found primarily on Africa's east coast.
They are a pricey little fish with specimens going for as much as $60 per fish. They are also rather uncommon in the marine aquarium trade and are usually sold very quickly. If you are looking for them, don't hesitate to get them on the spot. Provided they are healthy specimens of course. Centropyge Acanthops is not known for being difficult feeders in captivity and they should start eating once they have adjusted to the aquarium.
The genus centropyge feed primarily on detritus, small crustaceans and algae. Despite this, the vast majority of them tend to accept most prepated foods in captivity. It is always important to offer a mix of both meaty and algae or spirulina best foods in the marine aquarium.
A good mix of meaty and vegetable matter is essential to the overall health of dwarf angels. Some other good foods to feed daily are * Sea Veggies Seaweed, which are nutritious seaweed for grazers. Prime Reef * Flake Food which is a blend of numerous seafood and algae such as seaweed, lobster meat, salmon, shrimp, squid and zooplankton.
The best dry pellet foods on the market come from the highly reputable makers, * New Life Spectrum. Use a * Seaweed Clip when feeding them seaweed sheets. Simply take a sheet, fold it and clip it. Secure the clip to the aquarium glass in a location of your choice and they should graze on it throughout the day. Centropyge species can nip on corals so be warned.
They will not do well with other african flamebacks in a single aquarium unless they are a mated pair or if the tank is fairly large. They need a bare minimum of 30 gallons but should really be given something like a 50 gallon or larger aquarium. Always quarantine new fish to avoid spreading diseases and parasites in the main aquarium.
Centropyge Acanthops is a fabulous addition to any aquarium. They are small, active and splendidly colored.
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