Centropyge Breeding
Owing to the popularity of the dwarf angel group of Marine aquarium fish (Centropyge), there has always been a enthusiastic curiosity in raising such specimens in captivity by loads of individuals as well as groups. In the end, the genus Centropyge has within its ranks a number of species that are incredibly expensive. Centropyge Boylei (Peppermint Angelfish) and Centropyge Interruptus (Japanese Pygmy Angelfish) are just two pricey members within the genus that can put a severe strain on your wallet.
Whereas numerous people have looked into the subject matter expansively, only a handful have succeeded in breeding them. This is mainly because of the requisite prey items needed for larvae rearing. Dwarf angelfish larvae normally do not consume the common larval fish food that most captive breeders make use of such as rotifers or newly hatched artemia nauplii.
Getting a breeding pair of dwarf angelfish can be a tricky matter as both male along with females may seem utterly alike when dealing with the majority of species within the genus. On the other hand, some species like the Flame Angelfish may have some substantial differences between the two. It is thought that male flame angelfish usually have longer anal and dorsal end tips than females do. However that may be disingenuous as i have come across females whose blue edged tips are just as long as the males.
The angels that displays the most dissimilarity between the sexes is the rare along with costly Centropyge Interruptus (Japanese Pygmy Angel). Males have a great deal more blue on their overall bodies than females do. While courting, most specimens will go through a coloration transformation of some sort. In the case of Multicolor angelfish male, its colors are awfully washed out all through breeding.
Although telling the sexes apart is difficult, forming a couple by yourself is a moderately straightforward process. Always purchase 2 angelfish with a great difference in size. Buy the biggest specimen together with the tiniest specimen you can locate. A three inch flame angel as well as a 1 1/2 to 2 inch specimen is perfect.
Put them together at the same time in a tank that is no smaller than three foot long. There will always be some harassment from the bigger angel in the early days. Make sure the smaller angelfish is not getting excessive harassment as this may be lethal. If such a situation arises, fence off part of the aquarium with a screen and try once more.
Courting takes place in the evening as the male will visit each female within his large territory. Upon choosing a suitable female to breed with, they begin the courting dance. The male will nudge the female up the water column until they both release eggs and sperm at the same time into the water column.
The eggs have a drop of oil that makes it buoyant. They will rise to the ocean surface where they invariably hatch and begin feasting on the rich planktonic life present there. It is unclear at what point they begin migrating back into the reefs.
Attempts to raise centropyge larvae has seen a breakthrough with the efforts of Frank Baensch and a number of experts in the field a few years ago. The trick was in finding suitable food for them. Rotifers, artemia nauplii, ciliates were either too large or didn't evoke a feeding response from the larvae.
Their breakthrough came when a suitable copepod nauplii was found to elicit a feeding response. Frank Baensch of RCT Hawaii went on to breed a large number of centropyge species in captivity. However, they have since closed their doors to the marine aquarium industry while many are awaiting their reopening.
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