All fish / Pomacanthidae

Rusty Angelfish

Centropyge ferrugata

Also known as rusty angel, rusty dwarf angelfish, ferrugata angelfish, rusty pygmy angelfish, ferrugatus angelfish, アカハラヤッコ, 锈色刺尻鱼, 锈红刺尻鱼

A small dwarf angelfish with a rusty orange-brown body covered in fine dark spots, with blue edges on the dorsal, anal and tail fins. It is hardy for an angelfish and adds colour and lively behaviour to fish-only or carefully chosen reef tanks with plenty of live rock to graze.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Singly, or as one male with females in a large tank

Diet

Omnivore: algae and biofilm grazing, spirulina-based foods, mysis, brine shrimp and quality marine pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific: southern Japan, Taiwan, Philippines and nearby islands

Breeding

Like other Centropyge it is a protogynous hermaphrodite that spawns in pairs at dusk, releasing floating eggs. Spawning happens in aquariums, but raising the tiny pelagic larvae is very difficult and rarely achieved by hobbyists.

Good to know

It may nip at soft corals, clam mantles and large-polyp stony corals, so it is not fully reef safe. Keep only one dwarf angelfish per tank unless the tank is large, as it can fight with similar species.