All fish / Pomacanthidae

Whitetail Pygmy Angelfish

Centropyge flavicauda

Also known as white tail pygmy angelfish, yellowtail pygmy angelfish, whitetail angelfish, yellow-tail angelfish, fisher's angelfish (misapplied), シラユキヤッコ, 白尾刺尻鱼, 黄尾刺尻鱼

This is one of the smallest pygmy angelfish. It has a deep blue to blackish body and a pale white or yellowish tail. Reef keepers like it because it is tiny, hardy once settled, and spends its time picking at algae among the rockwork.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

6 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Singly, or as a mated pair in a larger tank

Diet

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

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-West Pacific, from East Africa to the western and central Pacific

Breeding

It is a protogynous hermaphrodite and spawns pelagic eggs at dusk in harem groups. Spawning has been seen in aquariums, but rearing the very small larvae is difficult and rarely achieved.

Good to know

It may nip at clams and fleshy corals, and it can be aggressive towards other dwarf angelfish, so keep only one Centropyge per tank unless the tank is large. Do not confuse it with the similar Fisher's angelfish, Centropyge fisheri.