All fish / Pomacanthidae

Joculator Angelfish

Centropyge joculator

Also known as joculator angel, yellowhead angelfish, cocos pygmy angelfish, christmas island angelfish, joculator pygmy angelfish, ジョキュラトール, 约氏刺尻鱼

A small dwarf angelfish with a bright yellow head and tail and a deep blue-black body, with blue rings around the eyes. It is prized by reef keepers because it comes from a very limited range around Christmas and Cocos Islands, making it rare and expensive in the trade.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

8 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Singly, or as a mated pair in a larger tank

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Eastern Indian Ocean: Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Breeding

Like other Centropyge it is a protogynous hermaphrodite that spawns in pairs at dusk, releasing floating eggs. Captive breeding is very rarely achieved because the tiny larvae need specialised live foods.

Good to know

May nip at clams, soft corals and large-polyped stony corals, so it is only cautiously reef safe. Keep only one dwarf angelfish per tank unless the aquarium is large, and expect a high price due to its remote origin.