All fish / Pomacanthidae

Woodhead's Angelfish

Centropyge woodheadi

Also known as woodhead's pygmy angelfish, black tail angelfish, woodheadi angel, woodhead angelfish

A small dwarf angelfish with a bright lemon-yellow body and a black tail, closely resembling the lemonpeel and Herald's angelfish. It is kept for its vivid colour, active grazing behaviour and modest size, which suits medium reef or fish-only tanks with plenty of live rock.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

9 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Single specimen, or a mated pair in a large tank

Diet

Omnivore: algae and biofilm grazing, plus spirulina-enriched flakes and pellets, mysis and brine shrimp

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western and central Pacific (Line Islands area east to Pitcairn, French Polynesia and Cook Islands)

Breeding

Like other Centropyge it is a protogynous hermaphrodite that spawns pelagic eggs in pairs or harems at dusk. Captive spawning can happen, but rearing the tiny larvae is very difficult and rarely achieved at home.

Good to know

It is uncommon in the trade and often confused with Herald's angelfish (C. heraldi), of which some authors treat it as a colour form. It may nip at clams, soft corals and fleshy LPS, and should not be kept with other dwarf angels in smaller tanks.