Barred angelfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barred angelfish |
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Centropyge multifasciata Smith & Radcliffe, 1911 |
The barred angelfish, also called the banded pygmy-angelfish, is a beautiful species of marine angelfish. It is a type of ray-finned fish that lives in the ocean. This fish belongs to the Pomacanthidae family. You can find it in the warm waters of the Indo-Pacific region.
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What Does a Barred Angelfish Look Like?
The barred angelfish has a white body with 8 black stripes. These stripes turn yellowish near its belly. Young fish have less clear stripes. There is a black spot on its back fin, which fades as the fish gets older. Its mouth, belly fins, and bottom fin are yellow.
Each spine on its back fin has a thin thread at the tip. Its belly fins have two threads at their tips. The tail fin is clear and has a line of black spots. This fish can grow up to 12 centimeters (about 4.7 inches) long.
Where Do Barred Angelfish Live?
Barred angelfish live in the Indo-Pacific area. This huge ocean region stretches from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands near Australia in the west. It goes all the way east to the Society Islands in French Polynesia. You can find them north near the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. They also live south near the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia.
Habitat and Life Cycle of the Barred Angelfish
Barred angelfish like to live in deep waters. They are found between 7 and 70 meters (about 23 to 230 feet) deep. They often hide under rocky overhangs, in caves, or in cracks on steep reef slopes. Sometimes, they are seen in clear lagoon reefs.
These fish are quite shy and like to stay hidden. They rarely move far from a safe hiding spot. You will usually see them in pairs or small groups. Scientists believe they eat algae, sponges, tunicates, and small crustaceans.
Reproduction and Family Life
Barred angelfish live in groups called harems. A harem usually has one main male and several females. Like all other angelfish, they are special because they can change their sex. All barred angelfish start as females. The strongest female in a group can change into a male.
They reproduce by releasing their eggs and sperm into the water. This happens after a long mating dance. The eggs are very tiny, about 0.7 millimeters wide. They hatch after 16 to 18 hours. The baby fish, called larvae, float in the open water for up to 50 days. After this, they settle down to the ocean floor and change into young fish.
Barred Angelfish in Aquariums
The barred angelfish is a popular choice for home aquariums. It is considered a medium-priced dwarf angelfish. These fish usually arrive at pet stores in good health. However, they can have problems if they do not find enough food. This can happen in new tanks without live rock. Barred angelfish often do not eat artificial or frozen foods at first.
It is usually best to keep barred angelfish in pairs or small groups. This helps them feel more comfortable. It also makes it easier to get them to eat frozen or prepared foods. These foods can include fish pellets, flakes, Artemia (brine shrimp), Mysis shrimp, mussels, and fresh oysters.
When first put into a tank, barred angelfish can be very shy. But once they get used to their new home, they become more outgoing. Having other calm, but not too aggressive, tank mates can help them feel safer. Good tank mates include surgeonfish or butterflyfish. If you keep them with other angelfish, remember that barred angelfish are less aggressive than many other angelfish species.
