Multicolor angelfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Multicolor angelfish |
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The multicolor angelfish (scientific name: Centropyge multicolor) is a beautiful and colorful fish that lives in the ocean. It's also known as the pearlback angelfish. This small fish is a type of marine angelfish and belongs to the Pomacanthidae family. You can find it swimming in the Pacific Ocean. Sometimes, these angelfish are kept in home aquariums because of their stunning looks. They can grow up to about 9 centimeters (3.5 inches) long.
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What Does It Look Like?
The multicolor angelfish has a body that is mostly a pale peach or orange color. Behind its eyes, there's a blue area with small black spots. Its dorsal (top) and anal fins (bottom) are a bright, intense blue. The caudal fin (tail fin) is a vivid yellow.
You might also notice a patch of shiny, silvery-white color on its upper middle side. This patch stretches all the way to its tail fin. The dorsal fin has 14 stiff spines and 16-17 soft rays. The anal fin has 3 spines and 17 soft rays. This fish can grow to a maximum length of about 9 centimeters (3.5 inches).
Where Does It Live?
The multicolor angelfish lives in many island groups across the western and central Pacific Ocean. They have been seen near Palau and the Caroline Islands. You can also find them around Guam, the Marshall Islands, and the Gilbert Islands in Kiribati.
They are also found near Fiji, Tonga, the Cook Islands, and the Society Islands in French Polynesia. Sometimes, they travel to new places like the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll. When they appear in these new places, they are called "vagrants."
Habitat and Life Cycle
Where They Live
The multicolor angelfish is a type of fish that lives near the bottom of the ocean. It prefers depths between 20 and 90 meters (about 65 to 295 feet). You can find them on the outer parts of coral reefs. They like areas where there are patches of broken rocks and coral pieces. These spots are usually found between large areas of healthy coral.
What They Eat and How They Live
This fish is quite shy. It mostly eats algae, which are like tiny ocean plants. However, it probably also eats small amounts of tiny animals that live on the ocean floor.
Multicolor angelfish usually live in small groups called harems. These groups typically have 3 to 7 fish.
How They Reproduce
Interestingly, this species is a "protogynous hermaphrodite." This means they can change their sex! They are all born as females. If there is no male fish in a group, one of the females will change into a male. This helps the group continue to reproduce.
Why Are They Important to People?
The multicolor angelfish is a popular fish in the aquarium trade. People who have home aquariums love their bright colors. Because of this, they are often bred in captivity. Breeding them in special facilities helps make them more available for hobbyists. It also means fewer fish need to be taken from the wild.
