Rusty angelfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rusty angelfish |
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The rusty angelfish (scientific name: Centropyge ferrugata) is a beautiful small fish that lives in the ocean. It's a type of marine angelfish and belongs to a group of fish called Pomacanthidae. You can find these fish in the western part of the Pacific Ocean. Sometimes, people even keep them as pets in home aquariums!
What Does It Look Like?
The rusty angelfish has a body that is brownish-orange. It has cool black spots on its upper sides. Its tail fin, top fin, and bottom fin all have a bright blue edge, which makes them stand out! This fish is quite small, growing up to about 10 centimeters (4 inches) long.
Where Does It Live?
This angelfish lives in the western Pacific Ocean. You can find it in places like southern Japan, southern Taiwan, and the Philippines. It likes to swim in warm ocean waters.
Home and Habits
Rusty angelfish usually live in water that is between 6 and 30 meters (20 to 100 feet) deep. They like to hang out on rocky reefs or in areas with lots of broken rocks and thick algae. You might see them swimming alone, or sometimes in small groups.
They love to munch on mats of stringy algae. But they also eat other things like tiny bits of dead plants and animals (called detritus), small parts of corals, sponges, and little sea snails.
Life Cycle
Rusty angelfish have an interesting way of reproducing. They are born as females, but sometimes, the biggest female in a group can even change into a male if there isn't one already! This helps them make sure they always have a male to lead the group and help them have baby fish.
As a Pet
Because they are so pretty, rusty angelfish are sometimes kept in home aquariums. They have even been successfully bred and raised by people in captivity, which means they can have baby fish in tanks!
