by Joe Rowlett | Nov 14, 2022 | Fish
An unusual fish that's not what it seems by Joe Rowlett | Aug 6, 2018 | Fish
There's a lot to unpack with this dark-headed Centropyge. by Joe Rowlett | Jul 13, 2018 | Fish
The Solar Flare Angelfish has been Eclipsed. by Joe Rowlett | Jun 6, 2016 | Fish
The smallest members of the angelfish family belong to a distinctive group named Xiphypops, which includes such common aquarium species as the Cherub, Flameback and Fisher’s Angelfishes. This group is noteworthy for its circumtropical distribution—these being the only... by Saltwater Smarts | Mar 30, 2016 | Fish, Reef, Science, Tanks
Atlantic pygmy angelfish (Centropyge argi)Having very recently departed the state of Ohio and resettled his family down in the Florida Keys, Caribbean Chris has had to part with his beloved, long-established Caribbean-biotope tank. He’s also had to come to terms with the reality that the specimens he bequeathed to me are now gracelessly intermingled with my Indo-Pacific species. So, to give CC a little inspiration (or torment his soul, either way), I thought I’d dedicate today’s post to a fish species that might be a welcome addition to his new tank whenever he gets around to setting it up—the Atlantic pygmy angelfish, aka the cherub angelfish (Centropyge argi). A denizen of the tropical western Atlantic and Caribbean Sea, this dwarf angel is a visual gem and can be a good choice for smaller systems. It is, however, rather feisty for its size, and this trait must be factored in when choosing tankmates, contemplating order of introduction, etc.Physical traits C. argi is blue overall with varying (by individual) degrees of orange-yellow coloration on its face and throat. The eyes are ringed with blue, and most of the fins (with the exception of the pectorals, which are yellow) are very dark blue, almost blackish, with lighter blue margins. Typical of marine angels, this species also has sharp, backward-curving spines on its gill covers (which are prone to getting tangled in nets).
