Centropyge multifasciata
Encyclopedia
The barred angelfish or multibarred angelfish (Centropyge multifasciata) is a species of marine angelfish (family Pomacanthidae) of the order Perciformes
. It is native to the Indo-Pacific
, more specifically an area from the Cocos-Keeling Atoll
to the Society Islands
, ranging north to the Yaeyama Islands
and south to the Great Barrier Reef
. C. multifasciata is one of three deeper-bodied species of dwarf angels (the other species include C. boylei and C. venusta). It has a white base color with eight black vertical bars that become yellowish ventrally and it grows to 12cm SL. Juveniles possess fewer bars and have a distinctive ocellus
on their dorsal fin that fades when they grow. It inhabits caves and crevices in outer reef slopes and can be found in depths between 20m and 70m. C. multifasciata feeds on algae, sponges, tunicates and other benthic invertebrates and small crustaceans and can often be seen foraging upside-down on cave ceilings.
Centropyge multifasciata lives in harems with one dominant male and usually multiple females. Like all other Centropyge angels it is a protogynous hermaphrodite
, with all individuals being female initially and the dominant ones changing to males. Barred angelfish are broadcast spawners, releasing their gametes into the water column after an intense and lengthy mating ritual. They show no parental care. The larvae hatch after 16-18 hours from the small eggs (0.7mm in diameter). They have a pelagic phase of up to 50 days after which they become benthic and metamorphose into juveniles.
Barred angelfish are social fish and should be kept in pairs or larger groups in large enough reef tank settings. Keeping more than one specimen also facilitates weaning them onto frozen or prepared foods (pelleted fish food or flakes, Artemia, Mysis
, mussel
s and fresh oyster
s). After introduction to the tank C. multifasciata can be quite shy and reclusive, but when they have established their territory this will almost always improve. Outgoing but not too aggressive tank mates, such as for example surgeonfish
or butterflyfish can help with overcoming timidness.
When keeping barred angelfish with other species of the genus Centropyge
, the different levels of aggressiveness of the different species have to be taken into account, as C. multifasciata is one of the less aggressive members of the genus.
Perciformes
The Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, is one of the largest orders of vertebrates, containing about 40% of all bony fish. Perciformes means perch-like. They belong to the class of ray-finned fish and comprise over 7,000 species found in almost all aquatic environments...
. It is native to the Indo-Pacific
Indo-Pacific
The Indo-Pacific is a biogeographic region of the Earth's seas, comprising the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the seas connecting the two in the general area of Indonesia...
, more specifically an area from the Cocos-Keeling Atoll
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
The Territory of the Cocos Islands, also called Cocos Islands and Keeling Islands, is a territory of Australia, located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Christmas Island and approximately midway between Australia and Sri Lanka....
to the Society Islands
Society Islands
The Society Islands are a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean. They are politically part of French Polynesia. The archipelago is generally believed to have been named by Captain James Cook in honor of the Royal Society, the sponsor of the first British scientific survey of the islands;...
, ranging north to the Yaeyama Islands
Yaeyama Islands
The Yaeyama Islands are a group of islands in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.The isles are the remotest part of Japan from the main islands and contains Japan's most southern and most western inhabited islands.The islands form the southern part of the volcanic Nansei Islands...
and south to the Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world'slargest reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres over an area of approximately...
. C. multifasciata is one of three deeper-bodied species of dwarf angels (the other species include C. boylei and C. venusta). It has a white base color with eight black vertical bars that become yellowish ventrally and it grows to 12cm SL. Juveniles possess fewer bars and have a distinctive ocellus
Eyespot (mimicry)
An eyespot is an eye-like marking. They are found on butterflies, reptiles, birds and fish. In members of the Felidae family , the white circular markings on the backs of the ears are termed ocelli, and they are functionally similar to eyespots in other animals.Eyespots may be a form of...
on their dorsal fin that fades when they grow. It inhabits caves and crevices in outer reef slopes and can be found in depths between 20m and 70m. C. multifasciata feeds on algae, sponges, tunicates and other benthic invertebrates and small crustaceans and can often be seen foraging upside-down on cave ceilings.
Centropyge multifasciata lives in harems with one dominant male and usually multiple females. Like all other Centropyge angels it is a protogynous hermaphrodite
Protogynous hermaphrodite
A protogynous hermaphrodite is an animal that begins its life cycle as a female. As the animal ages, based on internal or external triggers, it shifts sex to become a male animal. Many fish, such as the gag grouper, undergo just such a metamorphosis. Male fecundity goes up greatly with age more...
, with all individuals being female initially and the dominant ones changing to males. Barred angelfish are broadcast spawners, releasing their gametes into the water column after an intense and lengthy mating ritual. They show no parental care. The larvae hatch after 16-18 hours from the small eggs (0.7mm in diameter). They have a pelagic phase of up to 50 days after which they become benthic and metamorphose into juveniles.
In the aquarium
Centropyge multifasciata is one of the medium priced dwarf angelfish with sales prices usually ranging from $50 to $100 per specimen (2010). Availability may vary but C. multifasciata cannot be considered "rare" in the trade. They usually arrive in fish stores in good health, problems can however arise when keeping them in sterile quarantine settings without live rock where not enough food can be found, as barred angelfish often do not accept artificial or frozen foods initially. Aquarists will therefore have to weigh the risks of skipping quarantine. Applying freshwater dips before placing C. multifasciata in their tanks is usually sufficient to prevent the introduction of protozoans via these fish.Barred angelfish are social fish and should be kept in pairs or larger groups in large enough reef tank settings. Keeping more than one specimen also facilitates weaning them onto frozen or prepared foods (pelleted fish food or flakes, Artemia, Mysis
Mysis
Mysis is a genus of mysid crustaceans in the family Mysidae, distributed mainly in the coastal zone of the Arctic and high boreal seas. There are also several species that inhabit northern freshwater lakes and the brackish Caspian Sea. Sixteen species are known...
, mussel
Mussel
The common name mussel is used for members of several families of clams or bivalvia mollusca, from saltwater and freshwater habitats. These groups have in common a shell whose outline is elongated and asymmetrical compared with other edible clams, which are often more or less rounded or oval.The...
s and fresh oyster
Oyster
The word oyster is used as a common name for a number of distinct groups of bivalve molluscs which live in marine or brackish habitats. The valves are highly calcified....
s). After introduction to the tank C. multifasciata can be quite shy and reclusive, but when they have established their territory this will almost always improve. Outgoing but not too aggressive tank mates, such as for example surgeonfish
Acanthuridae
Acanthuridae is the family of surgeonfishes, tangs, and unicornfishes. The family includes about 80 species in six genera, all of which are marine fish living in tropical seas, usually around coral reefs...
or butterflyfish can help with overcoming timidness.
When keeping barred angelfish with other species of the genus Centropyge
Centropyge
Centropyge is a genus of marine angelfishes. The genus is the largest within the Pomacanthid family, comprising over 30 described species. Species in this group do not exceed 15 cm in length and live in haremic structures with one dominant male and multiple females...
, the different levels of aggressiveness of the different species have to be taken into account, as C. multifasciata is one of the less aggressive members of the genus.