Care
For such a small species, the dazzling Fireball Angelfish certainly doesn’t lack any feistiness! This diminutive angel can be surprisingly territorial, and is best kept in a large tank with plenty of live rockwork with a multitude of visual barriers and bolt holes. Unfortunately this fish will nip at quite a range of invertebrate life, so it is not suitable for every set up. Keep only one specimen per tank, and not with any other angelfish from the Centropyge genus. We recommend that the Fireball Angelfish is the last addition to an aquarium, as otherwise it can be extremely territorial when introducing new tankmates into what it perceives as its established domain. Tankmates should not be too docile, being able to ‘look after themselves’, but at the same time, not so large and predatory that they see the angelfish as prey. There are a couple of very similar looking species available in the trade, namely the Cherub Angelfish (Centropyge argi) which lacks the yellow along the back, and the Flameback Angelfish (C. aurantonotus) which has a solid blue caudal fin rather than a transparent one. Another similar species, the Resplendent Angelfish (C. resplendens) endemic to the isolated Ascension Island, is rarely exported.
Feeding
Should be offered a varied diet including Spirulina & marine algae as well as meaty fare such as vitamin/Spirulina-enriched brineshrimp, Mysis shrimp, special sponge-based Angelfish preparations, and finely chopped krill/squid/cockle/mussel. Feed small amounts 3 times per day.
Breeding
This species has not been bred in captivity. As with other dwarf angels, Fireball Angelfish are protogynous hermaphrodites, a form of sequential hermaphroditism where an individual changes from female to male. In the wild, Fireball Angelfish are known to spawn at sunset, the male stimulating the female to release her eggs with biting motions along her abdomen. The fertilised eggs are abandoned in open water with no parental care taking place.
