Colin’s angelfish, Centropyge colini, is a unique pygmy angelfish that is among the least well known members of the genus. As I was ‘in the market’ for dwarf angelfish, I had the luxury position to consider all options for my…
Centropyge cocosensis & C. woodheadi, two ‘new’ species of pygmy angelfish
Centropyge cocosensis and C. woodheadi are two new names for new species angelfish which aquarists have long recognized as distinct. There’s been much confusion and speculation on the true identity of both the Cocos Island Lemonpeel, affectionately called the Cocopeel Angelfish,…
Orange coral beauty collected in Philippines
The Coral Beauty is one of the most common and widely beloved species of pygmy angelfish. Centropyge bispinosa is collected and exported for the aquarium market by the thousands every year, and for the most part there is only subtle variation…
A Mauritian gem residing in Japan
As the metonymic dust begins to settle after our whirlwind tour of Japan, it becomes increasingly clear that this country is without a doubt, the capital mecca for rare fish and all things associated. With lolita inspired fashion and crazy pop…
Centropyge deborae can be a beautiful pygmy angelfish (in the right light)
Centropyge deborae is one of the pygmy angelfish which holds a very special place in our hearts since it was one of the first new species of angelfish that we got to write about before it was described, and thoroughly…
Vanuatu’s second black spot pygmy angelfish is already in Japan
The black spot pygmy angelfish may not carry with it the same mythology as the recently collected peppermint angelfish, but it is arguably much more rare. Only the third specimen of Centropyge nigriocella collected alive for the aquarium trade, the…
Pygmy Angel Formula is loaded with juicy sponge and algae
Ocean Nutrition’s Pygmy Angel Formula is a new frozen food recipe which is aimed squarely at the flames, coral beauties, and similar species of dwarf angelfishes. Based off of the most recnt understanding about the diet of Centropyge species, the…
Centropye nahackyi found swimming far from home in Hawaii
Centropyge nahackyi is a super rare marine angelfish from the Pacific Ocean which is occasionally found in Hawaii, but isn;t really considered a Hawaiian species. A small, young juvenile specimen has recently been discovered swimming on a Hawaiian reef where…
We just can’t get enough of the Cocopeel’s intense blue eyes!
‘Cocopeel’ is our personal shorthand for Cocos Island, Indian Ocean, Lemonpeel Angelfish, Centropyge flavissima. This highly unusual variant of a common aquarium fish hides an evolutionary rift from the standard-issue lemonpeel angelfish which goes back thousands of years, and its tiny,…
“Golden Boy” coral beauty angelfish
“Golden Boy” is a stunning example of an aberrant Centropyge bispinosa. This unusual color form was first reported in the mid 1980’s from Pago Pago in American Samoa by two aquarium fish collectors, John Drieberg and Brian Champ. Initially this…
