In the wild, the Royal Blue Pygmy Angelfish inhabits sloping reefs and the lower reaches of channels with coral substrates. They have been observed swimming in small, loose aggregations amongst the inner reefs where brittle corals and coralline algae flourish, an area shared by damselfishes and small wrasses. In the home aquarium, this diminutive angel can be surprisingly territorial, and so it is best kept in a large tank with plenty of live rockwork that has 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. Live rock is considered essential though, as it will provide the fish with ongoing grazing opportunities. Keep only one specimen per tank, and not with any other angelfish from the Centropyge genus.

We recommend that the Royal Blue Pygmy 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. The colour of this species is quite variable. Juveniles are typically bright royal blue to black with a pale or hyaline caudal fin, and adults can range from being dark brown/almost black to a golden brown colour. This species is replaced by C. fisheri in the Hawaiian Islands, and there is some speculation that they are regional variants of the same species (in which case the name C. flavicauda may eventually become invalid).

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.

Royal Blue Pygmy Angelfish have not been bred in the home aquarium. They are likely to be open water spawners, and as with other dwarf angels they are protogynous hermaphrodites, a form of sequential hermaphroditism where an individual changes from female to male.

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