Joculator Angelfish

Care at a glance

Overview

Give it a mature tank of at least 265 litres aquascaped with generous live rock and open swimming gaps at 24 to 27 C. It is hardy and eats spirulina, mysis and quality angelfish preparations while grazing rock for algae. Keep only one dwarf angel per tank. It may nip corals and clam mantles, so treat it as reef safe with caution.

In the wild

The joculator angelfish is a striking dwarf angel with a yellow-orange face and body split by a blue-black bar. It is found only around the Cocos-Keeling and Christmas Islands, which makes it scarce and pricey. It grazes reef rock and darts among crevices. Despite the price it is a hardy fish once settled.

Good to know

Centropyge joculator grows to about 9 cm and is endemic to a tiny corner of the eastern Indian Ocean. Its limited range and difficult collection keep it among the more expensive dwarf angels. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite like other Centropyge.

Did you know

It lives on just two remote island groups, so nearly every one in the hobby traces back to that small patch of ocean.

Related species

• 

  Multicolor Angelfish

  Centropyge multicolor

  3.5 in (9 cm)70 gal (265 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Coral Beauty Angelfish

  Centropyge bispinosa

  3.9 in (10 cm)50 gal (190 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Flame Angelfish

  Centropyge loriculus

  3.9 in (10 cm)50 gal (190 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Half-Black Angelfish

  Centropyge vroliki

  3.9 in (10 cm)55 gal (210 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Herald's Angelfish

  Centropyge heraldi

  3.9 in (10 cm)55 gal (210 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Rusty Angelfish

  Centropyge ferrugata

  3.9 in (10 cm)30 gal (115 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)