Joculator angelfish
Centropyge joculator
Also known as Cocos Pygmy Angelfish, Cocos-Keeling Angelfish, Joculator Angel, Yellowhead Angelfish
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 3.5 in
- 9 cm
- Minimum tank
- 70 gal
- 265 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Own kind
- One male per tank
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Very rare
- Reef safe
- Reef safe with caution
- Family
- Pomacanthidae
- Origin
- Eastern Indian Ocean, endemic to the Cocos-Keeling and Christmas Islands, on outer reef slopes.
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.
Common questions
What size tank does a Joculator angelfish need?
A Joculator angelfish needs at least 70 gal (265 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Joculator angelfish need?
A Joculator angelfish is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
How big does a Joculator angelfish get?
An adult Joculator angelfish reaches about 3.5 in (9 cm).
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