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The pygmy angelfishes (genus Centropyge ) are the most
popular and heavily traded of the marine angelfishes (family Pomacanthidae)
in our hobby today. The genus is the largest within the Pomacanthid
family, comprising a total of 31 described species. The majority
of these is intensely colorful, hardy and unlike larger marine
angelfishes, can be kept in smaller aquariums.
While popular fish groups, like clownfishes and dottybacks, are
now cultured, the high demand of pygmy angelfishes is presently
met solely by wild collection. Commercially propagating Centropyge would be a lucrative and environmentally sound alternative to
harvesting them from their reef habitat. Unfortunately, the complicated
larval rearing phase have made past efforts unsuccessful.
The Centropyge group is the present focus of RCT’s
research. On November 3rd, 2002 Reef Culture Technologies LLC
closed the life cycle for the Fisher’s Angelfish (Centropyge
fisheri). To the best of our knowledge this was the first
pygmy angelfish species ever raised in captivity. The company
has since developed a reliable rearing method for a number of
pygmy angelfishes, raising an additional five species.
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