Centropyge potteri

Potter's Angelfish
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Pomacanthidae
Genus:	Centropyge
Species:	C. potteri
Binomial name
Centropyge potteri (Jordan & Metz, 1912)

Centropyge potteri, Potter's angelfish or the russet angelfish, is a marine angelfish from the "Eastern Central Pacific Ocean," or, more particularly, from the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll (located to the south of Hawaii).

Appearance

Potter's angelfish sometimes makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 10 cm (4 in) in length. It is bright orange with irregular, close-set, thin, vertical black stripes on the head and body. The lower part of the body grades to a blueish-black colour. These fish inhabit rocky ledges, feed on algae and detritus and prefer plenty of live rock that they can dart in and out of. This species is essentially hermaphrodite and generally has a dominant male with a harem of females in the wild.

Distribution and habitat

This fish is native to the Johnston Atoll and the Hawaiian Islands in the central Pacific Ocean. Its depth range is 10 to 138 m (33 to 453 ft). It is a bentho-pelagic species and its typical habitat is rock, coral and rubble areas of exposed reefs.

Status

Potter's angelfish has a wide range and is a common reef fish. Collection for the aquarium trade is not excessive and its numbers seem stable so the IUCN lists it as being of "Least Concern".

In the aquarium

Potter's angelfish is generally reef compatible, however it has been known to nip at the polyps of stony corals. It will accept a varied diet of live food, frozen foods, meaty items, flake food and plenty of algae. Does best with live rock to graze on. Potter's angelfish are best kept on their own or in pairs because they will fight with others of their own kind. This fish is peaceful and is generally only aggressive to similar species and its own kind. It can be bullied by larger fish present in the tank and it is best to introduce it as one of the first fish in the aquarium.

References

• Reefkeeping potteri