John Fraser, Saipan, Nördliche Mariannen
Info
Randall & Yasuda, 1979
Centropyge shepardi, also known as the Shepardi Angelfish and Mango Angelfish, is rarely in trade, mainly because it is only found near the Mariana and Ogasawara Islands and very rare collected for the hobby. These two islands are right in the middle of the Western Pacific between Japan in the North and Papua New Guinea in the South. These Islands are very far and isolated, not to reach very well.
Centropyge shepardi is found in exposed outer reef slopes and occasionally in clear lagoon reefs at depths of 1 - 56 m (3.3 - 183.7 ft). Prefers areas of mixed dead and living corals with numerous shelter holes and passages
Centropyge shepardi adapts fairly well to captivity and is one of the few Centropyge Angelfish with color differences between males and females. The males have darker, more distinct margining and a blue patch behind their gill plates.
Like the most Centropyge it will spend its day happily grazing on bits of algae growing on live rock and other aquarium decorations. The only reason they would bother with coral is if they are under fed and try to get to the zooxanthellae in the coral tissue. Centropyge shepardi will readily accept most frozen and prepared foods such as mysid or frozen shrimp and angelfish preparations.
They are not considered very aggressive and may be picked on by other fish.
Sex and mating
The $lat are female from birth. If two fish are put together, then the more dominant animal becomes the male (=protogyne hermaphrodite).
It is best to put two fish of different sizes at the same time. If a fish is already present, then the new fish should be either much smaller or larger. If a larger fish is added, which would be an advantage, then the internal aggression is not as pronounced. The difference in size can be an advantage when pairing up, but there will still be scuffles until the sexing is complete.
In nature,dwarf emperors live in pairs or in harem groups, i.e., one male with several females, usually among coral reefs.
Reefsafe
Anyone who purchases a $lat must expect that this LPS will nibble on or damage SPS corals, giant clams, and gorgonians. Of course, there may be differences depending on the individual animal, which is repeatedly reported in many forums. In terms of its general diet, $lat feeds mainly on algae, small invertebrates, and sponges. Nibbling is in the fish's genes, so it is just as common in captive-bred fish as it is in wild-caught fish. Perhaps not quite as strongly.
Keeping the fish in pairs can sometimes help, but it can also cause even more damage by imitating the partner.
If the coral is growing very well or has reached a certain size, the damage caused by nibbling should be tolerable.
Centropyge shepardi, also known as the Shepardi Angelfish and Mango Angelfish, is rarely in trade, mainly because it is only found near the Mariana and Ogasawara Islands and very rare collected for the hobby. These two islands are right in the middle of the Western Pacific between Japan in the North and Papua New Guinea in the South. These Islands are very far and isolated, not to reach very well.
Centropyge shepardi is found in exposed outer reef slopes and occasionally in clear lagoon reefs at depths of 1 - 56 m (3.3 - 183.7 ft). Prefers areas of mixed dead and living corals with numerous shelter holes and passages
Centropyge shepardi adapts fairly well to captivity and is one of the few Centropyge Angelfish with color differences between males and females. The males have darker, more distinct margining and a blue patch behind their gill plates.
Like the most Centropyge it will spend its day happily grazing on bits of algae growing on live rock and other aquarium decorations. The only reason they would bother with coral is if they are under fed and try to get to the zooxanthellae in the coral tissue. Centropyge shepardi will readily accept most frozen and prepared foods such as mysid or frozen shrimp and angelfish preparations.
They are not considered very aggressive and may be picked on by other fish.
Sex and mating
The $lat are female from birth. If two fish are put together, then the more dominant animal becomes the male (=protogyne hermaphrodite).
It is best to put two fish of different sizes at the same time. If a fish is already present, then the new fish should be either much smaller or larger. If a larger fish is added, which would be an advantage, then the internal aggression is not as pronounced. The difference in size can be an advantage when pairing up, but there will still be scuffles until the sexing is complete.
In nature,dwarf emperors live in pairs or in harem groups, i.e., one male with several females, usually among coral reefs.
Reefsafe
Anyone who purchases a $lat must expect that this LPS will nibble on or damage SPS corals, giant clams, and gorgonians. Of course, there may be differences depending on the individual animal, which is repeatedly reported in many forums. In terms of its general diet, $lat feeds mainly on algae, small invertebrates, and sponges. Nibbling is in the fish's genes, so it is just as common in captive-bred fish as it is in wild-caught fish. Perhaps not quite as strongly.
Keeping the fish in pairs can sometimes help, but it can also cause even more damage by imitating the partner.
If the coral is growing very well or has reached a certain size, the damage caused by nibbling should be tolerable.
