Centropyge interruptus
The Interruptus Angel, known to aquarists as the well-known Japanese Angelfish, naturally inhabits coastal areas of Japan and along the northwest coast of Hawaii, Kure and Midway. The fish stay in pairs at depths of 8 to 60m, amongst boulders covered with algae. This fish is very rare in aquarium collections, and if you are lucky enough to see it for sale, be prepared to lay out for her 3000 dollars. Keep these fish is recommended for experienced aquarists.
Centropyge interruptus has a very attractive coloration. The body of the fish is orange in colour with purple, neon-blue spots, which increase in size as you approach the tail plumage. The caudal fin is yellow. The upper and lower parts of the body towards the root of the tail plumage become purple. Young fish have a black eye on the back of the dorsal fin with a blue rim. Females have blue speckles all over the body, while males have them mainly on the head. These fish are hermaphroditic, initially born female. As they mature, when they reach about 12.5 cm, the dominant female becomes the male. The whole process takes 20 to 40 days. The maximum size of the fish reaches 15 cm.
The brightly coloured Japanese Angelfish has made it a coveted dream of many aquarists. Like most Centropyge, the Interruptus Angel can behave relatively peacefully in a general aquarium. It is best to keep fish in a reef aquarium of 300 liters with a variety of large coral-polyps, a lot of live rock with caves and crevices in which the fish could hide. It is possible to keep Japanese Angelfish with other peaceful fish, e.g. Wetmorella nigropinnata, Salarias Fasciatus, Lysmata debelius.
Water parameters: temperature 19-24° C, hardness dH 8-12°, pH 8.1-8.5, salinity 1.020-1.025. Requires filtration, aeration and monthly replacement of 1/3 of the aquarium water with fresh water. Given the relative coolness of the water, a cooler may be required.
The lighting should be dimmed to reproduce the deep sea environment. Duration of daylight hours of about 1 hour per day.
In the wild, Interruptus Angels feed on algae, invertebrates and sponges. In an aquarium environment they eat microalgae and detritus. They also eat a variety of meat and frozen foods, artemia, etc. Pelleted and flaked food containing spirulina is also readily accepted. If the fish are kept starving, they begin to gnaw clam mantles and sea anemones, LPS corals and some soft corals, such as parazoanthus.
Reproduction
Under aquarium conditions, spawning Centropyge interruptus is very difficult to achieve.
In nature, spawning occurs with the onset of dusk. A pair in the water column, leaning on each other's bellies, and at this time, the female hatches a batch of eggs, which are immediately fertilized by the male. The eggs rise to the surface of the water and do not receive parental care.
The life expectancy of Centropyge interruptus is 2-5 years.
